The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Elkins High School’s Nick Bowers is flanked by some of his lineman after picking up a first down in a game earlier this season against Lincoln. Bowers become the all-time leading rusher in school history during Friday’s 35-0 win at Buckhannon-Upshur.

ELKINS — Entering the season, Nick Bowers needed 1.042 yards to become Elkins High School’s all-time leading rusher.

Mission accomplished.

The senior set the milestone in grand fashion during Friday’s 35-0 win at Buckhannon-Upshur, setting a single-game rushing record as well with 310 yards.

Bowers paced Junior Lawrence as the career rushing leader — which was fitting — as both players ran with power, passion and great determination and seldom were brought down by just one defender.

“Nick works incredibly hard and pushed the other guys to do the same,” first-year EHS coach Chad Ware said during the preseason. “He’s just a great leader for us on and off the field, and everything you want in a player.

“He is a team-first guy and gives all the credit to his teammates for helping him reach his goals.”

Bowers now has 2,874 yards rushing in his Tiger career, with plenty of football still remaining.

He has found the end zone 10 times for the Tigers, who are averaging over 30 points per game and winners of three straight contests.

Elkins is off to a 3-1 start for the first time in seven years and was 11th in the first WVSSAC Class AAA ratings released last week.

The new one will be revealed today.

As the Mountain State Forest Festival is set to begin this weekend, Elkins will battle old rival Philip Barbour at 7 p.m. Friday for homecoming at Tiger Stadium.

The Colts are also 3-1 on the season and were sixth in last week’s Class AA ratings.