King Henry: Yulee RB Derrick Henry sets national rushing record

YULEE - Untouched, seldom approached and growing in legend with each passing decade, the national high school rushing record has a new owner.

Meet Derrick Henry, new king of the high school record books.

The Yulee senior broke Ken Hall's 59-year-old rushing record in spectacular fashion on a chilly Friday night against Taylor County, ripping off a 52-yard touchdown run two plays into the second quarter to cap his run to history. Henry surpassed Hall's record 11,232 yards on the carry. He now has 11,612 yards in his career. 

Photo Gallery: Derrick Henry sets national rushing record

The Hornets went on to win the Region 1-4A semifinal game 41-26. 

"I'm glad for him," said Hall, 76, from his Fredericksburg, Texas home shortly after being told Henry had broken his record.

"I've always said, when it's broken, I hope they will honor it, be humble about it and realize that they alone didn't do it. I don't know [Henry] that well, but from what he said on the phone, he seems like a nice young man. You don't have a choice in that matter [of who breaks the record], you sure hope he's made of the right material, and I think that he is."

Hall, branded the "Sugar Land Express," gained 11,232 yards during his time in high school in Texas. He went on to play for legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at Texas A&M, and then professionally in Canada and the NFL-AFL.

WATCH: Derrick Henry talks about his national rushing record.

All-Access: Gene Frenette: Yulee's offensive line paved the way for Derrick Henry's national record run

While Hall's record had survived every challenger until now, Henry's blistering senior season had fans asking "what if?" on a weekly basis. He opened the season with a 336-yard performance against Gainesville, the state's top-ranked team in Class 6A, broke the state's single-game record with 502 yards against Jackson and never slowed down. Henry, who started the season with 7,864 yards, broke Travis Henry's regular-season rushing record last week against Hamilton County. He opened the night just 103 yards away from Hall's hallowed mark, set in 38 games from 1950-53.

Justin Barney: (904) 359-4248