HARLINGEN — What a difference a year makes.
As the Harlingen South Hawks are flying high after an impressive season-opening win, so is starting Hawks quarterback Jimmy Morton.
A little more than a year ago, as a sophomore scout team quarterback, Morton learned that one play can change everything as he broke his leg in a routine practice and lost a year of playing time.
It taught Morton that it’s how the game of football works.
“We were at Boggus and I ran a quarterback draw play. I was tackled kind of awkward,” Morton said. “It’s just part of the game. It’s always tough to go through a sports injury, but I knew there was nothing to do at the time. I didn’t get too down; I had to stay positive.”
As a result of the broken leg, Morton’s inability to walk was probably the hardest thing on the young quarterback as he had to let the bone fuse back together in order to start rehabbing and make a return.
After Morton was back on his feet, it took about another four weeks before he could run, but when he could it was all business from there on out.
“During my athletic period, I would come in and work with the doc and work on strengthening and stabilizing,” Morton explained. “I just wanted to get back as quickly as I could and be as strong as I could.”
After the dust settled on Morton’s injury, Morton is now the starting man under center and has come a long way from being a scout team quarterback in practice.
He is now leading a young Hawks team.
“All offseason, I have been trying to lead not by being the vocal guy, but lead by hard work,” Morton said. “I think that my teammates respect that.”
Morton will be the first to admit that the transition from JV to varsity was pretty drastic as he noted the speed difference in the game.
However, Morton has learned quickly and according to South head coach Lanny Wilson, is a good game manager.
“Jimmy is a great leader, a great practice player and a smart guy. He has control of the offense and when he got out there he led us down the field,” Wilson said.4 “Jimmy is a guy who can play after high school and he’s going to get better each week. With him it’s always like having a coach out on the field; he’s always out here at practice, picking up things and correcting people. He’s smart and we’re glad he’s on our team.”
Now with the season in progress, Morton looks forward confidently and without worry of his once injured leg.
For Morton, there is only one way to play.
“I just have to run hard. I have to protect myself, but you have to always play hard,” he said.