By Mark Rountree

Commentary



Stepping in as a first-year starter never is easy.

It’s even more difficult when the shoes you are trying to fill were worn by a legend.

Enid High School junior quarterback Clint Chelf finds himself in that position this season as he begins his first full-time year under center for the Plainsmen.

Chelf will be following in the footsteps of Austin Box, whose schoolboy career at Enid was one for the record book.

Box finished with 12 offensive school records and was a big reason why the Plainsmen reached the Class 6A state championship game last season.

With Box now playing at the University of Oklahoma, it’s Chelf’s turn to make a name for himself.

“It’s going to be tough,’’ said the 16-year-old Chelf. “Box was a great player. I’m not going to try to do too much. I’m not going to try to fill Austin’s shoes by myself. The whole team is going to have to pitch in and do it. ... Stats and records don’t matter to me. I just want the team to do good.’’

Chelf played sparingly as a sophomore last year. He got starts against Ponca City and Broken Arrow when Box was sidelined with a dislocated left elbow. Chelf finished with 41 completions on 80 attempts for 406 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. He also rushed for 153 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns.

“Box was a great leader,’’ said Chelf. “The two games I started, he helped me out a lot, kept telling me to stay positive.’’

Chelf has a good athletic pedigree.

Randy Chelf, his father, was a quarterback at Kremlin-Hillsdale High School.

Donna (Hart) Chelf, his mother, was a softball and basketball star at Enid and played basketball at Phillips University.

Colton, his brother, played football and basketball at Enid and will play football at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.;

Courtney, his sister, is a seventh-grader at Waller Junior High School and plays softball and basketball.

Brad Chelf, Randy’s brother, played football at Kremlin-Hillsdale.

Steve and Jimmy Hart, Donna’s brothers, were baseball players at Phillips.

Chase Hart, Jimmy’s son, is playing football at NEO. Colby Hart, Jimmy’s daughter, is playing softball at Cowley County (Kan.) Community College.

While that kind of family athletic background is helpful, young Chelf will have to prove it on the field on Friday nights with his arm, legs, head and heart.

Box was as much a threat running the ball as passing in Enid’s wide-open, shotgun offense.

That offensive scheme hasn’t changed, although it may be tweaked to take advantage of Chelf’s strength, which is passing the ball.

“It’s going to be the same offense,’’ said Chelf, who is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. “It’s still going to be spread out. We’ll have four receivers most of the time and I’ll be in the shotgun.’’

Box is gone. This is Chelf’s team now, and he will be expected to perform right away on the big stage.

“It is a high-profile position,’’ said Chelf. “Every move you make everyone is going to know about it. You just have to do the right thing.’’

Chelf’s career gets started Friday when Enid hosts Bartlesville in the season opener.



Rountree is the sports editor of the Nes & Eagle