IHStangFan
12-08-2006, 02:22 PM
INGLESIDE - Coach Graig Hesseltine calls Ingleside senior Zach Adams a cutup.
Quarterback Josh Coffield says his teammate is "not all there."
A wiseguy, perhaps. But Adams does take one thing seriously - football.
"He always laughs and smiles and has fun, but when gets on the field he's all business," said Hesseltine, in his third year at the school. "He's a competitor and he wants to win and he displays that when he's out there."
Adams is a big reason why the Mustangs (12-1) are playing in the Class 3A Division I state semifinals Friday night against Waco Robinson (11-2) at New Braunfels Canyon's Cougar Stadium.
Primarily a running back, Adams has done more than take handoffs. He leads the team in rushing and return yards, ranks second in receiving and also punts and kicks when needed.
That versatility makes the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Adams quite a weapon.
Adams has rushed for 627 yards, a mediocre total until carries (52) and touchdowns (16) are factored in. An average of 11.2 yards per attempt and scoring ratio of 31 percent make Adams one of the more elusive players on Ingleside's roster.
As a receiver, Adams has 40 catches for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has returned 10 kickoffs for 309 yards - one of those went 100 yards for a touchdown - is 5 of 7 on extra points and 3 of 4 on field goals with a best of 32 yards.
The sometimes punter has scored 178 points, more than double the total of any other player. With 1,789 all-purpose yards, Adams has been a thorn in the side of many opponents.
"He's a playmaker that seems to make things happen when they need it to," Orange Grove coach Brent Kornegay said. "He's just a special type of kid that doesn't come around often and is obviously a big part of what they do."
Adams had only six carries for 21 yards against the Bulldogs, but scored twice on short runs. He also caught six passes for 100 yards to help the Mustangs pull out a 35-34 victory.
Along with athletic ability, Kornegay said Adams has a knack for the game.
"He's got speed, some agility and he knows how to get open," he said. "When he does get the ball he knows what to do with it."
Even on a bum leg.
Adams injured his right ankle early in the second quarter of Ingleside's 31-28 regional semifinal victory over La Feria. Hobbled the rest of the game, Adams had only three carries for 12 yards and two catches for 31 yards after grabbing a 9-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.
Thinking he might have to skip last week's regional championship game against Pleasanton, Adams went on to score two touchdowns in the 28-14 triumph. The high ankle sprain has healed only slightly, but Adams doesn't seem too troubled by it.
"It's not any better, but that's football," Adams said. "I'm ready to do what ever it takes to win."
That includes the lighthearted atmosphere Adams helps create.
"Before games he'll be sitting there joking around like nothing's going on," said Coffield, a junior. "He's funny and goofy as heck, but he gives the team life."
When Adams has a helmet on and a football in his hands, he becomes someone else.
"He's like Jekyll and Hyde," Hesseltine said. "Come game time, you see a different side of him."
The Rockets are set for a close encounter Friday night.
Robinson coach Brian Lewis has paid close attention to Adams during film sessions. It didn't take long to tab Adams as a player of interest.
Regardless of where Adams lines up - in the backfield, slot or wide - Lewis knows the Rockets must be ready.
"He seems to be a real hard-nosed player, sort of old school," Lewis said. "He's got a rough style and is tough to tackle. He has the power to run right over you and the speed to get away in the open field. We definitely have to account for him."
It won't be the Adams that is always busy playing comic.
"He can be messing around all crazy at practice," junior linebacker Jesse Barajas said. "Once he's on the field, you better fear him."
Quarterback Josh Coffield says his teammate is "not all there."
A wiseguy, perhaps. But Adams does take one thing seriously - football.
"He always laughs and smiles and has fun, but when gets on the field he's all business," said Hesseltine, in his third year at the school. "He's a competitor and he wants to win and he displays that when he's out there."
Adams is a big reason why the Mustangs (12-1) are playing in the Class 3A Division I state semifinals Friday night against Waco Robinson (11-2) at New Braunfels Canyon's Cougar Stadium.
Primarily a running back, Adams has done more than take handoffs. He leads the team in rushing and return yards, ranks second in receiving and also punts and kicks when needed.
That versatility makes the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Adams quite a weapon.
Adams has rushed for 627 yards, a mediocre total until carries (52) and touchdowns (16) are factored in. An average of 11.2 yards per attempt and scoring ratio of 31 percent make Adams one of the more elusive players on Ingleside's roster.
As a receiver, Adams has 40 catches for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has returned 10 kickoffs for 309 yards - one of those went 100 yards for a touchdown - is 5 of 7 on extra points and 3 of 4 on field goals with a best of 32 yards.
The sometimes punter has scored 178 points, more than double the total of any other player. With 1,789 all-purpose yards, Adams has been a thorn in the side of many opponents.
"He's a playmaker that seems to make things happen when they need it to," Orange Grove coach Brent Kornegay said. "He's just a special type of kid that doesn't come around often and is obviously a big part of what they do."
Adams had only six carries for 21 yards against the Bulldogs, but scored twice on short runs. He also caught six passes for 100 yards to help the Mustangs pull out a 35-34 victory.
Along with athletic ability, Kornegay said Adams has a knack for the game.
"He's got speed, some agility and he knows how to get open," he said. "When he does get the ball he knows what to do with it."
Even on a bum leg.
Adams injured his right ankle early in the second quarter of Ingleside's 31-28 regional semifinal victory over La Feria. Hobbled the rest of the game, Adams had only three carries for 12 yards and two catches for 31 yards after grabbing a 9-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.
Thinking he might have to skip last week's regional championship game against Pleasanton, Adams went on to score two touchdowns in the 28-14 triumph. The high ankle sprain has healed only slightly, but Adams doesn't seem too troubled by it.
"It's not any better, but that's football," Adams said. "I'm ready to do what ever it takes to win."
That includes the lighthearted atmosphere Adams helps create.
"Before games he'll be sitting there joking around like nothing's going on," said Coffield, a junior. "He's funny and goofy as heck, but he gives the team life."
When Adams has a helmet on and a football in his hands, he becomes someone else.
"He's like Jekyll and Hyde," Hesseltine said. "Come game time, you see a different side of him."
The Rockets are set for a close encounter Friday night.
Robinson coach Brian Lewis has paid close attention to Adams during film sessions. It didn't take long to tab Adams as a player of interest.
Regardless of where Adams lines up - in the backfield, slot or wide - Lewis knows the Rockets must be ready.
"He seems to be a real hard-nosed player, sort of old school," Lewis said. "He's got a rough style and is tough to tackle. He has the power to run right over you and the speed to get away in the open field. We definitely have to account for him."
It won't be the Adams that is always busy playing comic.
"He can be messing around all crazy at practice," junior linebacker Jesse Barajas said. "Once he's on the field, you better fear him."