Rim's Jacob Taylor leads San Bernardino 2012 All-Area Football Team

Jacob Taylor of Rim of the World is the San Bernardino Sun's 2013 All-Area Football Player of the Year. (LaFonzo Carter / Staff Photographer)

Jacob Taylor set the bar high. Higher than anyone thought possible. Except for him.

In leading Rim of the World to the CIF-SS East Valley Division title, the senior running back/defensive back had a remarkable record-setting performance.

In becoming the first player in San Bernardino County history to surpass the 4,000-yard rushing mark for the season and only the seventh in the history of high school football according to maxpreps.com, Taylor is the Sun Player of the Year for 2012.

More than a month after finishing off his record-setting season in victorious fashion, Taylor still is in awe.

"It's crazy to do that, and then to win CIF for the first time in 36 years," he said. "It's pretty cool."

Most teams didn't do it in one season, and it's quite an accomplishment for an individual to do it in a career, but Taylor, by himself, rushed 416 times for 4,036 yards and 57 touchdowns in 2012.

In 14 games, Taylor went over 300 yards eight times. He had at least 199 yards and two touchdowns in every game except for one, a Week 3 victory over Twentynine Palms in which he rushed for 67 yards and one touchdown.

"Before Week 3 in practice, I caught my hand in between two helmets," Taylor said.

He didn't miss that Week 3 game, but played with a splint on his right hand after breaking a bone.

"It made me pay attention to holding

onto the ball more," Taylor said. "And I didn't fumble the ball when I had the splint."

Although maxpreps doesn't keep track of times individual players fumble, Taylor said he fumbled twice all season and neither were lost by Rim.

The hand injury wasn't the only one he endured during the season.

"In the Bishop game (in Week 4), I took a hit to the ribs and I got a chipped rib," he said. "It was pretty painful."

In reaching the 4,000-yard milestone, Taylor knew he would have to play through some pain, which he did. He also knew his team would have to at least reach the CIF-SS finals, which it did.

And Taylor also knew he wouldn't be able to do it without the help of his teammates.

So he presented everyone who blocked for him, 15 players in all, including backups, with a plaque, that included a picture of him with teammates, and thanks from Taylor for reaching the milestone.

"I could not have done this all by myself," he said.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Taylor now wants to prove himself to those who believe he compiled statistics against sub-par competition. He hopes to do that at tonight's all-star game against Riverside County, or in college. He has received an offer from West Point.

"I want to get some respect," he said.

Source: http://www.sbsun.com/sports/ci_22360136/rims-jacob-taylor-leads-san-bernardino-2012-all?source=rss

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