Backed up as deep as they could go in their own territory, Keith High School coach Harry Crum just planned to get the team out of the shadow of their own goal line.

He called a buck sweep for senior speedster Tadere White.

White followed linemen Oscar Pettway and Glennid Gaines to the outside. Picking up a good block from wide receiver Marcus Tabb, White found a seam and turned on the jets.

A handful of seconds later White was in the end zone and the state record books with a 99-yard touchdown run.

White’s modesty aside, his run was more than a 99-yard walk in the park.

Fellow running back Emmett Dukes, watching from the sidelines, knew sooner.

White wasn’t so sure.

Once he crossed the goal line, White said he didn’t even think about tying the state record.

Because a ball sitting on the goal line would be a safety, 99-yards is the longest possible run in Alabama High School football.

At least one other shares the mark with White, but he’ll always be a co-record holder.

And he wasn’t at his best.

Feeling good or not, White not only ran his way into the record books, but he is the team’s leading rusher as well.

Unfortunately for Bears’ opponents he’s not the only one. White has 388 yards in three games, Dukes has 337 and Jimmie Richardson has 233 on 32 carries. The trio provides a potent attack for Crum.

While Dukes and Richardson will make defenses pay if they focus too much attention on White, the opponents better not forget about the state record holder.

Despite the attention and accolades, the humble White shrugs away most of the praise.