Julian Khoury is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Horizon for AZPreps365.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the night of Sept. 18 against Sunnyslope, Horizon sophomore running back Dylan Brush ran for six touchdowns, and did not celebrate a single one.

Instead, Brush handed the ball to the nearest official after each score and jogged back to his team’s sideline. That’s normal for him and surprises nobody on the field. His teammates watch the show he puts on week in and week out.

Brush carried 23 times for 407 yards, averaging 17.7 yards per carry in a 55-36 Huskies win. It was the most rushing yards by an Arizona player in a game this season, according to On3.

“I have never thought of 400 yards ever,” Brush told AZFamily.

Football runs deep in his family. Brush’s father, Lee Brush, played at Purdue during the Drew Brees era, and his grandfather coached Division I college football for several years.

“They do it the right way,” Tyson said. “Loyalty is a huge thing for them.”

The three-star running back stands 5-foot-11, weighs 180 pounds and is one of the most productive players in the state.

Through early November, Brush has 1,486 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

His season started fast. Brush opened with a 235-yard, four-touchdown performance against Verrado in a 63-34 win. A week later, he piled up 176 yards on 13 carries in a 61-0 rout of Apollo. Against McClintock, he needed only 15 carries to reach 221 yards and three scores.

Brush also runs track at Horizon. MaxPreps lists his best 100-meter time at 10.86 seconds and his best 200-meter time at 22.07 seconds. He has jumped 20 feet in the long jump and thrown the javelin 165 feet, 8 inches.

Horizon assistant coach Dustin Ditmore appreciates his willingness to branch out in sports.

“I really gravitate towards the multi-sport athletes,” Dustin said. “We’re never going to tell a kid not to play a sport because it makes you a better athlete.”

With all the athleticism one could ask for, the recruiting attention has followed.

Brush holds offers from Arizona, Washington, Oregon State, Northern Arizona and UCLA, which offered after he visited the Rose Bowl for the Bruins’ win over Nevada, according to 247Sports. He has also visited Arizona State.

Brush is appreciative of the support from head coach Tyson Ditmore.

“Coach Ditmore is amazing. He has a lot of connections,” Brush said. “I don’t want to be anywhere but Horizon.”

His father’s influence shows on Friday nights.

“My dad doesn’t believe in showboating,” Brush said. “It’s football. Celebrate with your teammates and celebrate after the end.”

Tyson, in his third season as Horizon’s head coach, said that’s the kind of player he wants setting the standard.

“He just wants to put his head down, go to work and do what’s best for the team,” Tyson said. “He values our culture over probably some of his stat lines.”

Tyson believes Brush has all of the tools to be successful.

“He’s a special kid,” Tyson said. “Special athlete, number one, but it ties into the type of person he is.”

The ability to balance both is what impresses him the most.

“The coolest part is that he’s doing everything the exact right and perfect way we want him to, and he’s having success,” Tyson said.

Brush said the rule isn’t about him; the whole team embodies it.

“We don’t showboat, and it’s not about a single person,” Brush said. “We just got to keep it humble.”

Lee is also involved in the recruiting process, and Tyson credits both of them for how Brush has handled it.

“They probably know more about the recruiting and all the rules ... more than probably anybody in the state,” Tyson said.

Dustin, Tyson’s older brother, played at New Mexico State and delivers the same message from the sideline.

“Act like you’ve been there before,” Dustin said.

He also encourages Brush to take his time.

“Get all your options out there, and commit when you’re ready,” Dustin said.

The maturity from Brush shows even when a night doesn’t go well. After a Horizon bounce-back win against Cactus Shadows earlier in the season, Brush said the Huskies can’t let one bad play define them.

“Next play, next play, even if it’s bad,” Brush said. “When we hit them in the face, go for 10 yards every play, they don’t want to keep hitting us.”

The workload continues to grow with injuries elsewhere on the roster. Brush has taken on more carries and is careful about how he handles them.

“My body’s staying healthy,  I’m recovering a lot,” Brush said. “I’m doing ice baths, all that stuff.”

As the Huskies prepare to go on the road and take on Yuma Catholic in round one of the playoffs, Brush could be the difference between an early exit and a trophy in the air at the end.