CARMEL >> It began as an experiment. A fierce hitting safety with an understanding of the offense, Ashton Rees was asked to moonlight as a tailback out of the “Wildcat” formation, where the runner, not the quarterback, takes the snap from center.

As a result in 2023 Rees rushed for a team-high 15 touchdowns on just 55 carries for Carmel High, while living up to the hype of being a college football-caliber safety on defense.

So, when the multi-sport athlete was asked to resume the role on offense again this past fall for the Padres, Rees’ assumption was he would primarily be taking direct snaps out of the Wildcat, nothing more.

“We needed someone to fill the spot,” Rees said. “But I had no idea it was going to turn into a full-time thing. I thought it would mainly be out of the Wildcat, or short-yardage situations.”

The more touches Rees got, the better he performed. An offense that could torch opponents with its aerial attack, had a ground game to complement its assault on opponents.

Not only did Reese leave a legacy at Carmel, but he piled up a school-record 36 touchdowns in the 13 games he touched the ball and was named The Herald’s Offensive Player of the Year.

“We knew we needed some volume at the position,” Carmel coach Golden Anderson said. “I did not necessarily foresee this. We just wanted to be creative and give him five or six more touches a game.”

That changed in the Padres’ season-opener when the 6-foot-2 Rees handled the ball 19 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns in a come-from-behind win over Christopher.

“I was shocked,” Rees said. “I’ve mainly played defensive most of my life. I’m used to putting the shots on people. Honestly, I started to like it. It’s fun to touch the ball.”

The 36 touchdowns are the second most in county history behind Palma’s Emilio Martinez, who rushed for 39 in 14 games in 2016.

His 1,648 rushing yards is the second most in school history, behind Holden Smith, who rushed for 1,678 in 13 games in 2011.

“We had kind of gotten away from effectively running the ball,” Anderson said. “We had a good mix of backs last year. But we didn’t have a lot of depth at the position this year.”

Rees solved that, carrying the ball over 250 times, taking tacklers with him with his upright, yet punishing style of running.

“We started incorporating him more into the offense,” Anderson said. “It evolved into multiple combinations. We had five or six formations we did with him.”

An offense, that averaged over 45 points a game this past season, upped it to 49.8 through five playoff games, with Rees taking his game to another level.

Having gone over 100 yards rushing in four regular season games, Rees added five more to his resume in the playoffs, including a 208-yard effort in the state title game.

“I was blessed being behind that offensive line,” Rees said. “They made it easier. There were always gaps. Even after I got through the second level, my receivers kept blocking.”

Blessed with a high football IQ, Rees would maneuver through defenses, juke a defender before shooting through an opening like a sprinter.

“He’s one of maybe three players on our roster that played youth tackle football,” Anderson said. “Ashton is just a good football player. He makes the most of his opportunities.”

That was evident in the Northern California Division 5AA title game when Rees went down with turf toe in the first half and was unable to put any weight on his foot.

“I’ve had turf toe before,” Rees said. “It never felt like that. It felt like a knife was digging into my foot. It was throbbing. I just asked our trainer, ‘Can I finish?’”

Heavily taped, Rees limped out to start the second half, unsure if he could plant his foot when taking a handoff. Those concerns were erased when he rushed for two second-half touchdowns

The trainer “said we’ll do what we can for this game,” Rees said. “I don’t even know what he did. I couldn’t bend it. But I was able to finish.”

Placed in a walking boot all week leading up to the state title game, Rees hobbled onto the field during warmups, unsure of anything other than he wasn’t going to miss the game.

“Every game I’m a little sore before from the previous week,” Rees said. “It was chilly. It felt like it did the week before. It (toe) was throbbing in the cleat. I just told coach I’m fine.”

Rees put on a performance that will be talked about at Carmel for years, turning 28 carries into 208 yards and four touchdowns, as well as catching a 16-yard touchdown pass.

“Each time I moved, it felt horrible,” said Rees, who is back in the protective boot. “I just forgot about it. There was no bruising this time.”

The injury, though, will keep Rees off the basketball court until mid-January, as doctors have told him the injury needs a minimum three weeks to heal.

“We’ll see,” Rees said.

While defense remains his likely destination in college, Rees embraced his role as a tailback, not concerned that it might keep recruiters from noticing his defensive skills.

“Playing tailback became a priority,” Rees said. “I accepted letting defense go a little bit. I knew I had to help the team on offense. It was nothing I was opposed to.”

Rees still got in his licks on defense, playing a lot of safety in the regular season, while returning a punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns this past season. He also caught 18 passes for a pair of touchdowns.

“I see myself as a safety in college,” Rees said. “It’s what I’ve been recruited for. It’s what I like. It’s my favorite position, where I’ve honed my skills. But I’d play anywhere in college.”

Rees’ older brother Wes is a redshirt junior safety at Moorhead State in Kentucky. The two have trained together at the position for the past four years.

“Ashton is a guy that makes a lot of plays,” Anderson said. “He creates turnovers, he forces fumbles. He picks off passes. He’s explosive on kickoff returns. He just makes things happen.”

While the University of San Diego has offered Rees a spot on the roster, he’s had other schools inquire about his film.

“I’m going to send it out to as many people as I can,” Rees said. “I’m not opposed to anything at this point.”

Having been honored by the City of Carmel with a parade, the milestone still hasn’t quite sunk in for Rees, who is working to get back on the basketball court.

“My family keeps asking me how do I feel?” Rees said. “I don’t know. I thought I was going to cry after the game. And maybe when it hits me, I will. Our main thing all year is play like it’s another game. After we won, that feeling was still there.”

When Rees does dip back into the past, he still remembers he and a group of seniors going up to Anderson and telling him to enhance the Padres non-conference schedule.

The result landed Christopher, whose only regular season loss this year was to Carmel; Miramonte, a perennial North Coast Section playoff team, and Monterey, which has made three straight postseason appearances.

“I remember coach Anderson telling us in August ‘You’re the ones that wanted a harder schedule,’” Rees said. “We just wanted to get better. No one saw 15-0.”

Yet, Rees’ voice does rise when you bring up that Carmel was one of two programs in California that went undefeated, joining national power Mater Dei.

“That’s the craziest part,” Rees said. “That’s unheard of. “

What’s never going to be forgotten in the halls of Carmel High is Rees accounting for five touchdowns in a state title game.

“It will be talked about for the rest of our lives,” Anderson said. “What he was able to do on that stage with the injury was incredible.”