Springfield, MO - He may not be the biggest player on the field. But he might make the biggest impact. Central running back Secoy Hodges has been turning heads this season.
“I stand at 5’6”, 175 pounds,” said Hodges.
“Even though he’s small in stature he’s got a lot of other intangibles that makes him a very good football player," said Central head coach Ozzie Riley.Glendale can attest to Hodges’ skills. Week 6 he carried the ball 44 times for 228 yards and 5 touchdowns against the Falcons.
“What he did the other night was just an ironman type of showing.”
That performance came with Hodges still battling back from an ankle injury that knocked him out for 2 weeks of the season.
“Having to put my jersey on and sit on the sidelines and watch my dogs fight without me was one of the worst feelings ever. So coming back now and getting my moves back and getting the strength back in my leg is a tremendous thing to me.”
It hasn’t always been easy for the junior, but he’s learned to persevere.
“When I first started playing football in 7th grade, my old coach, Coach Sims, used to always tell me to overcome adversity with mental toughness. And those words have stuck with me for the rest of my life. Shortly after, he died and those are the words I carry with me. When I play this game, I play for him and for myself.”
It’s obvious that Secoy Hodges is much more than just a good football player.
“He’s a great kid. He’s a great student. And he’s just one of those guys you like to be around.”
Central senior running back Secoy Hodges is this week’s Arby’s High School Athlete of the week.
