Helton ready to fill big shoes left behind

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Helton ready to fill big shoes left behind

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

ORANGEFIELD — Orangefield fans grew to love three-year starting quarterback Brett Ramsey.

Now there is a new kid on the block and Jared Helton is ready to make a name for himself on Friday nights.

He will get his first chance Friday night against the Buna Cougars at F.L. McClain Stadium.

Helton knows the recent Orangefield quarterback history and knows he has a lot to live up to.

Sure he is a little nervous and excited but what player is not heading into a team’s first game of the season?

“It (quarterback) is just another position on the field,†Helton said. “I was never nervous. Playing quarterback is something I have not done in two or three years and it was at first a little hard to come back to.â€

Orangefield Coach Blake Morrison has liked what he has seen out of Helton so far in practice and scrimmages.

Helton did go down with an injury in last week’s scrimmage against Liberty and seems to have overcome the problem.

“We held him out the rest of the way just to make sure he would be fine,†Morrison said. “He is our guy.â€

For The Orange Leader’s special football section Morrison discussed the need for Helton to become a more vocal leader with the Bobcats.

“He is doing a good job of it,†Morrison added. “Jared will certainly end up doing a good job for us this year.â€

Helton is itching to get on the field Friday and put his skills to work against an opponent in a real-game situation.

“It is a rush leading up to the game,†Helton said. “It will be great just to get the first game out of the way and I just hope we come out with a win. I am definitely a little nervous because there are a lot of responsibilities I need to take care of. I believe in my offensive line and all my teammates. I know they will give 100 percent on Friday.

“We just have to be disciplined more than ever on Friday. We can’t have any offsides penalties and everyone from top to bottom must do the best they can. If we do that then everything else will fall together for us.â€