LebCo Male Athletes of the Week: Myles Watson & Isaiah Zimmerman (Week Ending August 25, 2024)

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Myles Watson

After Northern Lebanon graduated Moises Gonzalez, their top running back in 2023, it was clear who the next man up was going to be to carry the load. Myles Watson was not a stranger to reliable production or even big performances, so when the senior got the call in Week 1, he delivered. He ended the game against Pine Grove with 27 carries that went for 200 yards. These numbers were made more impressive by the fact that this game was a defensive battle until the end. After a Riley Messinger field goal in the 4th quarter, followed by a Brendan Ryan interception, Watson put the game away with a 38-yard touchdown run. This gave Northern Lebanon the 10-0 win over the Cardinals to begin their 2024 campaign with a 1-0 record. As a result, Watson was voted as a LebCo Athlete of the Week.

This is not the first time that Watson has claimed this honor. Last season, during Week 9, Watson had 244 yards and 5 touchdowns in a close loss to Hamburg. This clearly gave him the confidence that he could be “the guy” heading into this season.

“It was definitely a workload I could handle,” Watson said. “It wasn’t my first time having a game like that, and I’m just proud to start the season off hot with the guys.”

Watson gave credit to his offensive line for allowing him to gain the number of yards that he did. He said, “Without them, none of my rushing ability would be possible.”

Behind the talents of his reliable teammates doing the dirty work in the trenches, Watson has set a goal to break 1,000 yards this season. The Vikings have struggled on offense for two weeks, and yet Watson has continued to produce. Once they are able to iron out some of their issues, Watson may see even more daylight in front of him.

There is no doubt that when called upon, Watson will be ready. He told LebCoSports.com that when he is not training, Watson is focused on making sure he is resting and mentally preparing himself for the next set of challenges. He is hoping to parlay this business-like approach to being able to play in college and may someday have an opportunity to play professionally.

When asked about Watson, Northern Lebanon Head Coach Jason Rice said, “Myles is the kind of young man every coach wants on their team. He’s a “yes coach,” “no coach,” player, he puts his teammates and the success of the team before himself, and he is an excellent STUDENT-ATHLETE. His skill set got him on the field early in his high school career and it’s been great to watch him grow and develop year after year. Now to see him in the spotlight and getting recognition from college programs both in and out of state, I couldn’t be more proud of the work he’s put in and thrilled to see him reap the benefits of it now.”

Watson has a role model in his older brother, Blaze, who is beginning his sophomore season playing linebacker for Grove City College. Seeing Blaze navigate the collegiate ranks is something that Myles has used as a learning tool to help him as he prepares to take the next step.

However, Watson still has at least eight games left to play in his high school career. We wish him and his Viking teammates all the best as they battle through the season.

Photo Credit: Susan Dengler

Isaiah Zimmerman

Last season, the Falcons benefitted from a corps of running backs that were led by Fernando Marquez and Alejandro Abreu. Both were seniors. Marquez was the primary back in the offense that won eight games, as the senior racked up 982 yards and 21 touchdowns. How was first-year Head Coach Nicholas Lambros planning to replace that kind of production? He turned to sophomore Isaiah “Zay” Zimmerman, giving him his first varsity start in Week 1 against Lower Dauphin. Zimmerman did not let this opportunity go to waste and rewarded his coach’s faith in him by rushing for 217 yards on 14 carries. He found the end zone twice as part of the Cedar Crest’s 45-16 win over the visiting Falcons. For his efforts, Zimmerman was voted as a LebCo Male Athlete of the Week after only his first Friday night in the starting line-up.

He followed up his Week 1 escapades with a Week 2 performance that witnessed him rack up another 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 2nd touchdown of the 45-7 victory over Spring Grove came on a 75-yard run, leaving all of the defenders in his wake.

With 331 yards through just two games, Zimmerman has set a goal of 1,500 yards rushing this season. This should not be confused with him being stat-hungry, as he was not able to tell people how many yards he had on Friday night, just that his team had one. Zimmerman just sees himself as “an explosive piece to our offensive game plan.”
Coach Lambros had high praise for the young back, saying, “For him to play with such poise and confidence in his first varsity start is very encouraging. I believe that speaks more about his character and his work ethic than anything else. Isaiah is one of the hardest-working players on our team and is constantly putting in extra work.

Lambros went on to say, “He’s a leader on and off the field, and I believe he models exactly what we want Cedar Crest football to look like.”

Zimmerman’s understanding of the value of putting in the work has been aided by having battled through a meniscus tear that cut his freshman season short. He worked through the injury and showed his skills in the Spring as a rising star of the Cedar Crest Track & Field Team. Additionally, Zimmerman works with private coach Phil Olsen of Outrageous Training Studio in Lebanon. He thanks all of his school coaches, his private coach, and his family for the support they have provided him.

Zimmerman is the baby of his family but is showing up as the big man on the football field thus far in his high school career. One fact to know about him is that he helps care for the family cat, which is fully blind. When he’s not training, he is usually hanging out with his friends, just unwinding.

When it comes to his future, Zimmerman has years to decide what his next steps will be, but has already set a goal to compete at the next level.

For now, we will continue to watch Zimmerman’s progress as he grows into his role for Crest. We wish him and his Falcon teammates the best as they continue to build upon their 2-0 record.

Photo 1 – Credit: Rachelle Isgriggs

Photo 2 – Credit: Susan Dengler

Read about this week’s LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Alaina Miller

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  August 19 – August 25