As most have learned early NEI will be the first place all of the top athletes come to when relaying breaking news. Just today Steven Long (5-7 175 RB Sr.) of Lake Oswego finally got the offer he was looking for.
The Portland State Vikings and Head Coach Nigel Burton have offered Long a full ride scholarship. Steven Says ” hard work, dedication, and patience leads to dreams coming true, the feeling was amazing and I knew I just had to be patient”. Long is a household name in the high school football world and many have wondered when schools would come calling. His numbers are off the charts and this past Friday put an exclamation point on any doubts that certain schools may have had.
The 5A State Champion from a year ago out of Sherwood was one of the most high profile athletes in the Northwest without an offer. Last season he ran for 1156 yds and had 22 total touchdowns on his way to racking up 5A State Championship MVP Honors. The numbers were never in question, but schools have doubted his size and speed.
You never heard him complain or make excuses. He simply just kept working and training for this day. His work ethic alone makes you want to work harder regardless of who you are.
This past Friday Long found the end zone 4 times against a highly touted Central Catholic Defense in route to a 49-28 victory. They kept him bottled up for awhile, but the kid is a winner and he always seems to find a way to break an opponents back. The powerful 5 foot 7 athlete ran for 110 yards on 21 carries, breaking off a spectacular 49 yard score to seal up the evening. The Central Catholic D had an off night, but give credit where credit is due. Long has battled and is now reaping the rewards.
You can expect to see a lot more of #11 at a high School near you over the next few months. We wish Steven the best and will continue to follow his progress.
