ChiefsOne
10-28-2011, 08:45 AM
As his unforgettable high school football career nears its end, Dorial Green-Beckham gave the Ozarks another night to remember on Thursday.
Green-Beckham broke the national career receiving yardage record in typical DGB fashion, taking a short second-quarter pass for a long touchdown while evading about half of the opposing defense.
"This is the top (moment of my career)," Green-Beckham said. "That's the first thing I thought after I caught that pass: 'This could be it right here.'
"I just did the best I could to get the ball in the end zone."
As it has been many times in his career, it was more than enough.
Green-Beckham's 81-yard scamper helped ignite the Hornets to a 35-7 victory over Republic to wrap up a Class 4 District 10 championship.
Hillcrest (9-1) will host a first-round playoff game on Wednesday against St. Clair (7-3). Republic (4-6) will play at high-powered Union (10-0) in the sectional's other matchup.
The wide receiver made the catch on a timing route from quarterback Matt Futrell, crossed the field and made five defenders miss. Green-Beckham crossed the goal line at 7:55 p.m., with 1:06 to play in the second half.
"At the start of the season, I thought I had a shot at the record," Green-Beckham said. "I made it. This is it."
Green-Beckham finished with 11 catches for 303 yards and four touchdowns. He has amassed 6,110 career yards.
Even the Republic crowd gave the wide receiver a standing ovation.
"Honestly, he's got so much pressure and so much expectations that I always think the expectations are too high -- they expect too much," said Hillcrest coach John Beckham, Dorial's adoptive father. "There's no way he's going to deliver on what everybody thinks he should do.
"Then he does it."
In the game, Green-Beckham also broke his own state single-season receiving yardage record, totaling 1,986. He now owns the three most-prolific seasons in Missouri's history.
"He's making plays that I never thought I'd see," said Futrell, who threw for 418 yards and went over 6,000 for his career. "He's just doing his thing out there."
Down 14-0, Republic got momentum before halftime on a 41-yard desperation heave by Nick Williams that went for a touchdown to receiver Beau Allen.
But Green-Beckham caught all four of Futrell's passes on the first drive of the third quarter, including a 36-yard score where the receiver tip-toed his feet down near the sideline.
It would have been a touchdown on Sunday -- and might be someday.
"Our hats are off to that young man," Republic coach Kurt Thompson said. "He's the player he is; we wish they wouldn't have had him and he was on our side."
Green-Beckham deflected questions about his collegiate future after the game from the assembled media.
He was presented the game ball afterward and posed with his adoptive parents, John and Tracy, along with younger brother, Darnell, who is battling leukemia.
"I've had a lot of people come into my life (over my high school career)," Dorial Green-Beckham said. "They're the ones encouraging me to be this type of player."
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111028/SPORTS0101/110280360/DGB-stands-alone?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|Sports
Green-Beckham broke the national career receiving yardage record in typical DGB fashion, taking a short second-quarter pass for a long touchdown while evading about half of the opposing defense.
"This is the top (moment of my career)," Green-Beckham said. "That's the first thing I thought after I caught that pass: 'This could be it right here.'
"I just did the best I could to get the ball in the end zone."
As it has been many times in his career, it was more than enough.
Green-Beckham's 81-yard scamper helped ignite the Hornets to a 35-7 victory over Republic to wrap up a Class 4 District 10 championship.
Hillcrest (9-1) will host a first-round playoff game on Wednesday against St. Clair (7-3). Republic (4-6) will play at high-powered Union (10-0) in the sectional's other matchup.
The wide receiver made the catch on a timing route from quarterback Matt Futrell, crossed the field and made five defenders miss. Green-Beckham crossed the goal line at 7:55 p.m., with 1:06 to play in the second half.
"At the start of the season, I thought I had a shot at the record," Green-Beckham said. "I made it. This is it."
Green-Beckham finished with 11 catches for 303 yards and four touchdowns. He has amassed 6,110 career yards.
Even the Republic crowd gave the wide receiver a standing ovation.
"Honestly, he's got so much pressure and so much expectations that I always think the expectations are too high -- they expect too much," said Hillcrest coach John Beckham, Dorial's adoptive father. "There's no way he's going to deliver on what everybody thinks he should do.
"Then he does it."
In the game, Green-Beckham also broke his own state single-season receiving yardage record, totaling 1,986. He now owns the three most-prolific seasons in Missouri's history.
"He's making plays that I never thought I'd see," said Futrell, who threw for 418 yards and went over 6,000 for his career. "He's just doing his thing out there."
Down 14-0, Republic got momentum before halftime on a 41-yard desperation heave by Nick Williams that went for a touchdown to receiver Beau Allen.
But Green-Beckham caught all four of Futrell's passes on the first drive of the third quarter, including a 36-yard score where the receiver tip-toed his feet down near the sideline.
It would have been a touchdown on Sunday -- and might be someday.
"Our hats are off to that young man," Republic coach Kurt Thompson said. "He's the player he is; we wish they wouldn't have had him and he was on our side."
Green-Beckham deflected questions about his collegiate future after the game from the assembled media.
He was presented the game ball afterward and posed with his adoptive parents, John and Tracy, along with younger brother, Darnell, who is battling leukemia.
"I've had a lot of people come into my life (over my high school career)," Dorial Green-Beckham said. "They're the ones encouraging me to be this type of player."
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111028/SPORTS0101/110280360/DGB-stands-alone?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|Sports