By Don Ketchum

Casey Jahn didn’t need to keep a calculator in his back pocket or take off his shoes to count.

He knew perfectly well what was at stake, and his Phoenix Northwest Christian kept reminding him.

With 11:19 left in Friday night's (Oct. 7) game against host Phoenix Arizona Lutheran, it finally happened. The long wait, made even longer by mathematical discrepancies, finally ended.

Jahn, the hard-charging senior running back, set Arizona’s state career rushing record. His 197 yards gave him 6,513, seven more than the previous record held by Tombstone’s Dwayne Thomas (2005). And there are a few more games to go in the regular season, then the playoffs as Northwest Christian, the last state champion in Class 2A, attempts to become the first state champion in the new Division V.

Jahn scored two first-half touchdowns as the Crusaders built a 28-0 lead at halftime, and they went on to a 48-0 victory to remain unbeaten at 7-0. Arizona Lutheran, a pretty good team in its own right, fell to 5-2.

When Northwest Christian took possession at its 39-yard line to begin the fourth quarter, its fans began to chant, “Cay-see! Cay-see!’’ They, too, knew he was nearing the record. He entered the evening needing 190 to pass Thomas.

The first carry of the fourth quarter went for 10 yards, giving him 20 carries for 184 yards.

Then the dash toward destiny.

It came in typical Jahn style, darting, weaving, leaning forward, keeping the legs moving and stretching for every inch of ground for a 13-yard gain.

Northwest Christian coach Dave Inness called a timeout, Jahn came out of the game and was mobbed by his teammates.

After the game, the Northwest Christian contingent tried to celebrate in a respectful way, not to embarrass Arizona Lutheran, particularly on a night when the school paid tribute to a former assistant coach who lost his life to cancer earlier this year.

“He has no ego, and he will be the first to tell you that he wouldn’t be in this spot if it weren’t for his teammates, particularly the offensive linemen who were up there pushing guys around,’’ Inness told the group of supporters.

He then gave Jahn the ball he carried to the record, and the team gathered for a prayer.

As much as Jahn loves his linemen, there’s someone who he loves more.

“First and foremost, I want to thank my Father in Heaven,’’ he said.

“It was kind of a relief, because I was tired. My teammates kept reminding me and there was a sign (behind the team bench) that kept counting down how much I needed. We did all of this together.’’

Has Jahn thought about trying to reach 7,000 yards?

“I haven’t, really,’’ he said. “I just want to concentrate on helping us win another state championship.’’

The work doesn’t stop.

Inness illustrated that point when he said, “Even after all he has done, he will be the first one in the weight room on Saturday.’’