Brown motivated after winning Ford Tough Award

By Tyler Tyre, Times Sports Editor
Posted 9/21/21

“It motivates me so much,” Brown said. “I just have to keep working like I did over the summer and offseason. I’m just gonna keep pushing myself because I know it pays off.”

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Brown motivated after winning Ford Tough Award

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Jacob Brown knew this was coming.

The Paetow senior running back knew that his time and effort would eventually pay off if he kept working, he just didn’t know when.

“Honestly, it’s been a lot that’s gotten me here,” Brown said. ”Really since this time last year, I was focused on my senior year, trying to put that work in. The whole team came together in the offseason and summer and this year has been great to this point.”

Brown has had a scorching start to the season, and he capped it off by being named the Class 5A Ford Tough Player of the Week.

Brown rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns against Richmond Foster to help Paetow win its district 10-5A, Division I opener.

“It’s truly a blessing to accomplish this,” Brown said. “Freshman year on I was kind of waiting behind the guys, but now that I’m here, it’s just astonishing being able to win an award like this.”

Through four games this season, Brown has rushed for 636 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 159 yards on the ground and three touchdowns per game and going over 100 yards in two games thus far.

His success has helped spearhead the Panthers, as the team has gotten off to a perfect 4-0 start and 2-0 start to district play.

“I’m just very proud of him,” said Paetow head coach B.J. Gotte. “Knowing Jacob like I have since his eighth-grade year, he’s come a long way. Personally, physically and in a lot of areas. It’s good to see him have that success which is a byproduct of the work he’s put in this offseason. He really worked hard this offseason, harder than he’s worked since he’s been with us and he committed himself to being the best version of himself. When you see a kid do that you hope that the reward comes, and it has for him.”

While Brown has put up the numbers for Paetow, he’s the first to credit his offensive line.

“They’re such a tremendous help,” Brown said. “Even in practice before games, it’s such a special bond that I can’t even explain, but it obviously shows on the field.”

There are a number of new starters on the line this year, and the groups success has been something Gotte is proud of.

“They’ve done a fantastic job,” Gotte said. “That was one of our biggest question marks we had coming in this year because if you count tight end, we lost five out of six guys on the line from last year. Our guard is the only returning starter in that group so they’re all new varsity starters and they’ve answered the bell. They’ve worked really hard. In skills this summer and in strength and conditioning, they showed up, worked hard and learned. They’re playing really well right now.”

Getting the award doesn’t satisfy Brown though, the senior wants to make the most of his last high school season and he is using everything to push himself to be better.

“It motivates me so much,” Brown said. “I just have to keep working like I did over the summer and offseason. I’m just gonna keep pushing myself because I know it pays off.”

Jacob Brown, Paetow, Katy ISD, Ford Tough, high school football, Texas