NORMAL - Sean Hastings' football career took a detour last year. A short-lived move to Florida coincided with the discovery of two stress fractures in his lower back.

So while Hastings returned to University High School a week into the regular season, he could only watch as the Pioneers went 3-6. The back needed time to heal, keeping a lid on the potential he showed as a sophomore.

The good news?

Like most, this detour was temporary. A healthy Hastings has found his way back to the fast lane. The potential has been unleashed, and in breathtaking fashion.

"You see them bending over and panting and stuff," Hastings said of would-be tacklers. "It's a great feeling. I love it."

The speedy senior tailback has been a big-play machine for the resurgent Pioneers, averaging a Pantagraph-area best 11.0 yards per carry. Hastings' 658 yards rushing includes touchdown runs of 80, 62, 61, 37 and 24 yards.

He has fueled a two-game win streak that has U High (3-3) in contention for its first playoff berth since 2003.

"You always feel you're a little out of shape when you've been out of something for a year," Hastings said. "I knew it would be hard coming back (to football), and it kind of has been getting back to the pace of the game. But I've adjusted."

Now, the pressure is on defenses to adjust.

The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Hastings ran for 171 yards on only 13 carries in last week's 14-0 win over Sherrard, highlighted by his 80-yard TD. A week earlier, he rushed for 222 yards in 18 attempts, scoring on 24- and 61-yard runs to help defeat Prairie Central.

That comes to 393 yards on 31 carries, a 12.7 average which has U High coach Kurt Olson smiling ahead of tonight's 7:45 game against Rantoul at Hancock Stadium.

"He's running hard, and he's running through tackles better than he was early in the season," Olson said. "He has the speed that once he breaks the second level, he can take it to the house.

"In addition to Sean running better, I think our blocking has improved each week. We're starting to open up bigger holes for him, and guys are sustaining their blocks."

Hastings is used to working with blocks. A sprinter, he has advanced to the state track meet three straight years for U High.

His 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds is fastest on a team Olson said has the best speed in his five years as coach.

"I've had good blocking all around, and once I see open field, I always go for the touchdown," Hastings said. "I like to get a little added boost to try and beat the guys (to the end zone)."

There were no footraces - in pads or otherwise - for Hastings a year ago at this time.

His back injury, which he said may have occurred the previous football season, required rest. He did not need surgery, just "recuperation and mild physical therapy."

He was healthy enough to run track in the spring, and his success this fall has piqued Hastings' interest in pursuing football in college "to see how far I can progress."

For now, he hopes to continue rewarding his teammates for clearing his path.

"You have to repay them for what they do," Hastings said. "It's a huge motivational boost (to break a long run). You can see it once you score.

"Everybody is up and happy again. That makes them work that much harder, because they want to see it again."