Barnsdall RB earns E-E Athlete of the Week honors for running wild in big win
In the 1800s, iconic newspaper editor Horace Greeley urged restless wanderers to “Go West, young man.”
But when it comes to romping in all directions on a football field, Barnsdall High School is perfectly content to look to Easton Malone. His first name might start with the word East, but tailback Easton Malone is a smashing force no matter which direction he romps.
The third-year starting junior juked, sliced, blasted and surged to 301 yards in a win against Copan High, earning him this week’s E-E Athlete of the Week honors.
In addition to shredding Copan’s run defense, he also stepped in at quarterback — when Barnsdall lost the two quarterbacks ahead of him, due mostly to cramping issues — to help wrap up Barnsdall’s explosive 74-46 win in its season opener.
In addition to eclipsing the 300-yard mark, the 210-plus dynamo scored multiple touchdowns; on defense, he made six tackles, three for loss.
“I was just able to step up and fill the role when they needed it,” Malone said about playing quarterback but added Sweeney let him pass the ball only once.
He feels more confident this year in the run game, partly because of the maturation of the offensive line and its communication and partly because of his increased ability to read his blocks.
Malone ground through injury from spring ball through the offseason, Barnsdall head coach Kylee Sweeney said.
“He’s a tough kid who wants to play, he wants to be out there,” said Sweeney. “He’s probably one of the most physical players I’ve ever coached. … His strength is pretty phenomenal for a 15 or 16-year-old kid.”
Barnsdall head wrestling coach — and football assistant — Caleb Hawes concurred.
Last wrestling season as a sophomore, Malone powered to a regional title and fell one win short of bring home a state medal.
His commitment to competition goes beyond game day.
“In wrestling, Easton is sometimes more excited for wrestling practice than I am,” Hawes said. “He enjoys the process of working hard and competing. … He’s always been a guy you can count on for working hard.”
Hawes association with Malone stretches back to Malone’s early elementary school years when Hawes was still a Barnsdall High student-athlete.
“When I was a senior, he was in the second grade,” recalled Hawes, who obviously didn’t know someday he would be Malone’s high school coach. “Barnsdall is a pretty tight wrestling community and the high school wrestlers would go and help out with elementary school wrestlers.”
Hawes said he sensed even back then Malone would be a special athlete.
“I first met him when I was working vacation Bible school and he was this little kid who kept coming up to the supervisors and saying ‘Throw me down the water slide,’ and he’d keep coming back and say, ‘Throw me down harder.’ He just couldn’t get enough of it.”
He recalls the first time he met Hawes while participating in a kids’ wrestling camp.
“I kind of clinged to Coach Hawes,” he said. “I always seemed to be around Coach Hawes,” adding he wants to be like his mentor.
Hawes predicted Malone has the potential this next wrestling season to be among the state’s top two in his weight class.
“I think it comes down to how much I want it and I want it pretty bad,” Hawes said.
Hawes, who said Sweeney and the other coaches foster a family atmosphere in Barnsdall sports is still uncommitted as to what sports path he wants to follow in college.
“I think the best opportunity will be seeing what God wants me to do with my life,” he said. “It depends on what door He opens.”
Other Athlete of the Week candidates
Pawhuska football: Canyon Hindman — He passed for 294 yards and six touchdowns in his career debut last week in an 82-0 win against Caney Valley.
Dewey softball: Kyla Overton — She ripped three hits and drove in two runs in a 14-2 win, and pitched strong in a 5-1 loss to district rival Berryhill.
Bartlesville cross country: Gentry Turner — She turned in a blistering split of 9:05.8 during last week's Owasso relays.
Nowata football: Peyton Trotter — Trotter scored Nowata's final two touchdowns in a 2016 win against Chelsea (Nowata's first season-opening win since 2016).
Copan football: Weston O'Rourke — 169 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 10 carries, 19 yards receiving, 11 tackles on defense.
Copan football: Teegan Caron — 52 yards receiving, 75-yard kickoff touchdown return, 12 tackles on defense
Copan football: Karson Woodworth — 62 yards and a touchdown receiving, 62-yard kickoff touchdown return, 10 tackles on defense.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Athlete of the Week: Barnsdall's Easton Malone ran wild in big win
