PRAIRIE GROVE -- Critics in the stands were quick to write Zeke Laird off during last year's Black and Gold pre-season football scrimmage.
"Looks like we're strong at every position except quarterback," one man commented.
How wrong they were.
Armchair quarterbacks prone to judge by size and physical appearance tend to overlook the intangibles. Zeke Laird stands 5-feet-9 and was listed at 180 pounds, not exactly a proto-type build for a starting quarterback, but what can't be measured is the size of his heart.
Prairie Grove coaches might have been within earshot of the speaker, but if they were, they weren't listening. They knew better. Zeke Laird consistently demonstrated a tenacious, work ethic and calm leadership quality that made him an ideal signal-caller.
When the dust settled on the 2016 season, the Tigers had won a second-straight conference championship sporting an undefeated 7-0 record in the 4A-1. The streak included an impressive 45-15 road win at Shiloh Christian in which Zeke Laird (11 of 15 passing, 259 yards, 6 touchdowns, 0 interceptions) surprised the Saints when he ripped off a 54-yard touchdown run. His backup and main competition for starting quarterback, then-junior John David Elder, observed, "He never ran so fast in his life."
The touchdown romp exemplified Laird's will to excel which manifested into physical performance on the field.
Zeke Laird's younger brother, Knox, credits Prairie Grove head football coach Danny Abshier's contributions to Zeke's success by giving him playing time.
"Coach Abshier, he cares more about your character than he does your abilities," Knox Laird said. "If you're willing to work hard, then he'll find a spot for you on the field. Zeke wasn't always the fastest or the strongest, but he had the heart and the willingness. If you have a heart to play then you'll get a chance to play for Coach Abshier. I've always kind of respected that about him."
As a senior, Zeke Laird completed 115 of 205 passes for a 56 percent completion rate. He piled up 1,924 aerial yards with a touchdown to interception ratio of 29-7. In addition, Zeke Laird carried the football 59 times for 224 yards, averaging 3.7-yards-per-carry despite negative yardage on sacks. He had the second-most touchdowns of any Tiger on the ground with 12 scoring runs. He kept drives alive with his feet and his arm. The Tigers' 43.6-points-per-game testifies to Zeke Laird's proficiency in running the offense.
He seldom turned the ball over and earned All-State honors. His poise in the playoffs was critical. Prairie Grove commited only a single turnover in three playoff games while advancing to the State 4A semifinals for the second straight year. When they lost the ball on a fumble, they got the pigskin back by forcing a fumble, which they recovered on the same play.
Zeke Laird leaves for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York next week with a prayer from the man, who appointed him, U.S. Congressman Steve Womack (R-Rogers).
"Lord, we are eternally grateful to live in a country to know where you have ordained our country to be a special place in the world," Womack prayed during a sendoff ceremony for military academy appointees Saturday at Bentonville.
"For the young men and women here today, Lord, thank you for their unselfish desire to serve our country. We are reminded this week it's an imperfect world...That we have to protect our way of life in this country, and that it's these young men and women, who will protect our country...I pray that you put a shield of protection around them, that you remind them what it is all about."
Sports on 06/21/2017