Friday Night Lights: Running Wild

A simple description of 5-9, 165 pounds might best describe the majority of the prep football players across the state. But narrow the focus to the surrounding Hi-Line area, bring up the fact that this player has spent the majority of his free time over the last half a decade in the weight room in an effort to get better, and a specific local athlete may come to mind.

And while there are plenty of high school football players that get better in the weight room, there are also plenty of high school football players that fail in comparison to what Chinook’s Zach Molyneaux has been able to accomplish.

Molyneaux is a senior for the Sugarbeeters, and his successful career has just a handful of prep games left. But since bursting onto the Beeter scene four years ago, his accolades tell the story of what he, and the Beeters have accomplished.

Molyneaux was part of the talented squad that won the Class C 8-Man state championship in 2010, but lost out in the quarterfinals last season. Molyneaux was also named All Conference and All State as a sophomore and a junior, as well as grabbed team awards for Rookie of the Year in 2010, and Offensive MVP last season. He was also named the KFBB Prep of the Year last season, a season where he grabbed two school records. Molyneaux holds the Chinook record for most touchdowns in a season with 41, and most touchdowns in a game with an impressive eight.

“I am usually in the weight room every day of the week except for game days,” Molyneaux said. “And during the summer I am in there at least four days a week for an hour a day lifting weights or doing agilities or stuff like that. And I really started lifting quite a bit during junior high. I was in there four days a week until high school, through high school, and until now. Lifting has been a huge part of my athletics. That provides an extra advantage for me I think. Not a lot of people are willing to put in that extra time, so I think that has really helped.”

Molyneaux is listed as the running back for the Beeters, but his contributions literally come from all areas of the field.

Lined up in the backfield he can score on the ground, rushing up the middle or bouncing outside with his speed. But he also has a number of passing touchdowns under his belt, as well as receiving touchdowns, again, coming out of the backfield, or lining up as a wide receiver. But Molyneaux has also recorded several interceptions for scores from the linebacker position, as well as kick return and punt returns for scores.

It truly doesn’t matter where he lines up, his explosive play due to his power and speed have made him a threat to the opposition anytime he steps on the field.

And lining up as a utility player has been great testament to his hard work.

“That is really nice,” Molyneaux said. “And that is nice that they trust me to take care of the ball and to make plays in several different positions. And I try to make plays for the team no matter what position I line up in, because if somebody puts in the time, they will be able to perform out on the field. I take pride in being able to play in all of those spots.”

“And all of those scores are fun,” he added. “No touchdown is going to be boring, but I definitely like running the ball. A rushing score is the most fun, being able to read blocks and make moves, then out run everybody is pretty fun. And fortunately I have had a lot of success on a lot of carries. I have had the opportunity to run behind some very good offensive lines. That helps out a ton because of the holes they provide and that is essential in what we do as a team and how I run the football.”

No good running back will take a compliment without parlaying the credit straight to his offensive line. But the credit doesn’t stop there, as Molyneaux comes from a football family, and has had several outstanding running backs to follow behind.

Before Zach carried the rock for the Beeters, it was Ben Stroh racking up touchdowns and records. And before Stroh, it was Tyler Molyneaux, Zach’s brother, doing the exact same. And while Zach grew up playing end zone football at Hoon field during the Beeter games as a youngster, he has been playing organized football and attending camps since the fifth grade. He has extensive football knowledge for his age, but having a head football coach for a dad, Matt Molyneaux, has also been pretty helpful in itself.

Any way you look at it, Zach Molyneaux has the skills to continue in what has already been an impressive football career. But with a lot of credit going to the offensive line, a lot of credit also goes to his upbringing and background.

“It has been challenging following players like those,” Zach said. “Ben and Tyler are great athletes and there is no replacing them. But I have put in a lot of time and I think I have filled that hole pretty well and we as a team have had a lot of success over the past couple of years. And that was nice being around football growing up, and I had a chance to learn a lot from both of them (dad and brother). Both of them have been a huge influence on me as a person, an athlete, and as a running back. They have helped out a lot, and especially having a coach as a father, that has helped me learn the game inside and out.”

College football will surely turn out to be more than just a dream for Zach. He already has colleges interested in him, but has his sights set on completing his senior season before anything.

After losing the season opener to the conference rival Chester/J-I Hawks, the Beeters have improved to 4-1 on the season. The running game has dominated to this point, and the Beeters are also finding success through the air, something they strive for every season. But now past the halfway point in his senior year, Molyneaux is set on making a run into the postseason with the hopes of another state title.

“That is a big goal of mine to actually play college football,” Zach said. “I am still seeing how that will play out, I have some interest from a few different colleges, but I am still just waiting to see what happens. I want to finish this season first, then I will worry about what come next after that.”

The Beeters will get back to action tonight when they host Simms at 7:30 p.m. at Hoon field in Chinook.