Blair Skilliter knew that in order to stand out as a potential starting running back at Mount Union College in the fall of 2009, he was going to have to run fast.

“Mount Union had 40 running backs last season,” said the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Skilliter, a 2009 Genoa graduate and a first-team All-Ohio tailback during his senior year with the Comets. “You have to perform when you can. I ran a 4.3 (second) 40 my first day there. I'm not a big guy, so my size isn't going to turn their heads. Speed is a gift and I have to use that to get noticed and make plays.”

Skilliter saw some playing time on the Purple Raiders' varsity and junior varsity teams as a freshman. He played in eight games this season and had 23 carries for 52 yards and caught two passes for 3 yards. He scored one touchdown, on a 1-yard run against Wilmington.

“I was definitely very happy,” Skilliter said of the score. “I felt more like a part of the team and more a part of the game, like I was contributing more.”

Skilliter had a senior year at Genoa that most high school athletes can only dream about.

He was voted the 2008 Suburban Lakes League Player of the Year after rushing for 1,076 yards and 17 touchdowns and catching 12 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Skilliter also kicked two field goals, returned eight kickoffs for a 25.9 average and returned 15 punts for a 14.6 average and two touchdowns.

At linebacker, he had 35 unassisted tackles and assisted on 60 others while recovering two fumbles with one interception. He also scored two TDs on defense.

Skilliter said his goal was to play college football, and a few Division I and Division II programs showed some interest.

“It seemed like my best opportunity to play and be successful was at Mt. Union,” said Skilliter, who is majoring in exercise science. “They have a great academic program that drew my interest, also.”

Skilliter said playing for coach Mike Vicars at Genoa got him ready to step up to the college game.

“Coach Vicars runs a great program and it definitely prepared me for the next level,” Skilliter said. “The time commitment wasn't too different, but from a talent level, that was a big difference. Getting used to playing against better athletes, that was a big change.”

Two other Genoa natives, Tyler Miller and Greg Hillabrand, played on the Purple Raiders' junior varsity team this season.

Miller (5-10, 220), a sophomore defensive lineman, graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School and was a three-year letterman and a first-team All-City League player. Hillabrand (5-9, 224), a freshman running back, was a first-team All-Ohio selection for the Comets in 2009.

Skilliter is banking on his versatility to earn more playing time next season.

“I'm used pretty much as a speed back,” Skilliter said. “It's similar to high school because I carry the ball outside a lot and they line me up as a slot receiver. I liked that a lot. I had high expectations going into this season. I had hoped for more playing time, but I was happy to get what I did.”

The Purple Raiders, who have won 10 NCAA Division III national titles under head coach Larry Kehres, played for the championship again this season but came up short. Top-seeded Wisconsin-Whitewater met second-seeded Mt. Union in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on Dec. 18 and handed the Purple Raiders a 31-21 loss.

It was Mt. Union's second straight championship game loss to Wisconsin-Whitewater. Both teams entered the game with 14-0 records.

“It's always an exciting season, especially in the playoffs,” Skilliter said. “The playoffs were very interesting because we weren't the top seed in our bracket. We weren't guaranteed any home games, so we had to keep winning and other teams had to keep losing for us to get a home game. You didn't know where you were playing, which made it an exciting time.

“When you play at Mt. Union (located in Alliance, Ohio) it's a pretty intimidating place to play. We were disappointed we lost. We went into the game expecting to win, like we do every game.”

Skilliter has developed a strong rapport with second-year running backs coach Nate Kmic, who played for Vicars at Delta High School. Kmic was a three-time All-America running back for the Purple Raiders and holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards (8,074).

“He definitely knows the kind of program Vicars runs and the players he produces,” Skilliter said, “and he knows the work ethic Vicars demands out of his players. (Kmic) demands that out of us. It's pretty cool to have him as a coach. He's a coach, but he's more of a friend.”

Kmic said Skilliter, who has a 3.3 GPA, has proven to be a reliable athlete and student at Mt. Union.

“Blair is one of those guys you really don't have to worry about too much,” Kmic said. “He's going to get the job done in the classroom and you don't have to hound him constantly to come to practice. He has a great work ethic. You're going to get everything you ask out of him and he's going to give you 100 percent. Next year I can see him getting the ball a little bit more in space and doing different things as far as screens and things like that. That's what he's best at, getting the ball out in space.”

Skilliter said his goal is to help Mt. Union get over the hump in the national title game.

“We didn't win the national championship this year or last year,” he said. “We're very hungry to get a national championship, or two, and win out. I'll do whatever it takes to help my team get back to the national championship game. If that requires me to take a role, I'll do that. I just want to win.”

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