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Rummell Tosses Winning TD
Pass in For Immediate Release: 
Earlham quarterback Justin Rummell dives for the end zone against Wabash College on Sept. 30. RICHMOND, Ind. — While the invitation to play in the East Coast Bowl may have come in the last minute, Earlham College senior Justin Rummell took advantage of the opportunity and threw a touchdown pass on the final play of the game. The two-yard scoring strike to Wendell Johnson of Fairmont State (W.Va.) lifted the North to a 26-24 victory at Cameron Field in Petersburg, Va., on Nov. 25. "I scrambled to my left and threw a screen pass," Rummel said. "We scored, and then the fireworks went off." Playing in the second and fourth quarters, Rummell completed 11-of-17 passes for 123 yards. The Ingalls, Ind., native also rushed for 17 yards on six carries. In its sixth year, the East Coast Bowl is an all-star event is for non-Division I-A student-athletes. Rummell was invited to Virginia just two days before the participants began arriving for pre-game activities on Nov. 22. After making the travel arrangements on short notice, he had to prepare for the level of competition. "The defensive backs were quick, but so were the receivers," Rummell said. "The biggest difference was the speed of the defensive line. I'm used to tucking the ball and getting five yards or so, but they really tried to strip the ball." The incentives for Rummell to scurry out to the East Coast included the increased exposure of the all-stars to professional scouts — particularly those from the National Football League. "It was a chance for me to show what I could do at a higher level," Rummell said. Nearly 20 scouts from the NFL have visited Rummell on campus and some attended games this fall. "It was surprising," Rummell said of his first visitor back in February. "After that, more and more teams kept calling." "Justin's quick release, accuracy and intelligence — along with his competitive nature — have attracted those scouts onto our campus," Earlham Head Coach Gerry Keesling said. "Hopefully, there are more chapters to be written about Justin." "I want to play at the next level," said Rummell, a business and non-profit management major with a psychology minor. He will receive his bachelor's degree in December. Record-Setting Career Rummell compiled North Coast Athletic Conference career records for completions (789) and passing yards (9,390). The All-NCAC First Team quarterback in 2004, he earned second-team honors in 2006 and received honorable mention in 2003. Rummell also was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week seven times over the past five years. 
Head Football Coach Gerry Keesling says of senior quarterback Justin Rummell, "I will miss his intuition and passion for the game." In 2006, Rummell completed 226-of-397 passes for 2,706 yards and 26 touchdowns. For his career, Rummell connected on 789-of-1,364 aerials for 9,390 yards and 76 touchdowns. All of the numbers are Earlham records. "It's awesome to break all of those records, but I think that's something I'm going to appreciate when I'm older," Rummell said. "Right now, I'm disappointed because I came here to help turn the program around and win the conference. But I had a great time with all of my friends and coaches, and I don't regret anything." One of Rummell's most legendary games was a seven-touchdown performance in Earlham's 69-62 victory over Manchester in September 2005. The 131 points set a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III record for the most scoring in a game by both teams. Unfortunately, Rummell tore all of the ligaments in his right foot during the battle — the second game of his first senior season. "When I was hurt, I thought that I would never get to play for Earlham again," Rummell said. The NCAA granted Rummell a medical hardship and an extra year of eligibility, so he was able to return for a fifth year with the Quakers. The result was another record-breaking season and now, the possibility of a professional football career. — EC — Contact:
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Earlham
College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |