When Nelsonville-York takes the field Friday nights, Colton Snyder’s voice can be heard above the rest. As friends and family take their seats, Snyder has the most vocal support from the stands.
For Snyder, playing football revolves around family.
“When my dad was in high school, nobody ever came to his games,” Snyder said. “Ever since I was in second grade, it’s been a thing for him, my mom, my sister, my grandparents and my aunt and uncle to have never missed a game.”
Every time Snyder makes a tackle or runs the ball, his brigade of supporters celebrate as if he just scored a touchdown. If the Buckeyes need a stop on defense, his mom will shout “go get that ball, Colton Snyder” loudly enough for the entire stadium to hear.
When Snyder couldn’t have his whole family attend the game at Wellston this season due to a limited number of tickets, he felt off. He wasn’t used to a game where he couldn’t look into the stands and see his whole family. Snyder instead looked to his teammate and best friend, Christian Wiseman, who couldn’t get his whole family to the game either.
“We talked before the game, and I said, ‘We just have to play for each other,’” Snyder said. “We always play for each other, but we always look into the crowd, and our whole family is there, and it means a lot to us. Leaning on him really helps me a lot.”
Wiseman became the third senior for the Buckeyes to get injured after breaking his foot against Vinton County. Snyder took the loss of his friend and wrestling partner hard. Without his counterpart, he will have to be even more vocal on defense, which shouldn’t be a problem.
“I try to pick up anyone’s slack,” Snyder said. “If someone is slacking off, I pick them right back up, like ‘let’s go; let’s go.” I feel like this is my defense, and that’s being a middle linebacker. I feel like it’s my responsibility to be the loudest one out there and lead this team.”
Aside from his family in the stands and on the field, Snyder even has some on the sideline. The senior has a unique relationship with head coach Rusty Richards. He grew up with Richards’ son, Reiston, who is now a freshman on the Buckeyes roster.
“He’s the smallest guy on the field, so I think he just sort of took him under his wing and took care of him because he is a whopping 105 pounds,” Richards said. “It’s pretty neat. They’ve rode four wheelers together, so they’ve got that little bond. He took him in like a little brother.”
Snyder’s off the field relationship helps him on the field, he said. The senior is the one Richards goes to at halftime to make defensive adjustments, like he did last week at Vinton County.
“Coach relied on me in the second half and our whole defense,” Snyder said. “He came up to me and said, ‘You’ve got to get going.’ I just kept that in the back of my head the whole time.”
The adjustments made by Richards and Snyder proved to work as they shut out the opposing offense for the entire second half.
With only two games left in the shortened season, Snyder wants to make the most of his remaining time playing with and in front of his family. It isn’t lost on him that two of his teammates had their careers ended early and that the same could happen to him.
Snyder wants to extend his time with his teammates as much as possible. He feels like if the Buckeyes continue to play the way they have in their last two games, they can make a run in the playoffs.
When Nelsonville-York takes the field against Athens on Oct. 2, it could be the last time the seniors play at their home field. Snyder is trying to savor what little time he has left.
“Growing up together was great, and I’m not ready for it to end, especially with these guys,” Snyder said. “But all great things have to come to an end.”
