West Rusk’s Nick Ballard the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Offensive Player of the Week

The West Rusk Raiders are one of East Texas' most surprising success stories in 2015, and their senior running back Nick Ballard is a big reason why.

Ballard continued his excellence last Friday night to improve his team to 6-0 on the season. He rushed for 344 yards on a workmanlike 37 carries in the Raiders' 28-21 defeat of Winona in a battle of District 8-3A Division II unbeatens.

For his efforts, Ballard is the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Offensive Player of the Week, following last week's winner, Tyler Lee quarterback Chance Amie.

Ballard's 344 yards were easily a season-high, and last Friday marked the fifth consecutive week Ballard has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the season.

For the year, Ballard leads the Raiders with 987 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on just 99 attempts -- an average of almost 10 yards per carry.

Ballard and his West Rusk teammates look to remain unbeaten this Friday night when the Raiders take on Elysian Fields (4-2, 2-1) on the road.

ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Offensive Players of the Week

• Oct. 8-10: Nick Ballard, RB, West Rusk
• Oct. 1-3: Chance Amie, QB, Tyler Lee
• Sept. 24-26: Judah Bell, WR, Tyler Bishop Gorman
• Sept. 17-19: Cam Haller, RB, Marshall
• Sept. 10-12: Ke'Mon Freeman, QB, Liberty-Eylau
• Sept. 3-5: Kordell Rodgers, QB, Lufkin
• Aug. 27-29: Keenen Johnson, QB, Alto