Eugene Nottingham's numbers this season - a Long Island-record 2,197 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns - were good, but hardly eye-popping.

The Amityville High (N.Y.) senior running back will be the first to admit that. If he had his way this season, he would have been a little busier.

"My statistics may not be as good as some of those other guys, but what separates me from them is that I did what I did in three quarters of most games," says Nottingham. "I rarely played in the fourth quarter. If I had more carries, my stats would be much better."

Poor Eugene. All Nottingham did this season was carry his team into the Long Island final for the second consecutive year, where the Warriors fell to Bethpage High, 29-28. For his efforts, Nottingham was the recipient of the Hansen Award, which is given annually to the top Suffolk County football player.

Nottingham is also one of three finalists in the Northeast region for the inaugural High School Heisman awards, joining Cardinal O'Hara High (Pa.) running back Kevin Jones and Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.) defensive lineman Charles Rush. The winner from the Northeast and the five other regions will be announced during the first-ever National High School Football All-Star Game in Dallas, Texas, on Dec. 30.

"During my time here, Eugene has to be one of the top two players I've ever coached, and I don't know who the other one is," says Amityville coach Len Mattera.

Nottingham, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound combination of speed and power, was honored yet stunned when informed that he was a Heisman finalist.

"That's great," says Nottingham, who is undecided on his college plans. "It feels good. I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a finalist. I had an excellent season. I broke records I didn't even know about. I didn't know anything about this award? but it just shows that all of the hard work in the summer pays off."

It would have been easy to forgive Nottingham for coming into his senior season a little out of shape. After all, he was the main reason Amityville wrapped up its first Long Island crown last season. Nottingham scored three touchdowns in an 18-16 victory over Garden City High in the Class III final.

But he didn't. He pushed himself during the summer, lowering his 40-yard time to 4.4 seconds. He was a model of consistency throughout this season, never gaining fewer than 125 yards during any game. Nottingham opened the season with 136 yards on 14 carries in a 28-9 victory over East Hampton High. He ran for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 44-15 rout of Half Hollow Hills West High midway through the season. And in the Suffolk Division III title game, Nottingham ran through Kings Park High for 227 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Warriors to a 40-16 win.