Courageous Askew plays hurt and leads
NEDERLAND -- He plays one of his team's visible roles constantly. That, by itself, thrusts Jake Askew into the position of being a star for the Nederland Bulldogs.
When the special team aligns to return punts or kickoffs, Askew commands a spotlight directed toward kick returners.
When the offense breaks the huddle, out trots Jake usually as a wide receiver.
When the opposing offense throws, up leaps Jake often covering an intended receiver.
How rare this precious gem known as Jake Askew really is, though. Rare, you say?... Absolutely rare is a team's star who sacrifices his body and absorbs the pounding in a game that Askew does.
It's not that Jake loves contact. He's not preparing for the WWF circuit. He doesn't plan to become a daredevil stunt car guy.
Askew understands he leads his football team as much as any senior on the 2002 Bulldogs. He knows he sets an example for the seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th graders aspiring to be future Bulldogs' leaders.
Those young hopefuls are looking up to one fine young man -- a good-humor guy with a wonderful honesty and candor about him.
Jake's not perfect. He doesn't pretend to be. He just plays the game as it's supposed to be and he plays remarkably under control for an athlete with 4.5 speed in the 40.
Fact 1 is Jake finds ways to win games. He found ways to help Nederland capture its biggest 2002 victory to date. Just ask West Orange-Stark head football coach Dan Hooks, one of Askew's admirers.
"Askew is a great receiver," Hooks said at midfield after this year's game. "He may not have the numbers but he's a great one. He beat us last year and he did it again this year."
Fact 2 involves his numbers. Jake ranks fourth among 20-4A receivers with 19 catches for 368 yards and four touchdowns. He's fifth in 20-4A kickoff returns with 11 runbacks for 267 yards.
This long-time Nederland observer believes his numbers to be terribly misleading. If the Bulldogs would throw the ball more, Askew would lead the league in receiving. But that is not the mission of Nederland's offense and it never will be.
Fact 3 means more than Fact 1 or Fact 2. Jake finds ways to play in lost causes and play hard in lost causes even when he's hurt. Why? Because he's a senior leader on his team and he knows he should set an example of playing hard every snap for the younger players in Nederland's program.
You want some examples? Here's a couple of lost causes when Nederland coaches might have thought it wiser to save Askew for a more healthy, more victorious setting.
When Nederland trailed 34-7 at halftime last Saturday night, Askew easily could have called it a night. A Beaumont Central lineman accidentally landed on top of the 5-11, 177-pound Askew at the bottom of a pile at the end of a punt play midway in the second quarter.
"My shoulder went numb for about 15 minutes," said Askew, who considered bypassing the second half. "I thought about it but my adrenaline was going and good players have to play hurt."
Good players also receive lights-out licks to their heads, too. Askew briefly may have visited another planet during Nederland's 26-14 loss to Ozen. Panthers defensive back Tony Ward unleashed a shot right underneath Jake's chin. At least he can laugh about it a few weeks later.
"That's the hardest I've ever been hit," he said. "I got knocked smooth out. We had a six-yard hitch (pass called) and (Nederland QB) Kirk (Dean) checked to a slant. He hit me so quick that I didn't have time to look back."
Any follower of local athletics had to be concerned for a few moments seeing Askew lying motionless on the turf at Cardinal Stadium. Like a reliable Timex watch, Askew took a licking and kept on ticking. He came back into the game after a couple of plays. But he wasn't sure his mind was back to normal so he had some advice for offensive coordinator Monte Barrow.
"I told coach Barrow not to send me in with the plays," Askew said.
That's the enjoyable nature of Greg and Jane Askew's 17-year-old son. He turns 18 on Nov. 1. The whole school ought to have a party for him. They should sacrifice for him, because he's sacrificed for them.
"I hope they (Nederland's younger players) look up to me in a good way," he said. "I'm a little bit of a clown, but not too much."
With Askew leading the way, Nederland's players will arrive for their 2002 homecoming game. They will plan to bounce back against Little Cypress-Mauriceville on Friday night.
BULLDOG BITES
Dogs suffered more than a loss at Central. Three key starters did not work out Monday or Tuesday. WR Jake Askew and OLB Ross Matt sustained dislocated shoulders and remained questionable for LC-M this Friday. Inside backer Eddie Romero had a dislocated elbow and was ruled out of the game for sure. Coach Larry Neumann was awaiting results on Tuesday's MRI of junior TB Ben Davis who missed the Central game because of a knee sprain .... Best film grades against Central were Tyler Nemeth (86), Josh Jones and Kirk Dean (84), Josh Waite (82), Darin Smith and John Tobias (81), Chase Rosas and Chris Pierce (80).... Homecoming festivities include Friday's traditional Boston Avenue parade at 4:30, coronation ceremonies (in pre-game) at 7 p.m., and a dance in the NHS cafeteria after the game..... NHS players and coaches will be treated to a Hillcrest elementary school pep rally on Thursday at 2:30.... Leading tacklers at Central were Chase Gentile (11 and 4), Darin Smith (10 and 7), Eddie Romero (5 and 2), Evan Foxworth (5 and 1), Colin Weber (4 and 5) and Julian Nunez (4 and 4 with an interception).