After an injury cut his junior season short, Maize senior safety Scotty Hadley is ready to lead one of the toughest defenses in Class 5A.
“Scotty Hadley will be one of our leaders on the defensive side of the ball,” Maize High head coach Gary Guzman said. “He plays smart and fast and does a great job of defending both the run and the pass.”
The senior missed four games last fall due to injury, but his return was felt immediately. In his first game back, he recorded a pick-six and finished the season with 51 total tackles, 30 of them solo, along with three interceptions. He earned AVCTL Division I Second Team honors, despite only playing in seven games.
“Open field tackling is one of my biggest strengths,” Hadley said. “I’ll tackle anyone — and I’m not scared to hit anybody.”
Hadley’s personal goal this season is to record five interceptions, but the team’s success is the bigger priority.
“I want us to improve from last year and go further in the playoffs,” he said.
The Eagles found themselves in a hole early in the year dropping four in a row to start, and then having a complete 180’ as they went on to win 5 straight before falling to the class 6A state championship runner up Manhattan Eagles.
For Maize to make a deep run, Hadley knows it starts on his side of the ball.
“Defense wins championships,” he said. “And if I can be the leader I know I am, I believe I can help get us there.”
For the Maize High senior though, Hadley hopes for a standout senior football season of course, but ultimately has future plans with another sport in the future.
“I’ve played football since I was in kindergarten,” Hadley said. “(But) I really want to play baseball at the next level.”
