Lummi’s Hoskins shows his worth in final game

Lummi senior running back and linebacker Hank Hoskins spent most of the Class 1B State Championship Game running through would-be tacklers and exhausting himself trying to chase down Almira-Coulee-Hartline quarterback Dallas Isaak.

The rest of the time he was pulling himself off the Tacoma Dome turf, desperately trying to fight off leg cramping.

Three times Hoskins went down during the second half before getting up and hobbling to the Blackhawks’ sideline.

Although Hoskins missed several plays in critical moments, there’s no questioning the senior’s impact during his final game as a Lummi Blackhawk.

“It’s tough to have him off the field,” Lummi coach Jim Sandusky said. “We have him on the field, we won. ... When he’s in there, I don’t want to say he’s unstoppable, but pretty close, pretty close.”

Hoskins’ role was pivotal during Lummi’s 46-42 loss to ACH on Friday, Dec. 4, at the Tacoma Dome.

He served as the Blackhawks’ battering ram on offense, taking direct snaps before plunging into the heart of the Warriors’ defense for 5-to-8 yards every rush.

He also played a role in the pass game, finishing with 65 receiving yards and a touchdown on five receptions to go with 77 rush yards and three TDs.

“I had lots of people looking at me,” Hoskins said of his cramping. “I always have to go back in. It’s more pride than anything. I had a lot of people telling me to get back in. ... I help the team a lot, but they did it without me.”

Hoskins almost played hero after he connected with Free Borsey for a 40-yard TD that would have given Lummi the lead with 53 seconds left, but the play was called back on a holding penalty.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Lummi’s Hoskins shows his worth in final game."