Eric Favors had slipped into the backfield even easier than usual this time, so he knew something was amiss.

Arlington’s linemen had left their posts to set up a screen pass, but the North Rockland senior was not about to be fooled. He turned and — as usual — began to pursue with a purpose.

What happened next was a moment even a high-wattage star like Favors will never forget. Finally, after four seasons as a starter for the county’s most storied program, the 243-pound teenage fire hydrant had his hands on the football.

The public address would’ve been best served sounding the sirens; Favors would not be stopped. He raced 77 yards with the interception for the first and only touchdown of his career.

Despite his touchdown and dumbfounding eight tackles for loss, North Rockland lost that afternoon, but the two-time Journal News Rockland County player of the year won’t soon forget his journey to paydirt.

“I was shocked,” coach Tom Lynch said. “Their quarterback and running back couldn’t catch him.”

“That was the highlight of my senior year,” Favors said. “It was an awesome feeling.”

An awesome feeling for someone who dished out an awful lot of punishment. Favors finished his career as a four-year starter at nose guard and a three-year starter at left guard. As a senior, he had a hand in 138 tackles, 14 sacks and five forced fumbles and repeated as his league’s lineman of the year.

The busy — and dominant — effort was almost certainly Favors’ final work on a football field. He signed a full scholarship to compete in the shot put for South Carolina last month. Despite his lifelong love for football, Favors is the top-ranked senior shot-putter in the nation.

The decision effectively ended one of the best careers for a lineman in school and county history.

“It started really hitting me the last couple of games, and it was surreal,” Favors said. “I’ve been playing football my whole life. To know it was over, it was mind-blowing.”

Favors began playing flag football in elementary school and always stood out. That much was clear when he started in the trenches as a freshman and the Red Raiders won a sectional title. But he became as fierce in the weight room as he was on the field.

In fact, last winter, Favors asked Lynch to move the team’s winter and spring workouts to the mornings so he could avoid conflicts with track.

“He came to me and wanted to move the workouts to 6 in the morning,” Lynch said. “We’re still doing it this year, and he’s still there.”

Among Favors’ fondest moments on the field aren’t just playoff wins (he played in three sectional finals) or game-saving tackles.

He pointed to this year’s home win over Ossining, a 49-6 rout on Sept. 20. North Rockland honored longtime coach Joe Casarella that day by naming the field in his honor. More than 300 former players attended the ceremony, giving Favors a chance to show the program’s former stars what all the fuss was about.

“A lot of old players came back to see him,” Favors said. “I guess I had to play hard that game.”

When did he not? That, more than sacks and even touchdowns, will be Favors’ legacy.

“I’ve never had a kid work harder than him,” Lynch said.

Twitter: @lohudinsider

The rest of The Journal News first-team all-county selections:

QB — Matt Carney, Sr., Nanuet

RB — Adonis Alcime, Sr., Nyack

RB — Michael Porco, Jr., Clarkstown North

WR — Gaberiel Lourenco, Sr., Spring Valley

WR — Rickey McGill, Sr., Spring Valley

TE — Mike Korongy, Sr., Suffern

OL — Caleb Ferdilus, Sr., Ramapo

OL — Jordan Landsman, Jr., Nanuet

OL — Vinny Rino, Sr., Suffern

OL — Dylan Thomas, Sr., Tappan Zee

OL — James Valle, Sr., Clarkstown North

Athlete — Rafael Cruz, Jr., Nyack

Athlete — James Hanigan, Sr., Albertus Magnus

Defense

DL — Stanley Johnson, Sr., North Rockland

DL — Laurence Okeke, Sr., Clarkstown South

LB — Brendan Cioffi, Sr., Clarkstown South

LB — Kenny Diaz, Sr., Nyack

LB — Steven Haber, Sr., Clarkstown North

LB — Brian McGreevy, Jr., Nanuet

DB — Austin Cavazzi, Sr., Nyack

DB — Jamarr Joseph, Sr., Spring Valley

DB — Pat Metcalf, Sr., Pearl River

DB — Brian Tarsnane, Sr., Pearl River

Athlete — Wyatt Brooks, Jr., North Rockland

Athlete — Tyler Harvey, Sr., Ramapo

Special teams

K — Michael Cummings, Sr., Clarkstown South

Coach of the year — Phil Carbone, Nanuet

Second team

QB — L.J. Norfleet, Jr., Nyack

RB — Tyler Senatore, Jr., North Rockland

RB — Paulie Termine, Jr., Clarkstown North

WR — Stanley Fortune, Sr., Ramapo

WR — James Gannon, Sr., Pearl River

TE — Devan Lawson, So., Spring Valley

OL — Prince Emili, Jr., Clarkstown North

OL — Tyrek James, Sr., Nyack

OL — Anthony Regina, Sr., Clarkstown South

OL — Benny Scalisi, Sr., Pearl River

OL — Brian Syracuse, Jr., Nanuet

Athlete — Joe Denise, Sr., Albertus Magnus

Athlete — Malyk Michel, Jr., Nyack

Defense

DL — Failey Celestin, Sr., Nanuet

DL — Brandon Famby, Sr., Clarkstown South

DL — Jahkim Santiago, Sr., North Rockland

LB — Gabe Cohen, Sr., Suffern

LB — Joe Duffy, Jr. Pearl River

LB — Clifton Mathelus, Sr., Albertus Magnus

LB — Michael Palma, Sr., Spring Valley

LB — Chris Venant, Sr., Ramapo

DB — Chris Chondris, Sr., Tappan Zee

DB — Matt Levine, Jr., Nanuet

DB — Jack O’Shea, Jr., Clarkstown South

Athlete — Joe Mayernik, Sr., Pearl River

Athlete — Greg Tavani, Sr., Nanuet

Special teams

K — Eddie Torres, Sr., North Rockland

Honorable mention: Connor Breit, So., Nanuet; Henry Chau, Jr., Suffern; Cameron Conrad, Jr., Clarkstown North; Brendan Conway, Jr., Pearl River; Jordan Correa, Jr., Nyack; Thomas Crowley, Sr., Albertus Magnus; Nick D’Allara, Jr., Nanuet; Liam Donohue, Sr., Tappan Zee; Sam Finn, Sr., North Rockland; Elijah Francois, Sr., Nyack; C.J. Greco, Jr., Suffern; Danny Hausman, Jr., North Rockland; Parris Heath, Jr., Ramapo; Shatir Henry, Jr., Ramapo; Louis Herrera, Sr., Albertus Magnus; Jahron Herring, Sr., Ramapo; Darren Jean, Jr., Spring Valley; Tom Kinnally, Sr., Pearl River; John Lemaiz, Sr., North Rockland; Luke Lodini, Jr., North Rockland; Vincent Maraia, Jr., Clarkstown South; Sam Mistretta, So., Clarkstown South; Aaron Morales, Sr., Nanuet; Anthony Morisi, Jr., Suffern; Jong Mutala, Sr., Clarkstown South; Phil O’Meara, Sr., Pearl River; Rory O’Riordan, Jr., Tappan Zee; Danny Phelan, Sr., Pearl River; Peter Pjetri, Sr., Suffern; Dajon Russell, Jr., Spring Valley; Joe Saraiva, Jr., Albertus Magnus; Kevin Sheridan, Jr., Clarkstown North; Jake Spreckman, Jr., Clarkstown South.

Fan-selected all-county team

QB — L.J. Norfleet, Jr., Nyack (6,636 votes)

RB — Paulie Termine, Jr., Clarkstown North (5,260)

RB — Tyler Senatore, Jr., North Rockland (3,841)

WR — Rickey McGill, Sr., Spring Valley (11,598)

WR — Stanley Fortune, Sr., Ramapo (10.917)

TE — Mike Korongy, Sr., Suffern (685)

OL — Vinny Rino, Sr., Suffern (3,890)

OL — Anthony Regina, Sr., Clarkstown South (3,503)

OL — Eric Favors, Sr., North Rockland (1,182)

OL — Caleb Ferdilus, Sr., Ramapo (689)

OL — Brian Syracuse, Jr., Nanuet (623)

Defense

DL — Laurence Okeke, Sr., Clarkstown South (7,679)

DL — Brandon Famby, Sr., Clarkstown South (7,466)

DL — Jahkim Santiago, Sr., North Rockland (4,554)

LB — Joe Duffy, Jr., Pearl River (2,076)

LB — Michael Palma, Sr., Spring Valley (1,179)

LB — Kenny Diaz, Sr., Nyack (750)

LB — Brian McGreevy, Jr., Nanuet (443)

DB — Brian Tarsnane, Sr., Pearl River (3,561)

DB — James Hanigan, Sr., Albertus Magnus (2,870)

DB — Pat Metcalf, Sr., Pearl River (2,691)

DB — Jamarr Joseph, Sr., Spring Valley (1,425)

Special teams

K — Eddie Torres, Sr., North Rockland (992)

All-county schedule

Sunday, Nov. 30: Boys soccer

Wednesday, Dec. 3: Field hockey

Thursday, Dec. 4: Girls swimming

Friday, Dec. 5: Volleyball

Sunday, Dec. 7: Girls soccer

Wednesday, Dec. 10: Tennis

Thursday, Dec. 11: Boys cross country

Friday, Dec. 12: Girls cross country

Sunday, Dec. 14: Football