Walton and Price reflect on football team’s run and effects of pandemic on senior year
Khris Walton vividly remembers the play.
During Merrillville’s 2720 win against Lafayette Jefferson in a Class 6A sectional opener on Nov. 1, the senior defensive tackle scooped up a fumble and raced 55 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half to give the Pirates a 14-6 lead.
“I could never forget that,” Walton said. “Everybody was cheering.”
Walton also hasn’t forgotten a similar play two weeks later.
The Pirates beat Warsaw 42-28 for their first regional title since 2002. Senior defensive end Nick Price recovered a fumble — and got tackled at the 9-yard line.
“Nick didn’t score,” Walton said. “I’m always telling him he’s slow. He picked it up wide open and got tackled. He got tackled by a skill player too.”
Walton added with a laugh: “But, no, Nick’s a great player.”
P r i c e, a Va l p a ra i s o recruit, also recalled that play.
“Khris constantly gets on me for that,” Price said. “He calls me slow. I still got the fumble recovery. That’s all that matters, though.”
That good-natured ribbing underscores the nature of the relationship between Walton and Price.
They’ve relied on each other as they’ve shared the highs and lows of this academic year, including the past two-plus months during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s been rough,” Walton said. “But at the same time, I still have a life ahead of me. The only thing we can do from here is keep working and keep having faith. In my mind, everything happens for a reason.
“The way I look at it, this is time to work on myself as a student and as an athlete and make myself better. I’ll be better than ever.”
As freshmen, Walton played right tackle, and
Price was alongside him at right guard.
As seniors, they were all-conference defensive linemen, and Walton was named the Duneland Athletic Conference’s defensive MVP.
“It’s like a brotherly bond,” Price said. “That’s the one-two punch right there. We’re just a tag team, always pushing each other — inseparable.”
Walton, who placed fourth at 182 pounds at the wrestling state meet and then had his track and field season as a thrower wiped out, reflected on Merrillville (11-2) advancing within a game of the state final in November. The Pirates lost to eventual state champion Carmel at semistate.
“I love our team chemistry,” he said. “Our team grew from 1-9 two years ago to making the semistate. We got better and better every time we touched the field and got closer and closer to each other. The hard worked paid off.”
Price, also a thrower in track and field, particularly savored Merrillville’s win against Crown Point in a sectional final. The Bulldogs had defeated the Pirates in sectionals each of the previous three seasons, each time after Merrillville won during the regular season.
“Finally beating them was the most satisfying feeling I’ve ever had,” Price said.
Walton and Price had been in position to suit up as teammates one more time. Both were selected for the North/ South All-Star
Game. But that event, scheduled for July 10 at Ben Davis, was canceled.
“I was looking forward to it, playing next to Nick again,” said Walton, who wants to play football in college but hasn’t undecided where. “Our chemistry is through the roof, the way we play off each other and feed off each other. To get another chance to play with one of my close friends, a player and athlete like that, it would’ve been amazing.”
Price echoed those sentiments.
“It sucks,” he said. “We wanted to show out. But you can’t do anything about it.
“You have to adapt and adjust. I wish we could’ve had all that stuff, the senior year of high school experiences. But you have to deal with it and keep pushing forward.”