Nomination Year: 2022

Nominated By: Daniel Strong

Nomination Category: Athletes and Coaches

Sport: Football

Years Participated: 1980-1983

Career Summary:

Gary “Spark” Short was the starting quarterback for the Celina High School Bulldogs during the fall of his junior and senior years (‘82-’83).  He had the difficult task of taking over the offense after the graduation of his predecessor—Clay County Sports Hall of Fame (CCSHOF) member Gary Eads.  Short helped lead the Bulldogs to an impressive 17-5 record as a starter.

In 1982, first year head coach Russell Richardson and the Dawgs with Short at quarterback, opened the season 7-0, before dropping close games to Hickman County and Gordonsville to finish 8-2.  The effort earned Celina a berth in the Industrial Bowl against Jackson County, where the Dawgs won 16-7 and Short was named the Offensive MVP.  The signal-caller accounted for 833 yards and 8 TDs through the air, and 341 yards and three scores on the ground that year, earning All-District honors.

In 1983, the offense surged to 29 points a game on average, and the Black and Gold had another outstanding 8-2 regular season—which helped Celina claim the District 5-A Championship and make the playoffs for the first time.  A premier game that year was when AP #2 Celina met AP #1 Westmoreland.  The Eagles won 26-20, but Short had a career night, going 10 of 19 for 245 yards and a TD, along with rushing for another score.  His 245-yard, single-game passing mark was second to only his older brother and CCSHOF member Roger’s mark of 265 at the time.  Cumulatively, the younger Short had 945 yards passing and 6 TDs, plus 5 rushing scores his senior year.

Nominator Comment:

“Gary ‘Spark’ Short was the starting quarterback at a historic time for Bulldog Football.  He, alongside his Clay County Sports Hall of Fame member teammates Jeff Watson, Darryl Reecer, Dewayne Reecer, and Jimmy Hull, set the bar high for the great teams that would follow them.  The 17-5 record “Spark” posted as a starting quarterback speaks for itself.”