WEST POINT — Heath Ford and Caleb Robertson were two of the fortunate sons on the Oak Hill Academy football team this season.
While it seemed like all of their teammates suffered every imaginable injury, Ford and Robertson lived with the usual bumps and bruises football players suffer to be constants for the Raiders.
Their hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice helped Oak Hill Academy overcome all of the injuries and adversity and win seven games and advance to the first round of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A-AA playoffs.
The contributions Ford and Robertson made to the Raiders (7-4) were recognized earlier this week when it was announced they will represent their school in the annual MAIS Senior All-Star Game. The game, which will feature a Blue and a White team, will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at Jackson Prep.
Oak Hill Academy first-year head coach Chris Craven will work as an assistant coach for Washington School coach Philip Wasson.
“Caleb and Heath meant a great deal to this team,” Craven said. “They brought a tremendous amount of leadership to the team. They set the example of never quitting and trying to keep the team together. They led in trying to keep the team unified and never gave up whether we were winning or losing.”
Craven said Ford and Robertson emerged as vocal leaders and “played their hearts out the entire season” in a campaign in which the Raiders lost their first two quarterbacks — Ken Dill and Kaleb Darnell — and their starting tailback — Drew Riley — to injuries for significant time. But Craven said Ford and Robertson did more than their share, including moving to other positions and working as coaches on the field to help fill gaps.
Ford might have had the biggest transition, moving from a wide receiver at the start of the season to playing an even bigger role at cornerback by the end of the season. Ford, who hadn’t played the position prior to this season, made the most of the opportunity, intercepting 10 passes and returning two for touchdowns.
“We had seven seniors and a bunch of great athletes, and to be one of the top two to be selected is a great honor,” Ford said.
Craven admitted Ford wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of playing defense, but he said all right when he was asked to do it.
Ford smiled when if he imagined he would be as much of a “ball hawk” he turned out to be. Don’t worry, though, because he said the defensive success didn’t alter his preference to play offensive if given a choice.
“One year playing cornerback kind of makes you wish you had put him back there last year,” Craven said.
Ford said he was merely doing his part on a team where so many Raiders stepped into new roles and did what they had to do, even if it meant playing a position for the first time.
“Nobody gave up or quit,” Ford said. “It was one of the greatest seasons we have every at here at Oak Hill. Even though it didn’t end like we wanted it to, we had a great year.”
Robertson made his impact felt on the offensive and defensive lines. Craven cited Robertson’s leadership ability in the game against Carroll Academy as a prime example of what the seniors meant to the team. After an injury forced the Raiders to re-shuffle their offensive line in the first quarter, Craven said Robertson counseled the replacement at guard prior to every play to help the offense keep clicking. Oak Hill Academy won that game 61-13.
“Caleb was the anchor of the offensive and defensive lines,” Craven said. “There were a couple of games that because of personnel we had to move him out to defensive end or we had to play him at defensive tackle. I think one game we moved him into nose guard.
“If you were getting hurt somewhere and you were trying to clog some gaps or get some pressure up front, you could move him around and take care of the problem. That is a tribute to him and his ability.”
Robertson said it means a lot to him to be selected because it shows how he was committed to the team concept.
He said he didn’t know how to take the news when he received it from Craven, so he simply hugged him.
“I was real shocked,” Robertson said. “It means not only did I help my team and be a leader — I wasn’t worried about making the All-Star game during the season — I was able to be myself and worry about my teammates first. I guess that showed. It is unreal. I can’t explain the feeling I had when coach walked up to me and talked to me.”
Craven said Robertson is just as versatile on offense. He said he played every position on the offensive line in his career. This season, he was a mainstay at guard who made sure everyone knew what they were supposed to do when they left the huddle.
“Them being able to play in the All-Star game is just a tribute to their hard work, their commitment, to their character, to who they are,” Craven said.
“A lot of guys are going to be in the All-Star game, and rightfully so, but I am going to be willing to say some of them didn’t have to play both ways all night long and not be able to come off the field and be on just about every special teams.
“That is a different kind of football, no matter who you are playing against. It is a great reward for their hard work. I am very proud of them.”
Craven said it was “humbling” to be selected and to get a chance to represent Oak Hill Academy and the West Point community. He said he was surprised he earned the invitation and will bring the values that helped lead the Raiders this season to the All-Star game.
“I am really looking forward to it,” Craven said. “It means a lot to have the opportunity.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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