Apollos Hester: High School Football Player Delivers Sublime Motivational Speech Following 1-Point Comeback Victory
When TWC News Austin reporter Lauren Mickler set up in the end zone of a Texas high school football field, microphone in hand and camera rolling, for a post-game interview with high school football player Apollos Hester, little did she know that what was coming could soon be in the “Interview Hall of Fame” and was worthy of any motivational speaker highlight reel.
While some can take high school football and work very hard to turn positives into negatives, Apollos Hester speaks way beyond his years and delivers a message that even top motivational speakers in the world, such as Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar and Dr. Wayne Dyer, would envy. In fact, don’t be surprised if Apollos Hester soon ends up speaking at a hotel or convention center near you!
A wide receiver for East View High School, Apollos Hester steps up to Lauren Mickler’s mic, glowing and projecting a vibe so positive that before he even says a word one can’t help but be struck by the young man and forced to sit up and pay attention in a good way.
The interview follows East View and Apollos Hester’s one-point victory over Vandergrift. Lauren Mickler begins the dialogue by reflecting on the fact that Hester’s Patriots were in a “tough dogfight,” and asked what it took for them to come back and triumph.
Apollos Hester takes it from there.
As for the game, East View needed all the motivation they could get coming out for the second half against Vandergrift, both schools fighting for a 4-0 record for the season, reports the Statesman.
And Apollos Hester’s East View did come out motivated, scoring the first two touchdowns of the third quarter, rallying from a 14-point deficit to tie the game at 28-28.
Vandergrift had their own motivations, however, regaining the lead 35-28 before Apollos Hester made a leaping grab in the end zone for a touchdown to tie the score 35-35.
The teams then traded punches back an forth, East View putting up seven more to take a 42-35 lead with 2:46 left before a stingy Vandergrift racked a touchdown of their own as time was running out.
Opting to go for a win instead of a tie, Vandy went for a 2-point conversion. Their standout running back, Travis Brannan, who had run crazy all night for 253 yards and been stuffed at the line by Apollos Hester’s teammates, secured the victory for East View.
“It’s amazing coming out and getting a win over a big team,” said Apollos Hester’s East View teammate, senior Adrian Contreras. “It boosts our confidence and we’re ready for next week.”
[Images via TWC News Austin/YouTube]
