It’s actually a glamorous role in Oxford Hills’ version of the triple option, though, and all 170-or-so pounds of Jake Spinhirn is taking full advantage.

Only George Chaison-Lapine of Portland and Dane Johnson of Bangor — arguably the top two returning backs in Class A North — have rushed for more yards than Spinhirn through five conference games.

“I’ve got to run really hard, because I’m not the biggest,” Spinhirn said. “It’s different from being our ‘Z’ back when every time you get the ball, you’re going outside. Fullback you’re going down the middle.”

Relentlessly, at that, and with results that have the Vikings (1-4) hopeful of a late-season run at the playoffs for the second consecutive season. They host Deering on Friday night at Gouin Athletic Complex.

Spinhirn has rushed for 688 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging eight yards per carry, a number that admittedly is skewed by a 95-yard touchdown run and an 80-yard ramble to set up another score in last week’s 34-0 win at Massabesic.

“We knew he was athletic,” Oxford Hills coach Mark Soehren said. “When he was a freshman, they ran toss to him, and he was great in space.”

There weren’t many varsity touches to evaluate on film. The Vikings relied heavily the previous two years on the tandem of Malik Geiger and Davis Turner, the latter now playing linebacker at the University of Maine.

Spinhirn estimated that he averaged “about two carries per game” in that arrangement, but it was enough to convince the coaches that they had an heir apparent on their hands.

“With what we were doing this year, I thought Jake would be pretty good, because he is great at reading openings and cutting,” Soehren said. “It’s been a little adjustment to him, going downhill and hitting that hole as fast as you can and then letting the holes open for him. He has been in the weight room a lot. He’s been coachable, really been listening about how to play that position.”

Soehren’s faith was rewarded on the first carry of the season, when Spinhirn made a Cheverus tackler miss at the point of attack and raced 71 yard to the end zone.

Kyle Dexter, Matt Smith and John Bowen have logged a handful of runs to provide the balance, but Spinhirn is the workhorse. It’s a role that fits his personality like a well-worn practice jersey.

“This is definitely the most carries I’ve ever gotten. I love it. It’s fun,” Spinhirn said. “You definitely get hit more. It’s kind of fun, actually. Davis was always the type to punch you in the mouth down the middle, so I’m trying to fill his spot.”

Spinhirn scored three times against Massabesic.

Soehren said his value as a team player was most visible in his reaction to Dexter getting to punch it in when the coach gave Spinhirn a breather after his second long-distance jaunt of the evening.

“He just said, ‘Ah, I don’t care,'” the coach recalled.

True to form, Spinhirn gave Oxford Hills’ front five of Gunnar Docos, Marcelo Mazariego, Bill Mazariego, Jarrod Taylor and Nate Cleveland and downfield blockers Bowen and Cordell Stuart most of the credit for his 295 yards against the Mustangs.

It’s a total that hadn’t been seen around these parts since the glory days of Jeremy Tardiff and Jim Bower.

“Offensive line and outside blocking are where we’ve improved the most. The past couple of games we’ve seen that they want to block and get out there and get the job done,” Spinhirn said. “We’re definitely more physical. Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do. Usually the first three games there are questions, and it’s like, ‘You should know this by now.’ Now they’re getting it and know what they’re doing, and I think they’re more confident.”

Soehren only questions the choice to move Spinhirn to fullback when he watches him in practice during a hands drill.

“We haven’t even utilized him out of the backfield as a receiver, and if you watch him at practice, he’ll catch balls one-handed behind his back,” Soehren said. “I remember when he was younger I said, ‘Jake, you should really catch the ball with two hands,’ and he looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about.”

If the palms of Spinhirn’s hands aren’t slippery, these days would-be tacklers would swear the rest of him is made of baking grease.

“When he moves laterally, he doesn’t slow down too much,” Soehren said.

That’s no longer Spinhirn’s priority.

“Last year I was more of an east-west runner,” he said. “This year I’m reading blocks, cutting it up and going.”

koakes@sunjournal.com