​Alphabetically, Gavin Zillman would be listed last among District 10’s returning running backs from its 2025 season. Statistically, the Harbor Creek senior-to-be tells a different story. Zillman’s 1,395 rushing yards ranked third overall according to goerie.com statistics. Only Meadville graduate Jordan Lawrence (1,651) and Fort LeBoeuf graduate Skyler Sadowski (1,492) gained more. Harbor Creek High School junior Gavin Zillman throws during a District 10 football game against General McLane in Harborcreek Township on Aug. 29, 2025. Zillman, who averaged 10.2 yards per carry, also recorded 14 rushing touchdowns. Those numbers don’t include occasional plays where he threw (268) and caught passes (115) as a Huskie. Zillman’s last varsity season begins Aug. 28, when Harbor Creek makes a brief trip to North East for the teams’ opener at Ted Miller Stadium. He’s one of the district’s six 1,000-yard backs due back this fall.
Harbor Creek High School junior Gavin Zillman runs the ball against Iroquois during a District 10 football game in Harborcreek Township on Oct. 24, 2025. (GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS) The other five, in alphabetical order, are: Aidan Arnold, sr., Girard: Finished with 1,230 yards and 10 touchdowns for the YellowJackets. His total offense exceeded 1,500 by adding his receiving yards out of their backfield. DaZarie Carson, sr., Cathedral Prep: Rushed for 1,165 yards and 17 TDs for the 2025 Ramblers. He seeks to help the program return to the postseason, which it sat out last year for the first time since 1997. Kelvin Morrison, sr., Hickory: His 1,223 yards and 15 scores were reasons the Hornets were the district’s Region 4 champions and seeded first for its Class 3A tournament. Caiden Mincer, sr., Franklin: A bright spot for the Knights, who were 2-8 last fall. He still managed 1,065 yards and seven TDs out of their backfield. Jaydin O’Neill, sr., Titusville: Returns to the Rockets as their top threat with the ball. He scored 10 times out of his 173 carries for 1,067 yards.
Fans can determine their favorite returning running back from those mentioned above in the ballot below. It will run from July 8 at 5 a.m. through July 15 at 5 a.m. Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Vote to determine District 10’s top returning running back for its 2026 season for better SEO.