The numbers jump off the page for Robert Heller, a freshman who has run his way into the Waynesburg record book after just two games.

Heller, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound tailback, set school records with 277 yards rushing and 46 attempts and tied another with five rushing touchdowns in a 45-35 victory against the College of Wooster last week. He also scored on a pass reception.

The previous records were 266 yards set by Mike Martinez against Kenyon in 1994 and 44 carries by Troy Westenbarger against Kenyon in 1992.

Heller's record-shattering performance earned him the Presidents' Athletic Conference Offensive player of the week.

"I think he's an All-American candidate at this level," coach Rick Shepas said of Heller, who rushed for more than 3,400 yards and scored 36 touchdowns at Ringgold High School before playing last season at Kiski School, a prep school in Saltsburg.

"He can run you over and he can run away from you."

Those are two reasons Shepas keeps being asked the same question: How did you get him?

Shepas needed patience and a little luck to land Heller, who had 230 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 32 carries in a season-opening, 28-10 victory against Muskingum. He has scored all 10 touchdowns for Waynesburg, which does not have a game this week.

"We really wanted him when he left Ringgold, but he was hoping to go Division I," Shepas said. "He didn't get a D-I sniff, but he got some D-II offers."

Heller was headed to Division II Slippery Rock last year, but failed to meet the entrance requirements and opted for prep school instead.

"We stayed after him," Shepas said. "He heard a lot of good things about Waynesburg."

Heller is lighting up Division III, and his presence has stamped Waynesburg as a contender in the PAC.

"We did see this coming, but we're getting ... and then some," Shepas said. "We knew what we had."

Heller's breakaway running has energized the entire offense and eased the loss of Ryan Abels, the school's all-time leading rusher.

"We plugged Heller in. The No. 1 thing we needed to accomplish was find someone to replace Abels," Shepas said. "Because he can take it the distance every time he touches the ball, he has created a lot of excitement for our offensive linemen. They know they have to give him just a little room and he can take care of the rest."

Can Heller maintain this torrid pace the remainder of the season?

"No question, it's possible," Shepas said of Heller, who ran a 4.3 in the 40 this summer. "We hope we can continue to mature as an offense, and I want to make sure we use his talent to the fullest without overusing him."

Shepas was asked what more can he do with Heller.

"We could throw him the ball more," he said. "He's just scratching the surface."

After two games, Heller already is in position to challenge the school rushing record for a season of 1,299 yards set by Abels in 2005 and the 20 touchdowns in a season by receiver Don Herrmann in 1968. Hermann played eight years in the NFL with the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.

"It's great to have a great player like Heller," Shepas said. "It certainly makes me a better coach."