LATSCH: Burroughs' Elliott leaves lasting legacy, message
By Nate Latsch | STLhighschoolsports.com | Posted: Friday, November 23, 2012
John Burroughs senior running back Ezekiel Elliott (2) talks directly to freshman running back Christopher Booker while holding the state runner-up trophy during the awards presentation after the MSHSAA Class 3 state championship game between John Burroughs and Maryville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. Photo by Chris Lee, [email protected]
ST. LOUIS ? Ezekiel Elliott fought back the tears the best he could.
The John Burroughs standout senior running back had done everything he could in the Missouri Class 3 championship game on Friday afternoon, and it still wasn?t enough to prevent a heartbreaking 35-22 loss to Maryville at the Edward Jones Dome.
?You put in so many hours with your boys, your brothers, all season for the past four years, and you aren?t able to accomplish what you wanted to,? Elliott said. ?So it hurts a lot. But you have to be strong. I have to be strong for my boys back in the locker room. I can?t be moping around. I have to show them that it?s not over, it?s not over. I believe in them. I believe they can come back next year. They are going to win a state championship.?
The Ohio State recruit broke the championship game record for all-purpose yards with 419, eclipsing the 365 former University of Missouri running back Derrick Washington racked up in Raymore-Peculiar?s 42-32 win against Kirkwood in the Class 5 title game in 2006.
The 6-foot senior rushed 18 times for 218 yards and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a 1-yard scoring surge late in the third that cut the deficit to 28-22. He caught five passes for 72 yards and returned four kicks for another 129 yards, including a 84-yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Maryville coach Matt Webb said Elliott was ?awesome.? Spoofhounds offensive lineman Caleb Mather called him ?amazing.?
Friday at the Dome, Elliott showed the kind of player he has been his final two seasons and showed glimpses of as a sophomore, an incredible three-year run in which the Bombers have won 40 games and lost just four and now finished second in Class 3 three straight times.
?He?s just a phenomenal player,? Burroughs coach Gus Frerotte said. ?A great mind for the sport. He really carried our team in a lot of these games. He wanted to put us on his back, and we did that quite a few games and he hasn?t let us down yet.?
Elliott finished his senior season with 2,153 yards rushing, 2,533 total yards, 3,022 all-purpose yards and 50 touchdowns. He scored 42 as a junior and eight as a sophomore, giving him 92 over two seasons and 100 over three ? more than Chaminade?s Rob Standard (98) and Hazelwood Central?s Tony Van Zant (91) and trailing only Timberland?s Montee Ball (107) among area players. Those three all played four years.
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i laughed when he embraced those 2 army guys in the picture, some kids think it is all about them, and this just shows you the ones who appreciate and respect the people around them. that was a great gesture and this kids has a good head on his shoulders