Nice Article in the Daily Oklahoman about one of our local HS football players.

[PastorMikH]

Thanks to Skip for the heads up on this one...


http://www.newsok.com/article/2964214

Red Tornadoes' Gladd hoards points
Clinton's scoring star
Running back scoring 18.6 points per game

By Justin Harper
Staff Writer
CLINTON — If Cameron Gladd were a basketball player, his scoring average would draw All-State consideration. But the scoring machine for Clinton is popping scoreboard bulbs with regularity for the Red Tornadoes' football squad.

Averaging a touchdown a game is good production for a high school player who isn't a star tailback or quarterback. Two is really strong. But Gladd, who racks up points on touchdowns from his fullback position and on field goals and extra points as the team's kicker, is the state's fourth-leading scorer, regardless of class, with 167 points.

Heading into Clinton's Class 3A showdown with Tuttle last Friday, Gladd was averaging 20.3 points per game. After booting a field goal and extra point in the 10-7 win, the junior's scoring output dipped to 18.6 points an outing.

"Wow, that does sound more like a basketball scoring average," Gladd chuckled. "I knew I had scored a lot of points, but I hadn't done the math or anything."

Gladd, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound pile driving fullback, has piled up the points via 20 touchdowns, five field goals and 32 extra points. Of course, this scoring binge is nothing new. As a sophomore, Gladd scored 21 touchdowns and converted 7 of 9 field goal attempts.

And the total could be higher.

"The week before we played Tuttle I scored five touchdowns and the week before that I had four," Gladd said. "But the two games before those I only had one touchdown apiece because we got up by so much I was out after the first half."

Gladd, who has run for just over 600 yards on the season, is counted on heavily once the Red Tornadoes get into the red zone.

"Usually, if we're inside the 20, I'm supposed to pound the ball in," said the 17-year-old. "Antonio gets all the yards, I get the touchdowns."

Indeed, Clinton's 1,000-yard tailback, Antonio Hudlin, has but seven TDs on the season. However, Gladd isn't merely a short-yardage specialist. He has a 71-yard TD run and a couple of 20-plus yarders.

And while you don't see many fullbacks double as place-kickers and punters, Gladd takes those duties as serious as his running responsibilities. He learned to kick from older brother Caleb — a 2002 Clinton graduate — and now practices two hours every Sunday on his own in addition to the practice he gets during the week.

And while he might have basketball-type numbers, Gladd won't be found on the hardwood. He's a two-time Class 3A state runner-up heavyweight wrestler and the favorite to win the crown this season.

He's a Jr and will be back next season as well. He's a really good kicker with a strong leg 30-40 yard FGs are fairly automatic if there isn't a strong wind in his face or cross wind (which are normal in this part of the world). Kickoffs are usually in the endzone or out the back. Long punts with decent hangtime. He's also one of the starting DEs which the article doesn't tell - and a good one too. He's a special kid and we are lucky to have him.

Our starting RB (mentioned in the article) is a sophmore and is quite fast. Between the two, we have a running threat that is so good teams can know what we are going to do and still can't stop us. When they try, our QB usually steps up and burns them downfield.

[Stewie]

Any idea where he might go to college? I know he's only a junior, BUT.... I only ask because why would a paper in OU territory be running this?

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Any idea where he might go to college? I know he's only a junior, BUT.... I only ask because why would a paper in OU territory be running this?

I don't think OU can use him. This kid is extremely white.

[PastorMikH]

Thanks for the Jinx there Oklahoman.

Gladd was getting 3-4 yards on every carry - even after his concussion. At halftime, the radio announcers said that he had sustained a concussion in the first half and would not play the second half. Seems he played a quite a few plays in the second quarter starry-eyed but the coaches didn't catch it because he was going both ways and never came off the field.

With the big guy out, our O lost it's fire and failed to score enough points to win. (Our first conference loss in 4 years) We dropped from 1st in the district to 3rd. Now it's an uphill climb on the road to the state championship.

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

Thanks for the Jinx there Oklahoman.

Gladd was getting 3-4 yards on every carry - even after his concussion. At halftime, the radio announcers said that he had sustained a concussion in the first half and would not play the second half. Seems he played a quite a few plays in the second quarter starry-eyed but the coaches didn't catch it because he was going both ways and never came off the field.

With the big guy out, our O lost it's fire and failed to score enough points to win. (Our first conference loss in 4 years) We dropped from 1st in the district to 3rd. Now it's an uphill climb on the road to the state championship.

Look what I did. Sorry Pastor.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Look what I did. Sorry Pastor.

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Actually, our HC after the game said the team wasn't up to the game all week. Said that he saw it, he tried to address it, the kids just wouldn't listen. They are a young bunch this year and the workhorses that carried them in years past have graduated. Earlier this year they got too big of a head, lost, and came out and anhilated the next several teams they faced. Younger players sometimes need a kick to get them going.

[Bob Dole]

Alas, Bob Dole is going to have to actually follow Big 10 football the next few years. Our most recent local phenom, Ryan Mallett, has committed to Michigan.