Junior running back Elijah Motley is painfully aware of his unfinished business for Shepard.
Admittedly, Motley felt guilty about being available to play for the equivalent of only five quarters during the first six games as the Astros rode a winning streak, losing streak roller coaster.
“I felt like I’d been letting the team down and I know they needed me,” he said. “Getting back out there, seeing the way the line blocked for me, I felt very thankful for the support and opportunities.”
Those chances to reach the end zone came in waves Friday night.
Motley returned to action and scored three touchdowns, adding 92 yards rushing for host Shepard in a dominant 50-0 South Suburban Red victory over Argo in Palos Heights.
Junior quarterback Ashton Hite threw two TD passes and senior running back Marion McChristian came through with TD runs of 39 and 41 yards for the Astros (4-3, 2-2), who after losing the season opener won two games, lost two games and now have won two games in a row again.
Motley, meanwhile, broke off TD runs of 6, 11 and 65 yards. He showed his efficiency and explosiveness when he’s physically able to perform.
“It was awesome having him back in the backfield,” Hite said of Motley, who has 222 yards and four TDs on the season while averaging 6.7 yards a carry. “He’s so shifty and very hard to tackle.
“I’ve been playing with him for three years and he’s always been a great guy, on and off the field. He always comes to practice giving it his all.”
Senior defensive back Xavier Exum confirmed that Motley is matter of fact in his approach.
“He’s all about football,” Exum said. “He understands everything the coaches tell him and he takes to it very easy. He’s a very fast, elusive and a very hard runner.
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“He’s electric with the ball. I know it meant a lot for him to get back on the field and do what he loves to do.”
The 5-foot-10 Motley is also a long jumper and sprinter in track. He balances size and agility with the necessary burst to get to the edge and take runs outside.
“I think my favorite part about the position is just having the chance to run over people,” said Motley, who’s in his first year on varsity. “I run hard and fast and I’m not easy to take down.
“I play the game for fun and excitement.”
On the 50th anniversary of Shepard’s football program, the Astros are heating up, with Motley tossing fuel onto the fire.
“As a ball carrier, he has excellent vision,” Shepard coach John Rone said. “He sees things and he reacts very quickly. He’s just a phenomenal athlete. He’s not the biggest guy at his size.
“He’s tough. He’s a finisher. He just finishes his runs.”
Growing up, Motley almost quit playing football after being dejected by his performance.
“I was bad,” he said. “I wasn’t very good at all. When I got older, I started watching NFL games. Seeing how the professionals played made me want to play again.
“My freshman year, I told my mom I wanted to play. She agreed with it, and I just fell in love with the game.”
Injuries tend to be random, so Motley hopes the assortment of knee, ankle and foot concerns that have bedeviled him are squarely in the past. A naturally quiet player, he understands his value.
“Outside school I’m very excited,” he said. “Inside I don’t talk as much because I’m trying to get my school work done or ready for practice. Most of the attention does come to me when I’m running.
“And for that, I’m definitely glad to be back.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.