Spencer hopes to put cramping issues behind

It was hard not to miss Elgin’s Shay Spencer during last week’s Elgin-MacArthur game at Cameron Stadium; he was the big 77 fighting cramps and an upset stomach most of the evening.

Still the two-way standout kept picking himself up, with some help, and did what he could do to help his Owls roll to a 28-7 victory in the season opener for both clubs.

“I kinda thought I might struggle because early in the season that sometimes happen,” he said. “It was really frustrating. I’d be OK then we’d run another play and my legs just couldn’t move. I thought there were just a couple of us having that problem.”

He hopes that with this week’s cooler weather and another several days of practice he will be ready for action.

Spencer is playing both ways because he’s a valuable member of both units but it’s obvious to see which he loves best.

“Yes, I think I will be playing defense in college,” he said. “I like playing both and in high school; that’s something you often have to do but I think in college I will be the one who focuses more on defense.”

Spencer has caught the eye of college coaches which happens when they see a guy 6-0, 270 or so who can return interceptions for touchdowns.

“Yes sir, I had one in the Noble game and then another one against Midwest City,” he said. “Our defense is geared to have guys in position to make plays. Our ‘Black Flag’ defense is all about everyone doing their job and then swarming to the football. It’s how we are taught by Coach (Jack) Baker.”

In true defensive coordinator fashion, Coach Baker made sure his defenders had things to work on this week.

“Yes, he told us our tackling needs to get better but our hustle and getting to the ball were pretty good,” Spencer said.

The offensive line is built around the same concepts with each player having to execute for the Owls to move the football.

“I think this offensive line can do spectacular things if we keep working hard,” Spencer said. “We we want to open holes for Ritson (Meyer) and Braxton (Antuna) and let them go score. We have to block well for those plays to work.”

It helps to be able to squat a team-high 500 pounds which Spencer has to his list of success stories. It’s all about the genes.

“My mom (Charla Spencer) tells everyone that I was born as a toddler,” he said with a big grin. “I’ve just always been big.”

Mom does her part by cooking his favorite meals, spaghetti with chicken and spicy Jamabalya.

He also is a well-grounded young man with a plan after college.

“I want to be a double major in secondary education so I can come back and coach and also become a chiropractor. If I do get into coaching I’d want to come back to Elgin; this is my home. Now, I might go to some other schools in this area to coach, anywhere but Mac or Cache.”

“That is just Shay being Shay, he will speak his mind,” Elgin Head Coach Chalmer Wyatt said. “Heck, I’d hire him in a flash as an assistant; he already knows how to play the defensive line.”

While the Owls got the win last week, there were still issues with the team, most notably nine penalties that wiped out nearly 150 rushing yards.

“We can’t make those penalties and expect to win,” Spencer said. “We have to be better if we want to reach our goals.”

Which at this point in the season every team has that same goal; winning a gold ball.

“I know some people think we will run through Class 4A like we did in 5A last year but we respect these teams like Clinton and Weatherford and Newcastle,” Spencer said. “We still have to play well to be these schools.”