<p class="p1">In this edition of the Three Point Stance, staff writers Rodrick Anderson and Warren Arceneaux discuss running backs from area large high schools (Classes 5A-3A).</p><p class="p2"><strong>Who is the best returning RB?</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>WA:</strong> Carrington McClinton of Washington-Marion turned the Charging Indians’ season around last year when he became the featured back, running for 1,006 yards and 11 touchdowns over the final five games after stepping in to replace the injured starter. W-M went 4-1 in that stretch.</p><p class="p1"><strong>RA:</strong> Jennings’ Darrian Achane missed four games last year with an injury but still managed to rush for 700 yards and eight TDs while leading the Bulldogs to the Class 3A semifinals. If he can stay healthy, Achane should have a big season running and catching the ball.</p><p class="p3"><strong>Which game features the best RB matchup?</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>WA:</strong> Iowa vs. Jennings has grown into a huge rivalry. This year’s game features two good senior running backs in Iowa’s Jedd Self and Achane. Self had 109 yards and a TD in Iowa’s win over Jennings last season and ran for 469 yards in six district games. Achane overcame early injury troubles last year, running for 449 yards and six TDs over the final six games.</p><p class="p1"><strong>RA:</strong> Jennings vs. Church Point. Achane and Church Point’s Rodney Dupuis should provide highlight-worthy runs in this Week 1 matchup that was canceled last year because of Hurricane Harvey. They did meet in the second round of the 3A playoffs with Achane running for 86 yards and two scores while Dupuis, who has rushed for more than 2,900 yards in his career, was held to a career-low 27 yards.</p><p class="p3"><strong>Build a backfield taking two RBs from different schools.</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>WA:</strong> I’ll take Leesville’s D’ante Gallashaw to start. He is a big, versatile guy who can block, run and catch the ball. Then I’ll take Anthony Johnson from LaGrange, a smaller, speedy guy who can make big plays. That’s a biggie and a small. We can hypnotize the defense by banging inside with Gallashaw then hitting a big play outside with Johnson. The sky’s the limit with that duo.</p><p class="p1"><strong>RA:</strong> I will go with a pair of power backs, Sulphur’s Jaiven Creary and Westlake’s J.J. Ross. Creary comes in at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, but has speed when he needs its. He will be the Tors’ man back after mostly seeing action as a goal-line back, scoring five TDs. Ross is 5-8, 190 pounds and has breakaway speed. He started the last four games for the Rams in 2017 and had a 137-yard, two-TD game against South Beauregard.</p>Three-point Stance