WATCH: Ace Carter's Player of the Week
Southern's Zaki Samuels wins for Week 2
Whatever Southern senior running back Zaki Samuels lacks in size, the 5-foot-8, 160-pounder makes up for with guts, guile, and a giant-sized helping of speed.
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Perhaps that's why his nickname is "Little Darren Sproles."
That unique concoction is also why — from among several other impressive showings by area players — he's my latest Player of the Week.
In a 30-14 win against Public League foe Lincoln, Samuels rushed for 207 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries.
Samuels also intercepted a late pass at the Rams' 25-yard line and subsequently sealed the deal with a 60-yard touchdown run.
"You look at him and you think, 'He can't be that good,' " Southern coach Frank "Roscoe" Natale said. "Next thing you know, he has that little motor turning inside of him and he gets through a hole, breaks the pile, and he's gone."
Samuels rushed for 1,300 yards last season and is a versatile threat. Like Sproles, he is used at multiple receiver positions and on special teams.
"I like the nickname because we're the same height and all that," Samuels said, smiling.
Later, he added: "My running style is both speed and power."
On Friday at 6 p.m. at the South Philly super site, Samuels will lead the Rams against Bartram, which features senior quarterback Mahmud Dioubate, last season's Daily News Co-Player of the Year.
College suitors have made modest inquiries for Samuels' services, but no scholarship offers yet.
Being underestimated, however, isn't unfamiliar territory and it doesn't seem likely to stop Samuels.
"Yeah, people have doubted me," he said. "They said I'm not big enough. It made me feel bad [growing up], but then I started working on stuff with my brothers, came out and showed what I can do."
Five other notable performances:
Simon Gratz senior quarterback Amir Gillis threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-25 passing (72 percent) in Gratz's dismantling of Germantown Academy. The Temple commit also added 47 rushing yards, a ground touchdown and an interception.
Archbishop Carroll's Dahmir Ruffin tied a city record for receiving touchdowns with four in the Patriots' narrow win vs. Conwell-Egan. Ruffin caught eight passes for 99 yards and added 81 yards and a score on the ground. He also intercepted a pass.
Penn Charter junior running back Edward Saydee finished with 194 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries (8 yards per carry) in a win against Lansdale Catholic.
Malvern Prep senior O'Shaan Allison rushed for 139 yards and a score on 19 carries (7 per attempt) in a victory against St. Augustine (N.J.).
Malvern junior Drew Gunther, in the same game, threw for 211 yards and three scores on 16-of-23 passing (69 percent).
*Coaches, want to nominate a player? Email Cartera@phillynews.com by Sunday each week with your player's name, height, weight, grade and stats from that week or why they should be considered. Coach submissions only*
