On October 31, 1986 – under a Halloween-night full moon, no less – Andalusia (Alabama) Straughn High School senior football tailback Russell Gunter accomplished the nearly unimaginable when he carried the ball a staggering national-record 72 times against Coffee Springs (Alabama) High School.

While very impressive as a record set by an individual, Gunter’s effort amazingly would also stack up very favorably with the team national record in that same category.

The NFHS’ online National High School Sports Record Book lists the team single-game national record at 90 rushing attempts, and the qualifying entry for the list at 76 attempts. As such, the 6-foot, 175-pound Gunter would be a mere four carries away from inclusion on the team national-record list.

The game came down to Straughn driving the length of the field to Coffee Springs’ four-yard line with four seconds to play. Trailing 22-21, Straughn’s coach called for a field-goal attempt that missed its mark as time expired. Gunter finished the game with 339 rushing yards.

Russell Gunter (No. 85) carrying the ball for Straughn High School.

“It was just a game of adrenaline ‑ there was so much on the line for the team and for me personally,” Gunter said. “Even though it was a long game, it was like a blur too. I remember the other team ran back two kickoffs for touchdowns, their offense was hardly on the field, and we were just pounding a traditional I-formation offense down their throats five yards at a time.

“At the time, I had no idea that I had broken a record. My running backs coach Brent Zessin was the person who keyed in on it. He investigated it and broke the news ‑ if it hadn’t been for him, that record might have never been recognized.

“The following day, I started hearing about it and the next thing I know I’m getting newspaper clips from family and friends from across the country. Then, I found out I was in USA Today and people were talking about me on TV. At first, I wasn’t happy about the record because I was worried that my yards-per-carry average wouldn’t look good and that it might hurt me with recruiters. It’s funny looking back at it now.”

In hindsight, Gunter’s prodigious single-game performance wasn’t totally unexpected or unfathomable, as he proved himself a veritable iron man by rushing 426 times over the course of Straughn’s 10-game season, which works out to a very impressive 42.6 rushes per game. In addition, Gunter also exceeded the 50-rushes mark three times, including an Alabama state-record 53. Nonetheless, it would be understandable if he might have been physically spent following 72 rushing attempts.

“People always asked me if I was worn out or exhausted, but I really don’t remember being any more exhausted than several of the other games,” Gunter said. “My mom would always give my legs a rubdown when I got home, so the next day I could be back up helping my dad with the crops on our farm. But, to answer the big question, yes, I feel like I had another four yards in me with four seconds left.“

A newspaper account of Russell Gunter’s national-record performance

Gunter started playing organized football as a nine-year-old. After exhibiting team-best speed in 30-yard sprints and catching a 10-year-old running back behind the line of scrimmage, he was moved to the defensive side of the ball.

However, midway through the season, the coaching staff decided to shift him to running back. His first rushing touchdown – a 69-yard halfback double reverse on a Saturday night in Straughn High School Stadium – was a harbinger of things to follow.

“I remember how fast I was trying to get to the end zone and nobody was even close to me, but I couldn’t get there fast enough,” Gunter recalled. “It was quiet inside my helmet and everything seemed slow motion. When I scored and saw how my friends reacted and how the fans in the stands cheered, I knew then that running the football was what I wanted to do and could do well.”

When Gunter moved into middle school football as a sixth-grader, he was smaller than the eighth-graders, so he was moved to receiver. Gunter played that position for two years and was moved to tailback in the eighth grade.

As a freshman on the varsity, Gunter mostly rode the bench behind larger and more experienced juniors and seniors. The following year, he earned substantial playing time as a starting receiver. After Gunter amassed 37 catches through the first half of his junior season, the coaching staff told the team that they needed a running back to give the defense preparation for the upcoming game. Gunter volunteered for that duty, earned the starting tailback job, and quickly proceeded to validate that assignment by carrying the ball 24 times for 174 yards and a touchdown that Friday night.

During the offseason, the returning underclassmen dedicated themselves to getting stronger and faster with considerable time in the weight room. That hard work paid early dividends during the first half of his senior year as Straughn started out a program-best 4-1 and Gunter rushed for more than 1,000 yards. However, their fortunes then turned with four narrow-margin losses ‑ 8-6, 14-13 in overtime, 3-0 in overtime and the season-ending 22-21 setback to Coffee Springs.

“Playing high school football was just fun - it was a way of life,” Gunter said. “I love competition whether it’s dominoes, horseshoes or football. I like the thrill of competing.

“As far as players whose styles I emulated, I would have to say I liked Walter Payton and John Riggins. I also read a lot of football biographies on players such as Gale Sayers and Tony Dorsett.”

In addition to playing football, Gunter also participated in basketball, tennis, baseball and track. In his primary sport of football, Gunter points to a couple keys that helped the team achieve success.

“I was raised to be tough,” Gunter began. “I’ve always had a high tolerance for pain no matter what I’m doing whether it’s football, exercising or working. I don’t believe in ‘can’t’ and I never give up on anything.

“In addition, our offensive line was huge part of our success. We had a good-sized line for our school size – we averaged 6-foot and 275 pounds with players ranging from 250 to 290 pounds - and they gutted it out in trenches. We also had a fullback who was 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds who could take on linebackers. So, it was always a collaborative effort and I could never have achieved what I did without them. I’m very appreciative of those guys.”

Perhaps making Gunter’s accomplishments even more amazing is the fact that he was born with 60- to 65-percent hearing loss in both ears. Diagnosed with uncorrectable nerve damage, Gunter has worn hearing aids since he was five years old. However, if one were to ask him, Gunter would quickly say that didn’t present any sort of insurmountable obstacle.

Russell Gunter (left) with former University of Arkansas football coach Frank Broyles.

“As a running back in the I-formation, I started when the fullback started, so it wasn’t that crucial that I hear the count,” Gunter said. “By the time I was in high school, I had received a lot of training in lip reading. As long as I could see the quarterback’s lips, I knew what the play was. So, it never really hindered me.”

Following high school, Gunter played football at Mississippi Delta Junior College, but gave up the dream of playing college football to assist his father on their family farm. He earned his degree by commuting daily more than 70 miles one-way to Troy (Alabama) State University, from which he graduated in 1992.

Today, Gunter is married to high school sweetheart, Leigh Ann, and they are the proud parents of 21-year-old son Gabe and 17-year-old daughter Haley. At 6-6, 250 pounds, Gabe was a high school baseball pitcher and football player who played a year of college football, is currently playing junior college baseball, and is being recruited by four-year colleges.

“Haley also plays sports,” Gunter said. “Her boyfriend plays football for Straughn High School and she attends all of his games, so I think she now understands football and can appreciate what I did with the record.”

Gunter is an Acquisition Program Manager with the U.S. Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he manages warhead and munitions development. He also has served as president of the Tri-County Football League for 10 years and through that teaches youngsters the fundamentals of football. In addition, he owns a company called Golf Card International.

As far as confirming the validity of his amazing high school record, Gunter need go no further than to his wife for ironclad verification.

“Leigh Ann believes me when I tell her about the record,” he began. “She has to – she was there and saw the game.”