Amanda Price had big expectations for New Albany running back Boston Newsome.

She told him as much last November after the Bulldogs lost a first-round playoff game.

“He and Amanda had a conversation on the field. She told him he had the opportunity to be the best running back in the state this year. He’s never forgotten that statement,” New Albany coach Ron Price said. “It’s kind of been his motivation this year to prove to her he could accomplish that.”

Ron Price’s wife, Amanda, was killed less than a month later.

Newsome leads Class 4A in rushing and is second in Mississippi with 1,753 yards this season. He has 19 touchdowns and carried the ball a workhorse 313 times.

“He takes pride in that. He comes to practice every day and has carried it 300 times and never complained,” Price said. “He just takes the ball.”

The senior is averaging nearly 160 yards per game and even threw a touchdown last week. Against North Pontotoc earlier this month, he had season-highs of 36 carries, 306 yards and five TDs.

The Bulldogs (7-4) won Division 2-4A after beating two-time state champion Lafayette. They host Gentry to open the playoffs Friday.

Price said Newsome is always reminding his team of who the season is for.

“Just little things like that really mean a lot to me,” Price said. “It’s just neat that she and him had that conversation and he has put in the work in the offseason and all summer to make that happen.”

brandon.speck@journalinc.com