Published: October 20, 2009 12:11 am      

Compliment on character

THE ISSUE: Braxton Shelton’s magical football season.

OUR VIEW: Tailback is a better person than a football player.

Prior to Friday night’s season finale against Logansport, the Kokomo Wildkats were the state’s fifth-ranked 5A football squad.

The team was averaging 55.5 points per game – second most among all Indiana high schools – while holding opponents to 8.5 points per contest.

Friday, the 2009 Wildkats became just the fifth football team in school history to finish the regular season undefeated and untied. They defeated the Berries 34-6 in familiar fashion.

Against a team averaging 264 rushing yards per game, Kokomo’s defense limited Logansport to 98 yards in total offense. Kokomo’s offense racked up 454 yards – 391 of them on the ground.

And, as usual, tailback Braxton Shelton led all rushers and scorers.

Shelton, the state’s 11th leading rusher and third leading scorer before Friday, rushed 21 times for 275 yards and five touchdowns.

“I’m gonna tell you what, Braxton Shelton is a man,” Logansport coach Bucky Kramer said after the game Friday. “He can run, he can jump, he can catch, he is the real deal.”

The Berries’ coach wasn’t finished with his praise for Shelton. “He’s a polite, first-class kid and he’s gonna go a long way in life,” Kramer said.

Statistics suggest Shelton is a legitimate Division I college prospect. After nine games, he’s averaging 171 yards per game. He’s averaging 11.8 yards per carry and has scored 31 touchdowns.

But statistics can’t measure character. Shelton’s coaches recognize what’s inside him. His teammates do, and an opposing coach does, as well.

Shelton will finish his football career as Kokomo’s all-time leading rusher and scorer. But Kramer’s compliment Friday will be Shelton’s highest accolade.