Plantation football coach Frank Hepler describes his 1993 Colonels as a multiple team with a multiple player.

The player is Keith Beard. He runs from the tailback position. He catches passes coming out of the backfield. He returns punts and kickoffs.

Counting nearly 800 yards rushing, about 400 yards receiving, and return yardage, Beard wasn’t far short of totaling 2,000 all-purpose yards in 1992. So it came as no surprise when he said his goal for 1993 was 2,000 yards.

“No, I don’t mean all-purpose yards,” Beard said. “I mean 2,000 rushing yards. I know that is a lot of running, but we have a lot of talent returning. Last year we were a little inexperienced in the offensive line, but this year we have the whole offensive line returning.”

Beard is counting on experienced blockers to help him in his quest for 2,000. The veteran offensive line features tackles Paul Bernard and Bill DeBello. The guards are Jamie Fisher and Jerry Carmichael. The center is Doug Skinner.

Beard scored 18 touchdowns last season. He is being counted on for similar production this year. The passing attack is where the Colonels could be most improved.

Senior quarterback Mike Lazo has a trio of fleet receivers as targets – sophomores Rodney Fletcher and Ulysses Stanley and junior Chris Allen.

“We are going to be a multiple team with the pass and run,” said Hepler. “We have a tailback who runs well, receivers who can catch and a quarterback who can throw.”

But Beard is the key player on the unit.

“He has the potential to do great things, if he keeps working and practicing like he has been,” said Hepler. “On the other hand, if everybody on defense goes after him, that will open up some of our other areas of offense.”

And should the offense break down after crossing midfield, there is always Chris Gardner. A senior placekicker, Gardner kicks off into the end zone with regularity and has connected from as far as 65 yards on field goal attempts in practice.

Add to this an experienced defense, which Hepler expects to be at least as strong as the offense, and it’s evident why the Colonels are optimistic they can improve last year’s 5-5 record.

“I think we can do real good, a lot better than last year,” said Beard. “I think we should go undefeated, and I am not worried about disappointing anybody.”

Even if opponents key on stopping Beard’s running, he will be a major part of the offense. He played wide receiver for four years for the Southwest Saints before enrolling at Plantation.

“When I got to high school they gave me a football and told me to run at somebody on the first day of practice,” Beard said. “The No. 1 player they had on defense couldn’t stop me. I ran right through him twice and then he wanted to fight. He couldn’t believe he couldn’t stop me.”

Four games into his freshman season, Beard was a starting varsity running back and he has held that position ever since. But his receiving skills have not been forgotten. He averaged nearly 20 yards per reception last year. He also averaged 20 yards per kickoff return, and returned a punt for a touchdown.