Sophomore running back breaks Burke County record with top 10 NC performance Friday
.JPG "Draughn High sophomore running back Nigel Dula set a new Burke County record Friday")
The folks who keep up with the N.C. high school football record book are sure keeping busy these days.
Three weeks ago, Cardinal Gibbons Donovan Shepard broke a 9-year-old state mark when he ran for 539 yards. Friday, Draughn High sophomore Nigel Dula broke the seven-year-old Burke County rushing record set by Freedom’s B.J. Emmons.
Dula ran 23 times for 478 yards in a 56-9 win over Elkin. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter, but still turned in the sixth best performance ever by a N.C. high school player.
For the season, Dula, who is 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, has rushed for 1,319 yards.
Top 10 NCHSAA rushing performances
| Rk. | Name (School) | Year | Yards |
| 1. | Donovan Shepard (Cardinal Gibbons) | 2021 | 539 |
| 2. | TJ Logan (Northern Guilford) | 2012 | 510 |
| 3. | Kenny Purvis (Central Cabarrus) | 2013 | 505 |
| 4. | Akile Jones (Lejuene) | 2011 | 490 |
| 5. | Greg Williams (Enloe) | 2005 | 484 |
| 6. | Nigel Dula (Draughn) | 2021 | 478 |
| 7. | Cory Hunter (Fuquay-Varina) | 2009 | 463 |
| 8. | Mike Hill (Harnett Central) | 2003 | 461 |
| 9. | Jager Gardner (Charles D. Owen) | 2013 | 459 |
| 10. | Carter Sharpe (EE Smith) | 2004 | 457 |
Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer