Record Newspapers Player of the Year: Oswego’s Mark Melton overcame loss to achieve spectacular senior season

He was with Mark Melton every time he touched the football this fall.

Every Friday night when Melton, Oswego’s senior running back, put on the pads, he tucked a part of his father’s ashes inside his sock.

His loss, Mark Melton Sr.’s death on New Year’s Day of 2021, made for an incredibly difficult year for his son.

His memory, and the support of friends, coaches and staff at Oswego – and most of all his grandmother, gave Melton the strength to move forward and achieve a spectacular senior season.

“That’s what everybody told me, before games, do it for your father, your pops,” Melton said. “He was always there.”

Overcoming an unspeakable tragedy, Melton this season rushed for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns, and caught a 13th touchdown.

Melton was named a Class 8A All-Stater by the Illinois Football Coaches Association, and is the Record Newspapers Player of the Year.

“Honestly, I couldn’t have believed I’d have this kind of season,” Melton said. “I have to No. 1 thank my teammates and coaches for it. I was very shocked and excited. I didn’t think I would do this well.”

Melton twice rushed for more than 200 yards in a game, leading Oswego to a share of the Southwest Prairie West title. His brilliant 241-yard, four-TD game carried Oswego past Minooka. He ran for 203 yards and two TDs against Oswego East and 171 yards and two TDs in a win over West Aurora, when Oswego was without its two quarterbacks.

With his speed and determination, Melton was a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

“He was the focal part of our offense, not just the numbers but the intensity that he plays with,” Oswego coach Brian Cooney said. “Even a 2-yard loss, he’s doing something to constantly fight. He has the pedal on the gas all the time. An electric player. We’ve had a history of good running backs but it’s been a while since I saw a guy rattle off that many long touchdowns. It speaks to his attitude, preparation, drive and focus.”

Melton was a late starter to football.

He played rugby from fourth grade through eighth grade, in addition to basketball. An inside center in rugby, he was always moved up an age group level and traveled with state teams to Kentucky and Tennessee.

An aunt Melton was living with at the time would not permit him to play football, but his dad gave him his blessing to go for it when he got out of jail during Melton’s freshman year.

“To be honest, I got used to football pretty quick,” Melton said. “I was actually really good at rugby and it helped a lot. When it came to the running back position, it was harder to understand plays and read stuff but it grew on me after time.”

Melton didn’t start his freshman year, but when Jacob Sergen was moved up to varsity the following season Melton got the opportunity to show what he could do as a speed back.

“If you’ve watched my film from freshman to senior year, my main run was the pitch, outside run,” he said. “I can run inside, but running outside is my strength, using my speed and quickness to get to the outside to make plays.”

The last words from Melton’s dad were a text: “Happy New Year, you had a great year, Love you.”

Melton woke up the next morning and his dad’s door was shut. He went to the gym and returned to find the door still closed. Melton opened it and found his father dead.

Melton couldn’t sleep well after his dad’s passing. He also wasn’t eating and went from 180 pounds to 165. But he showed flashes of his fall season to come, with a spectacular TD run in the spring finale against Minooka.

“I was a running back at 165 pounds getting hit by kids going to college,” Melton said. “After that, overcoming, going to senior year, coaching staff, they had me eating right and in the weight room.”

He’s equally grateful to his friend Darquel Sanders, the first person Melton met in art class after moving to Oswego from Warrenville in the sixth grade, whose family he has lived with this year.

“Their family has meant the world to me,” Melton said. “Seriously, I wouldn’t be where I am without them. They’ve provided me a home. Honestly I can’t thank them enough.”

Melton is most thankful for his grandmother, Jenny Melton. She lives in California but makes sure that he is on top of everything, communicating with him every day, providing financial support, watching all his games online.

“She even tells me all my stats, tells me to go on my phone and see how many rushing yards and touchdowns I had,” Melton said. “It’s cool. That is what my dad would do.”

Melton gets upset every day thinking about the loss of his dad. Senior Night was tough, but he walked out with coaches.

His dream going forward, all that he’s waiting on, is to play college football, “especially big-time football,” and make his dream a reality.

And carry on his father’s name.

“My mentality was, being upset all the time, I had to accept it. Life goes on,” Melton said. “You have to continue to do good things, build a legacy for him. I just had to take it like a man.”