Sports
Highlight Play from Pop Warner Team Still Inspires Alonso Running Back
Sophomore Alonso running back Ish Witter remembers the very play that cemented his position.
Like many kids that grew up in the Westchase area, Ish Witter played in the TBYFL. His first stop was the Seahawks before playing for the Bucs and then for Davidsen middle school.
There was one season in particular with the Bills that inspires Ish, even today.
Ish was on a “not so good” Seahawk team that was playing an undefeated Bills team, late in the season. Ish had been used primarily as a “short yardage” back. His older brother, Conrad Rhoden was the coach of the team and, careful not to use Ish in a way that would show preference, used Ish to run the ball, fairly infrequently.
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“I remember he came up to me and asked if I thought I could do this, and I said ‘yeah’,” Ish said.
The Seahawks faced a fourth and goal from the Bills 35-yard line.
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There were seven seconds left.
They needed a touchdown, a 35-yard touchdown.
“I got the ball, the blocking was there, I got the corner, nobody touched me,” said Ish. “The wide receiver in front of me couldn’t stick the block, just as I reached the goal line, I had to grab him and shove him into the last defender and I scored.”
His brother finally got over it and put Ish at full-time running back. Ish’s next season he wound up on the Bucs and was indeed the full-time running back. In his first game with the Bucs he scored five touchdowns.
Ish played running back for Davidson’s flag football team, where he would meet many of his current teammates. He split carries with current teammate , during his sixth grade season and came into his own once Holloway moved up to Alonso.
In Ish’s eighth grade season, the Davidson Dragons went undefeated.
His brother Conrad would end up being a profound influence on Ish’s life.
“He pushed me to do better, all the time; sent me to trainers, trained me himself when he had time,” said Ish.
In Ish’s freshman season at Alonso, he re-united with Davisdon teammate, Brandon Holloway. Together, they rushed for over 700 yards and nine touchdowns. Ish had the best yards-per-carry average on the team at 5.51.
Both athletes return to the Ravens this season and make up one of the better one-two punches in the county.