Leach gets the ball

Fullback nearly matches career rushing total on one drive

Entering Sunday’s contest against a former employer in the Houston Texans, Vonta Leach had carried the ball just three times in his eight-year career. The fullback nearly matched that on just one drive in the first quarter.

Leach rushed the ball twice on the Ravens’ opening passion of an eventual 29-14 victory over the Texans. Leach, who hadn’t run with the ball since Dec. 21, 2008, rushed for five yards on second down-and-1 from the Texans’ 13. Two plays later, he got the call again from the 1, but was stuffed for no gain.

“I thought I did pretty good,” Leach said with a grin. “I felt real good.”

Much was made about Leach playing against his former team, especially after he told The Houston Chronicle that the Texans’ offer to re-sign him in the offseason was “disrespectful.”

But Leach said his approach to Sunday was no different from his approach to each of his first four contests as a Raven.

“Really, it was just another game,” he said. “I didn’t do anything different than what I normally do. Obviously with that team over there, we beat a good football team. That team’s going to be good. I think that’s a team will see later on down the road. So my hat goes off to them because today, we were the better football team.”

Leach’s only regret was being unable to post a rushing touchdown for the third time in his career.

“I was real close,” he said. “I got hit by three people. I wish I would’ve scored, but hey, I’m just glad we won.”