By Donnell Suggs/Sports Writer ● Sports ● September 10, 2016
There have been times this season, despite their impressive undefeated record, that the Houston County Bears football team hasn’t been able to move the ball through the air. On those rare occasions, the ball goes to running back Shelton Horton and the results more often than not end up with a HoCo first down and hurt feelings for defensive linemen and linebackers on the opposing side. Take for example his 30-yard third down run a week ago against Eagle’s Landing. What looked like a five-yard carry turned into a 30-yard highlight. On Aug. 18 at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Horton ripped off two runs that had Mary Persons High School defenders on the outside looking in during the Bears season opening 26-14 victory. It took a number of Bulldogs to bring Horton to the turf and that’s exactly the way he likes it. “I have the mentality that I will not get tackled by just one person,” says Horton.
That has always been Horton’s approach to the game of football dating back to when he started playing as a little boy. ” I started playing when I was 6-7 years old,” he says. “My first year playing I wasn’t that big of a fan but after a while I fell in love with the game.” An admitted University of Oregon Ducks football and Atlanta Falcons fan, “that’s the home team,” Horton believes football’s greatest asset is the power of the team behind the logo. “I like the concept of teamwork in football, it’s different from other sports,” says Horton. “In basketball one player can take over the game but in football all of the players have to work together in order to be successful.”
The 5’9” 195-pound senior is on a mission to help lead HoCo to a state title along with fellow running back, junior Jaeven West. The end of last season still leaves an ill thought in his mind. “I want to win 15 games this year and win a state ring,” said Horton. “We have to go all the way this year.” The 59-47 loss to Allatoona remains a motivating factor during this his final year as a Bear. With the majority of the carries going to current Eastern Arizona College freshman Chris Brinson and West last season, Horton is getting a shot at sharing the bulk of the carries for the first time after having played some running back and mostly outside linebacker last season. This season is his chance and he’s not wasting a moment of it. “My goal this season is to rush for 1,000 yards,” he says. “I haven’t had the games I planned on having during our first three games so Friday’s game against Veterans is going to have to speak for itself,” says Horton. Thus far, his 75 yards on 11 carries in the season opener against Mary Persons High School has been his season high to date.
There’s plenty of opportunity with the Bears playing consecutive road games against Warner Robins at The Mac and regional games against Spalding High School, Lee County High School and Coffee High School, respectively. With senior quarterback and University of Georgia signee Jake Fromm and the HoCo pass attack receiving plenty of attention from the competition it will imperative for Horton and the other Bears runners to pick up the slack on the ground. On Oct. 28 at Freedom Field the Bears will host neighboring Northside High School, also currently undefeated. “It’s a good rivalry,” says Horton about playing Northside. “After we beat them last year (34-13 on Nov. 6, 2015 at The Mac) it’s become a competition.” That game, the second to last of the season, will be another opportunity for Horton and his HoCo teammates to prove their dominance over the county’s other football programs. It’s also a prime opportunity for Horton in regards to college recruitment.
Shelton Horton, Jr. like thousands of other high school senior football players across the country, is looking to lock down a college football scholarship offer by the end of this season. His unique advantage is that he plays for one of the best football teams in the state and will play in front of college scouts all season. “I’ll play wherever I can get a scholarship,” says the Warner Robins native. The lucky running backs coach or lead recruiter that signs Horton will be getting a heck of a tackle-breaking back. Just ask the Mary Persons and Eagle’s Landing defensive lines.
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