While Nathan O’Mara expected a lot of carries this past fall, he had no idea what was in store for him on the gridiron.
In offseason workouts, the Seymour High School running back joked with the coaching staff that they’d have him carry the ball almost 30 times per game.
Little did the senior know that not only would those jokes become a reality, he would also make some history along the way.
O’Mara was the Owls’ workhorse on offense in 2018. He finished with 286 carries, 1,986 yards and 12 touchdowns. His median average was 30 carries per game.
He averaged 6.9 yards per carry, 198.6 yards per game, and had nine 100-plus yards games. SHS played just 10 games in its season, losing to Columbus East in sectional play.
His number of carries is the most for a season in school history, and yards for a season ranks second all-time.
“Some of the coaches had joked about it during the offseason,” O’Mara recalled. “Then, we actually kind of met that expectation of getting the ball almost 40 times a game. I didn’t think I actually would.
“I didn’t think I was going to break any records or anything. I’ve always wanted to break a record for as long as I have wanted to play football at Seymour. I wanted to be in the book by the time I left.”
In part of O’Mara’s efforts, the Owls finished 6-4 on the season with wins over South Dearborn, Jeffersonville, Floyd Central, Brownstown Central, Jennings County and Madison. The Owls also went undefeated at home for the first time since 2001.
Against Jeffersonville, O’Mara crushed the school record for yards in a game by racking up 356 on the ground. He also broke the record for carries in a game with 42 against Floyd Central.
O’Mara led the state, including Class 5A, for most all the regular season in carries.
“I think he exceeded his expectations,” Seymour head coach Mike Kelly said. “If you look at the number of carries he had this season, and his commitment in the offseason which allowed him to accomplish some of the thing he did, I think he was an outstanding player of us this year. A lot of what we did offensively was him specifically.”
While he had plenty of memorable performances, O’Mara says the Jackson Bowl, against Brownstown Central, was the most memorable for him. He had four touchdowns and 283 yards on 27 rushes that contest.
“One of my favorite games was the Brownstown game,” O’Mara said. “The whole crowd and everything was great. That was one of my better games. I might not have gotten as many yards, but I felt like I played well.”
He said that he had a lot of friends on the offensive line, which made him a better back.
“We had a bunch of players that I loved being around. They are really good friends. It’s easy to trust your teammates when it’s like that,” O’Mara said.
Kelly also commended the offensive line for O’Mara’s numbers.
Tackles Haden Mettert and Adam Carter, center Jake Roberts, guards Corey Motosicky, Cameron Barr, Caleb Madden and Clayton Prater, and tight ends Jack Roberts and Conner Klakamp all helped O’Mara run the ball.
“You have to have a committee of guys in front of you,” Kelly said. “Those guys did a lot in just making those runs easier for Nathan.”
Kelly said that O’Mara was a different breed of back.
“The thing that is unique is the style of player he was,” he said. “He was relentless when he carried the football. He was a fighter, and that’s unique. A lot of times a guy will get hit and fall down. Nathan got hit two or three times trying to get extra yards. I think that was a huge difference for him.”
Going into the season, O’Mara had to bounce back from a serious procedure.
O’Mara had a promising start to his 2017, but an injury cut his season short. Against Floyd Central that season, the opening hit broke his collarbone in three places, and he had to get a metal plate put in his shoulder.
The injury may have sidelined O’Mara, 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, but it didn’t slow him down. He hit the weight room and rehab hard, and was ready for
“I think what helped Nathan out this year was consistency in practice and working out,” Kelly said. “We talk about it all the time with our kids: Proper preparation produces preferred performance. He was a preparer. He was going to work hard in practice. He came every day with the mentality that you practice how you play. He came in every day and did the things that were asked of him. He always wanted to compete.”
At the season’s end, O’Mara was named one of four of the Indiana Football Coaches Association’s Class 5A All-State Seniors at the running back position. He was also All-Hoosier Hills Conference.
O’Mara plans to go to college and study construction management after high school, and says that he’s considering continuing his football career.
“I hope I leave a legacy where the younger guys look up to me,” O’Mara said. “Hopefully they want to be better than me one day. I hope they live up to some of the expectations I have left here.”
For all of his accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named O’Mara the 2018 Jackson County Football Player of the Year.
2018 Jackson County Football Player of the Year
Nathan O’Mara, Seymour, senior, running back
Key stats: 286 carries, 1,986 yards, 6.9 yards per carry, 198.6 yards per game, 9 100+ yards games, 12 TD.
Accolades: IFCA Class 5A All-State Senior Running Back, All-Hoosier Hills Conference.
School records: Most rushing attempts in a season, most rushing attempts in a game (42) most rushing yards in a game (356), second most rushing yards in a season.
Joining O’Mara on the 2018 All-Jackson County football team:
Hayden Kinsler, Brownstown Central, junior, QB
Key stats/accolades: 80-for-134 passing (59.7 percent), 15 passing TDs, 2 INT, 72 carries, 427 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs.
Derek Thompson, Brownstown Central, junior, WR/DB
Key stats/accolades: 1,045 rushing yards, 89 carries, 3 100+ yards games, 80.4 rushing yards per game, 19 receptions, 432 receiving yards, 51 tackles (26 solo), 7 tackles for losses, 17 rushing TDs, 7 receiving TDs, IFCA Class 3A All-State Junior Defensive Back.
Caleb Bollinger, Brownstown Central, senior, WR/DB
Key stats/accolades: 64 carries, 661 yards, 8 rushing TD, 3 receiving TD, 11 catches, 272 receiving yards, 49 tackles (24 solo), 1 INT, 3 passes defended, All-MSC.
Seth Borden, Brownstown Central, senior, WR/DB
Key stats/accolades: 24 receptions, 454 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs, 52 tackles (32 solo), 3 tackles for losses, 2 INT, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 passed defended, All-MSC.
Luke Shelton, Brownstown Central, senior, MLB/OL
Key stats/accolades: 89 tackles (29 solo), 2 sacks, 14 tackles for losses, helped BC offense to 3,682 rushing yards, 1,630 passing yards and 76 total TDs, All-MSC.
Braden Neal, Brownstown Central, senior, OLB/TE
Key stats/accolades: 58 tackles (31 solo), 3 sacks, 11 tackles for losses, helped BC offense to 3,682 rushing yards, 1,630 passing yards and 76 total TDs, All-MSC.
Robbie Branaman, Brownstown Central, senior, DL/OL
Key stats/accolades: 66 tackles (20 solo), 12 tackles for losses, 3 sacks, helped BC offense to 3,682 rushing yards, 1,630 passing yards and 76 total TDs, All-MSC.
Jalen Tiemeyer, Brownstown Central, junior, OL/DL
Key stats/accolades: 59 tackles (12 solo), 9 tackles for losses 5 sacks, helped BC offense to 3,682 rushing yards, 1,630 passing yards and 76 total TDs, IFCA Class 3A All-State Junior Defensive Lineman, All-MSC.
Matthew Bell, Brownstown Central, senior, OLB/FB
Key stats/accolades: 36 carries, 202 yards, 5 rushing TDs, 83 tackles (32 solo), 4 sacks, 8 tackles for losses, 1 INT, 2 fumble recoveries, All-MSC honorable mention.
Brian Murphy, Brownstown Central, senior, OL
Key stats/accolades: helped BC offense to 3,682 rushing yards, 1,630 passing yards and 76 total TDs, All-MSC honorable mention.
Haden Mettert, Seymour, senior, OL
Key stats/accolades: helped offense to 2,669 rushing, 903 passing yards and 33 TDs, IFCA Class 5A All-State Senior Offensive Line, All-HHC.
Jack Roberts, Seymour, senior, TE
Key stats/accolades: 20 receptions, 2 TDs, 261 receiving yards, helped offense to 2,669 rushing, 903 passing yards and 33 TDs, All-HHC honorable mention.
Adam Carter, Seymour, junior, G/DE
Key stats/accolades: helped offense to 2,669 rushing, 903 passing yards and 33 TDs.
Justice Perry, Seymour, senior, LB
Key stats/accolades: 133 tackles (35 solo), 13.3 tackles per game, 5.5 tackles for losses, 1 INT, 4 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery.
Ethan Corwin, Seymour, junior, LB
Key stats/accolades: 95 tackles (16 solo), 9.5 tackles per game, 6 tackles for losses, 1 sack, 2 INT.
Caleb Madden, Seymour, senior, OG/DL
Key stats/accolades: 79 tackles (19 solo), 7.9 tackles per game, 6.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, helped offense to 2,669 rushing, 903 passing yards and 33 TDs, All-HHC.
Ezra Barr, Seymour, senior, WR/CB
Key stats/accolades: 48 rushes, 115 yards, 1 INT, 2 passes defended, 37 tackles.
Evan Dover, Seymour, senior, DB/WR
Key stats/accolades: 38 tackles, (18 solo), 1 INT, 3 passes defended.
Devin Hill, Seymour, senior, MLB/TE
Key stats/accolades: 71 tackles (15 solo), 7.1 tackles per game, 7 tackles for losses, 3 passes defended.