At times, the frustration was overwhelming. Park City's Dylan Chynoweth knew he could do more but he physically couldn't.

An avulsion fracture -- when the tendon or ligaments get pulled off a piece of the bone -- he suffered against Judge Memorial last year made him feel as if he had one good leg and a pogo stick for the other for the rest of the season.

As a running back, the injury was devastating. It took away the speed and explosiveness of his first steps. He would see a hole open up for him but couldn't run away from defenders like he used to. By the end of the season, it was difficult to run and difficult to sit.

"I had no ability. I couldn't help my team the way I was supposed to," Chynoweth said. "It hindered me. It got worse week by week."

Despite the pain, he continued to play the rest of the season and helped Park City to a semifinal appearance in the Class 3A state playoffs. The injury hurt badly enough but didn't require surgery. And despite the pain, he finished the season with 1,386 rushing yards on 189 carries and 11 touchdowns --- a performance good enough to earn all-state honors.

Now with two good legs, he's expected to have an even bigger impact in his senior season. It has been a long road to recovery. Especially since Chynoweth pulled his hamstring on the same leg in June. But he worked tirelessly through it, something Park City coach Brandon Matich has come to expect from the two-year captain.

"He's played with extreme pain. He's just very resilient," Matich said. "He's so passionate about football. He's the most talented running back I have coached. He's able to overcome those things."

Chynoweth's character, along with his talent, has earned him two scholarship offers, from Navy and Air Force.

Even though he had a pulled hamstring, Chynoweth decided to go to a camp at Navy in June. He risked making his injury worse but that trip may have also solidified his standing with the coaches.

"When I walked in the Navy coach's office, he told me, 'We want to offer your son a scholarship, not only because he's a talented football player but also because of the fine young man he is,'" said John Chynoweth, Dylan's father and also an assistant coach with Park City. "That meant more to me than any of his athletic achievements."

The injuries are behind Chynoweth. He has rehabbed his hamstring all summer and although he came into the season feeling a little shaky, he felt back to his old form in the second week of the season against Juan Diego.

Chynoweth is off to a good start. In the first two games, he's had 23 carries for 170 yards and three touchdowns. More importantly, he doesn't get sore after games anymore. His right leg feels just as strong as his left leg.

"I'm really excited. In the last week, I feel like I'm where I reached 100 percent," Chynoweth said. "My goal for myself and my teammates is to go out and win a state championship."

mthach@sltrib.com