Returning to the stories of the Legendary Roughrider Runningbacks from the list of 3000 yard career rushers, let’s take a look at number eight on that list - Justin Nagel.
Playing on three Roughrider teams from 2002-04 that won 30 games and lost only 8, Nagel finished his career with 3112 yards. His outstanding accomplishment was achieved despite conflicts with personal desire and against nagging injuries. Nagel’s football career almost ended his junior year, which was shortened by a knee injury.
His best season was his sophomore year when he gained 1292 yards. It was also his healthiest year. He rushed for about 794 yards in his junior year, 2003, which was injury-plagued and shortened. While he didn’t quite come back to top form his senior year, he chalked up another 1036 yards playing for the 2004 Division III State of Ohio Runners-up.
His successes, largely enhanced by personal efforts, was also helped by a supportive cast of teammates on his offensive lines, and in the backfield.
Another classmate on the 2002 squad, QB Corey Vossler figured prominently in Nagel’s success not only in 2002, but later through '03 and '04. Vossler brought many talents to both the offense and the defense. His quickness kept defenses honest. He also created big plays on defense like game winning interceptions and other pass coverage.
Nagel also depended on his '02 senior linemen, numbers 51 Jeffrey Makley, 56 John Pfeffenberger, 70 Justin Blumhorst, 71 Matthew Klosterman and offensive end 87 Matthew Schlater. Added to this experienced group was junior standout 66 Nathan Dickman.
The Riders of 2003 produced a season of miracle finishes like no other season in Memorial High School football history. Finishing 9-1 for the regular season with an outright WBL Championship, and qualifying for the play-offs, the Roughriders won games in the last moments of play that brought delirium to their fans, and utter disbelief to their opponents.
Ridertown.com’s The Spring Street Journal wrote these openings for the following game stories:
- Sidney 10 - St. Marys 14:
SIDNEY-- When it comes to fumbles, what goes around comes around.
It looked like a game-killer.
For the second time in the game the Riders lost a fumble inside the Sidney 10 yard line. The second time came with less than three minutes left to play and the Yellowjackets leading 10-7.
Shawn Craft lost the handle on the ball as he appeared to be crossing the goal line. Sidney recovered the loose ball in its own end zone and seemed to have the game in hand.
However, on the very next play, the Riders defense stripped the ball from Sidney tailback Zach Guey, and recovered it on the Sidney 15. Five plays later Craft redeemed himself, scoring from two yards out with 34 seconds to play.
- Defiance 15 - St. Marys 19:
"Our defense got the job done tonight," St. Marys Head Coach Doug Frye said after the game, "and our offense and special teams found a way to win."
For the second straight week, St. Marys took advantage of an opponent's fumble to come from behind in the fourth quarter. Two plays after scooping up a loose ball in Defiance territory, Eric Sullivan scored on a 24-yard run to give the Roughriders a 19-14 lead with 6:47 left in the game.
- Wapakoneta 20 - St. Marys 21:
...From there Nagel gained four yards and then Sensabaugh ran a quarterback sneak for five yards and a touchdown with 3:45 left to play.
Next came game gift No. 2, as the Skins were unable to snap the ball cleanly on the PAT. Yahl covered things up to preserve a one-point St. Marys lead.
- Van Wert 7 - St. Marys 14:
SKIP BAUGHMAN STADIUM -- Never a dull moment for the 2003 Roughrider football squad that hasn’t been dominating, but still wears the tag "undefeated" five games into the season.
Friday night at Skip Baughman Stadium, the Riders used a fourth-quarter goal line stand to preserve a 14-7 win over Van Wert and maintain first place in the Western Buckeye League.
- Shawnee 26 - St. Marys 32:
SKIP BAUGHMAN STADIUM -- Unbelievable, amazing, incredible… take your pick.
It was a Homecoming thriller Friday night at Skip Baughman Stadium, as St. Marys scored the winning touchdown on a blocked punt with no time left on the clock.
- Celina 14 - St. Marys 16:
CELINA -- A perfect finish to a season of fantastic finishes.
Nick Pfeffenberger kicked an improbable, unbelievable, school-record 40-yard field goal as time ran out to lift St. Marys to a 16-14 win over Celina Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
And so it went for the season.
But for Justin Nagel, it was an injury shortened year. While he played well, he was limited to under 800 yards leaving his fans wondering could he have gained more than 3799 yards for his three years had he stayed healthy.
Number 66 Nathan Dickman was back at guard along with 59 Luke Cron. Midway through the season Bo Frye changed over to offensive runningback, filling in for other injury related losses of backfield personnel. This gave the Rider offense a “punch” in their ground game that made opponents change how they defended against the run.
As the 2004 season approached Rider fans, among the most knowledgeable football fans around, buzzed about the upcoming season. Was Nagel recovered from his surgery? Would Bo Frye remain in the offensive backfield?
The answer to both questions was yes.
The 2004 season would see the Riders win 13 games, win a 2nd-in-a-row WBL Title, become the first Rider team to play a 15-game season, and win state runner-up for Division III. Justin Nagel and Bo Frye would combine for 2845 yards on the season, tying the mark set in 1993 by Shawn Lamb and Adam Kerns.
Bo Frye had taken over as the go-to ball carrier. Justin Nagel played all season and at times fought off nagging leg and knee problems. He gained an impressive 1036 yards, many of them against Division III powerhouses from Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland.
Against Columbus Bishop Watterson, Nagel was playing hurt. To continue to go back in on offense, he constantly trotted up and down keeping his legs ready behind the team bench while the defense was on the field.
“Justin Nagel had a great game for us,” said Head Coach Frye of his senior runningback, who carried the ball seven times for 98 yards. “he played very hard, and he was playing through a hamstring injury.”
Linemen that played up front of Bo Frye and Justin Nagel included 58 Jared Ackley, 63 Zach Ferrall, 64 Dillon Wilges, and a freshman by the name of Aaron Pfeffenberger number 57. Closer to the ends were 73 Travis Neal, and 78 Adam Meeker, with 88 Adam Johns at end.
No runningback becomes a star without a team around him. Sometimes though a runningback contributes something that makes a whole team play just a little better than average. It can be simple as breaking a tackle maybe two times in a game, or finding the “daylight” enough times to get that extra TD. Justin Nagel played through injury, and other adversities enough to discourage anybody. His desire to play and win certainly justifies writing about his successes.
