Little guys play big roles on and off football field

Each Friday night, Collinwood's Matthew Wright takes the field with his teammates.

Friday nights are the big rewards for a full week of tough, physical practices leading up to game time.

But for Wright, and many other young players across the area, Friday nights are the time to cheer their teammates and contribute when they can.

Wright is 4 feet 9 inches tall and, as a freshman, only weighs about 80 pounds.

He's one of the smallest players in the area. But that has never stopped him from playing the game he loves.

"I have been playing every year since kindergarten," he said. "I love everything about it."

For many coaches, it is difficult to put a player so small on the field.

"But, he's part of the team and he does everything we ask and everything that everybody else does," said Collinwood coach Michael Statom.

"He has enough courage about him that he doesn't let his size keep him from playing the game he loves."

Wright is not an exception in area high school sports. Almost every team has at least one player a bit smaller than others.

Finding out how to accommodate those players and getting them ready to play is not an easy task.

Statom said he borrowed a pair of pants from the Collinwood youth leagues for Wright to wear.

"We had to order some things equipment-wise, but he's still young and he's trying to get bigger and we are working with him," Statom said.

Waterloo coach Toby Dunn faces a similar situation. He has a seventh-grade wide receiver who is 4 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 75 pounds. Zack Haddock plays wide receiver for the school's junior high team and dresses with the varsity for Friday night games.

"We got the smallest jersey we could find," Dunn said. "He wears a small everything, and everything is still loose on him."

Haddock said he wears "extra small" pads.

Despite needing smaller uniforms and equipment, each player has a certain role on their football team.

"I ran it about four times last game," said C.J. Simmons, a 5 feet tall, 90-pound running back from Hazlewood who is playing junior varsity this year.

Simmons said he was a little worried about being hit when he first started playing this year, but has since changed his attitude.

"It's getting fun now," Simmons said. "I always wanted to play, but my parents always said I was too small and made me wait."

Coaches sometimes have to take different approaches in getting players adjusted to the game. That's what Dunn faced when Haddock first came out for practice.

"At the first of the year we thought we needed to be a little protective of him," Dunn said. "But, as the season has gone on, we have pulled most of the restrictions off."

Coaches often pair players of similar size during practices, but game time is a different matter.

"His biggest turnaround came when we played Cherokee," Dunn said of Haddock.

"We ran a little reverse and he got smoked pretty good. I'm thinking, 'get up Zack, get up Zack.' He bounced right back up."

Haddock said he had a headache for a short time after the hit, but knew then that he could take it.

"After that, I knew I would be fine," he said.

Most all of the smaller players in the area are underclassmen and have plenty time to grow, but in the meantime, they are contributing all they can.

"A lot of times we use (Wright) as an example for the rest of the team," Statom said.

"We don't want to hear any whining or complaining about doing something; if he is out there giving all he can, then everyone else can too."

Dunn said that smaller guys, like Haddock, inspire his players.

"It lets the next little guy know, if he can do it, so can I."

Jonathan Willis can be reached at 332-0140 or jonathan.willis@timesdaily.com.