There are occasions when I witness a performance by a high school athlete that simply makes me shake my head in amazement.
It happened every time Albert Pujols stepped into the batter’s box at Fort Osage High School, or when Stinson Dean or Blaine Dalton lined up behind center for their respective schools, Blue Springs and Blue Springs South, or the incomparable Maurice Mitchell demolished the competition in sprint events at Raytown South High School.
Freshman Kelsey Kessler was perfect a year ago as she pitched the Blue Springs softball team to a state championship; Kyle Barbeck was unhittable when he led the Wildcats to a baseball title his senior year; and Tyronn Lue was a magician on the basketball court at Raytown High School.
I can now add a new name to my list of amazing high school athletes, as I watched Fort Osage’s E.J. Gaines turn in a performance for the ages Monday night as the Indians topped visiting Park Hill 29-6 in Class 5 sectional play.
Gaines, who may be the best cornerback in the state and a future University of Missouri Tiger football player, was pressed into tailback duties this year when Dalton Krysa graduated.
As good as he was on offense Monday night, rushing for 117 yards and three touchdowns, he was even better on the defensive side of the ball.
After going the entire season without an interception, he had two picks in the win over Park Hill, that puts the Indians in state quarterfinal action at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Raymore-Peculiar.
“Maybe now the coaches will get off my back about me being the only guy in the secondary to not have a pick,” joked Gaines, as he walked off the field.
He knows it’s tough to get an interception when you have so much respect that no quarterback dares throw in your neck of the woods.
“I can’t believe they threw at him – twice,” Fort Osage coach Ryan Schartz said. “No one has thrown in his direction all year. You know that old saying, ‘Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games’? Well, that was E.J. tonight. He’s a big-time player.”
His 117 yards on the ground put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season and he turned in some runs that defied description.
“What E.J. does can’t be taught, although I’d like to take credit for it,” joked Schartz. “It’s God-given, and that young man has as much natural ability as anyone I’ve ever coached.”
One 18-yard gain featured so many moves that a Garmin couldn’t keep up with the action.
Yet after the game, after a performance for the ages, all Gaines wanted to talk about was his line, his coaches and the Fort Osage fans.
In this age of athletes who only think about themselves, he’s a young man who brings a breath of fresh air that helps fans forget about the petulance of a spoiled and disappointing running back like former Chief Larry Johnson.
It’s just a shame that a 30-year-old man with a legion of followers, agents and yes men couldn’t find some way to develop the class and positive nature that a young man from Fort Osage displays on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
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There are occasions when I witness a performance by a high school athlete that simply makes me shake my head in amazement.
It happened every time Albert Pujols stepped into the batter’s box at Fort Osage High School, or when Stinson Dean or Blaine Dalton lined up behind center for their respective schools, Blue Springs and Blue Springs South, or the incomparable Maurice Mitchell demolished the competition in sprint events at Raytown South High School.
Freshman Kelsey Kessler was perfect a year ago as she pitched the Blue Springs softball team to a state championship; Kyle Barbeck was unhittable when he led the Wildcats to a baseball title his senior year; and Tyronn Lue was a magician on the basketball court at Raytown High School.
I can now add a new name to my list of amazing high school athletes, as I watched Fort Osage’s E.J. Gaines turn in a performance for the ages Monday night as the Indians topped visiting Park Hill 29-6 in Class 5 sectional play.
Gaines, who may be the best cornerback in the state and a future University of Missouri Tiger football player, was pressed into tailback duties this year when Dalton Krysa graduated.
As good as he was on offense Monday night, rushing for 117 yards and three touchdowns, he was even better on the defensive side of the ball.
After going the entire season without an interception, he had two picks in the win over Park Hill, that puts the Indians in state quarterfinal action at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Raymore-Peculiar.
“Maybe now the coaches will get off my back about me being the only guy in the secondary to not have a pick,” joked Gaines, as he walked off the field.
He knows it’s tough to get an interception when you have so much respect that no quarterback dares throw in your neck of the woods.
“I can’t believe they threw at him – twice,” Fort Osage coach Ryan Schartz said. “No one has thrown in his direction all year. You know that old saying, ‘Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games’? Well, that was E.J. tonight. He’s a big-time player.”
His 117 yards on the ground put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season and he turned in some runs that defied description.
“What E.J. does can’t be taught, although I’d like to take credit for it,” joked Schartz. “It’s God-given, and that young man has as much natural ability as anyone I’ve ever coached.”
One 18-yard gain featured so many moves that a Garmin couldn’t keep up with the action.
Yet after the game, after a performance for the ages, all Gaines wanted to talk about was his line, his coaches and the Fort Osage fans.
In this age of athletes who only think about themselves, he’s a young man who brings a breath of fresh air that helps fans forget about the petulance of a spoiled and disappointing running back like former Chief Larry Johnson.
It’s just a shame that a 30-year-old man with a legion of followers, agents and yes men couldn’t find some way to develop the class and positive nature that a young man from Fort Osage displays on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
