VICKSBURG, MI - The biggest hit Vicksburg running back Caleb Welch took on Friday, Oct. 5 didn't come during the Bulldogs' homecoming football game against South Haven.
It came hours before during the team dinner, when an assistant coach addressed the seniors about the significance of playing in their final homecoming game.
"It hit us hard thinking about that," Welch said of the speech. "I love football, and I try to work to improve at it. I just gave it everything I had knowing it was our last homecoming."
Everything Welch had turned out to be good enough to put him in elite company.
The 6-foot, 217-pound senior became the third player in state history to run for eight touchdowns in a single game, finishing with 25 carries for 353 in Vicksburg's 70-28 win over South Haven, improving the Bulldogs' record to 3-4.
"I didn't realize it was that big of a deal," Welch said. "At the end of the game, I was pretty pumped about getting the win, and Saturday morning, my dad's telling me I'm the third person to do it, so it's pretty cool, but I have to recognize the other 10 guys on the field, especially the offensive line for letting me do my job.
"The O-line had a huge role. They were hustling and had amazing blocks, and after that, I did everything I could to get the touchdowns."
Welch's mark would have stood as a state record, had Schoolcraft's Kobe Clark not scored nine touchdowns a week earlier against Constantine.
Even more impressive is the fact that Welch accomplished the feat without playing in the fourth quarter and logging limited time in the third.
"It was unbelievable," Vicksburg head coach Tom Marchese said. "I didn't hit me what was happening because we were kind of struggling defensively.
"We knew we weren't stopping (South Haven), so that's where our focus was, but at some point in the first half, one of my assistants said to me, 'Coach that's five,' and I said, 'Five what?'"
The assistant was referring to Welch's fifth touchdown, which covered 19 yards and came with 8:06 left in the first half.
He went on to score one more time before the break, then ran for touchdowns of 50 yards and 6 yards in the third quarter.
His first four scores covered 1, 35, 14 and 3 yards, respectively.
Welch's performance not only put him in the MHSAA record books, but his 353 rushing yards also set a Vicksburg program record.
"He ran pretty hard, and he ran angry," Marchese said of Welch. "He made some nice cuts and the O-line blocked really well for him. The guys up front were opening really big holes for him, and he was going downhill when he needed to.
"We usually spread it around, but all of sudden he had five touchdowns, and then he just kept rolling.
"For as big as he is, he's pretty fast. He gets to the open field, and kids think they have an angle on him, and all of sudden, the angle's not there anymore."
Welch now has 1,059 yards and 11 touchdowns on 109 carries this season, and Marchese said he expects to start hearing from college coaches about his talented senior running back, especially after his historic performance.
College football is something Welch said he'd strongly consider if given the chance, but his ultimate goal is to serve his country by joining the U.S. Marine Corps.
"My whole family -- uncles, grandparents and cousins -- they've all been in the military, and at family reunions and gatherings, there's a lot of talk about their time serving their country," Welch said. "I can't think of anything better to do than to serve my country, but the right college or the right opportunity, I'd take it.
"My dad loves watching me play, so I would put the Marines off a little longer if I could play some college football."
Welch takes the field next in Vicksburg's Week 8 game at home against undefeated Edwardsburg.