Diminutive running back has come up big for Mountain Valley

RUMFORD – Devin Roberts is about the same age as the school he plays tailback for, and over the course of both of their lives, playing that position at Mountain Valley has required a lot of heavy lifting.

“In the past, we’ve always been a running team. The running backs would get the ball 30 times a game,” Roberts said.

When Roberts, a wing-back as a junior, moved to tailback this year, it would have been understandable if he thought a similar workload was his birthright. But with the emergence of Mountain Valley’s passing game and sophomore all-purpose back Justin Staires, Roberts hasn’t had to be a workhorse like most of his predecessors. And that’s fine with him.

“On average now, I get the ball about 12 times a game,” Roberts said. “I like it. I love the way we spread our offense around. We have a lot more weapons than just one person.”

He’s made the most of his opportunities, rushing for over 1,200 yards. The quantity might be higher with more carries, but it’s the quality of each carry that Falcons’ coach Jim Aylward is looking to maximize.

“Devin and I have this conversation a lot about how we purposely try to play him one way. He’s a great little defensive player and when we need to, we play him,” Aylward said. “We have a philosophy that at some point, Devin’s going to make a difference in the big games, and if we keep him rested, keep him fresh…I like the idea of having my tailback be the freshest kid on the field Saturday.”

The Falcons may be saving Roberts for that critical late drive or to protect a lead by killing the clock in Saturday’s state final against Winslow, but he’s had a knack for crushing opponents’ spirits early, too.

Witness three big plays he made in wins over Gray-New Gloucester and Lake Region. The first two times the Falcons had the ball against G-NG, they gave it to Roberts, who went the distance for 88 and 95-yard scoring runs. Against Lake Region, playing in a driving rain storm, he took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

Apparently, Roberts developed his penchant for impressive opening statements early in his varsity career. In 2004, the last time Mountain Valley met Winslow for the state title, he recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff to set up a Falcon touchdown and send them on their way to a 21-7 victory.

“That was the most exciting thing that happened my sophomore season,” he said. “It’s awesome to get the chance to go back there again and to play in that game.”

At 5-foot-7, 148 pounds, Roberts draws a lot of comparisons to his predecessor, Aaron Arsenault, another diminutive tailback. He says he understands the comparison, but doesn’t think their running styles compare.

“A lot of people would say ‘You’re the next Aaron Arsenault,'” Roberts said. “I want to be the next Devin Roberts.”