Speed is very important in six-man football, and Trevor King exerts a lot of it as Vernon Northside High’s primary ball carrier.
Indians head coach Jeremy Reeder told Texas Scorecard that the 6-foot, 210-pound senior is one of the hardest workers he knows on and off the field.
“He’s never sitting at home,” Reeder said. “He’s either working for his grandpa or for some farmer around town … he’s always doing something.”
In addition to attending summer workouts, King, the coach added, even went to his house while he was away to perform a chore.
“He’s that kind of kid,” Reeder said.
King has Stargardt’s macular degeneration, a condition that limits his vision to just his peripherals, but it does not stop him from being an all-around presence on the gridiron for the school located 15 miles south of the Texas-Oklahoma border.
“[His teammates] completely understand … they don’t think of it as a disability,” Reeder said. “It’s Trevor … they expect him to do his job like everybody else. They treat him just like they would anybody else.”
Northside started King’s final season with a 33-30 road win over Throckmorton High, and a 44-27 loss at home to Woodson. King, who is playing running back for the first time, left an indelible mark in each contest.
According to Reeder, King was Northside’s leading rusher in the season opener against Throckmorton, and turned a short pass into a 55-yard touchdown scamper down the sideline in the following game against Woodson.
“He’s a weapon for us,” the coach said.
Aside from being a prolific offensive star, King is a solid contributor on defense. He chipped in three tackles for loss against Woodson and registered a sack against Throckmorton.
“He’s a 210-pound kid that can run well, and when you have those kinds of athletes, you kind of put them in a position to succeed,” Reeder said.
And when the Indians decide on a field goal, Reeder sends King out to execute the attempt.
No matter what King does, he never ceases to amaze Northside fans and alumni who pack the stands every Friday night.
“They eat it up when Trevor scores or kicks an extra point,” Reeder said. “Just like any of our kids when they score. The crowd really gets into it.”
Reeder said that King, who also runs track, is a good, extremely intelligent student in the classroom and well-liked among his peers. He was elected homecoming king his junior year.
Look for King to figure more in Northside’s quest to secure a playoff berth and beyond after the Indians missed out in 2018.
“Obviously, the goal for us is to try to make the playoffs, and Trevor is going to be a big part of it if we do make it,” Reeder said.
