Football is a game of patience. The vertical passing game needs time for receivers to work down field, running backs must wait for holes to open up and present a lane, while lineman grind out the dirty work in the trenches all game long. And for Guilford senior Colton Schilling, his career has been a grind, one he patiently worked his way through, ready now to make an explosive impact for the Indians.

Colton, a Guilford left tackle and defensive end, is getting his first chance to be an every-game starter this fall in his senior campaign. Working his way up the ranks over the last three years was no easy task, but few things in football are simple. As a two-way starter, Guilford is proud to trot Colton out there on nearly every down as its shining example of how to battle through and overcome on the gridiron.

“[Colton] is a great example that it takes time to become a great football player,” Guilford football coach Tom Unger says. “Good things come to you if you work hard, persevere, push through, and Colton is a great example of that for our younger players.”

A football player since his days in Guilford Youth Football, Colton spent nearly his entire first three years of high school on the JV team. As a member of the offensive and defensive lines, he worked on his craft waiting to get a chance to prove to Unger and the Indians he was deserving of a spot on the varsity squad.

In the last game of the 2011 season, Guilford played its annual rivalry game with Daniel Hand and Colton’s number was finally called. He was one of the Indians’ starting guards, officially kicking off his varsity football career.

“It was nerve-racking because it was my first varsity start and I was going against a really good defensive end in that game,” says Colton. “I think I did pretty well for having it be my first start.”

Colton says what he took away from that experience more than anything was how big and fast the varsity players were. Over the offseason he had tunnel vision set on gaining size and speed, hoping that as a senior he’d stack up a little better in the trenches of the Southern Connecticut Conference.

“That start definitely gave me some confidence heading into the summer,” Colton says. “I just kept working hard in the weight room during the offseason. I took the offseason [program] a lot more serious, I missed as few days as I could, and I tried to get as fast and strong as possible.”

Colton’s blend of size and speed (6-2, near 200 pounds) makes him a perfect fit on the Indians’ offensive line. As the starting left tackle in Guilford’s triple-option offense, Colton must routinely get to the second level and block a speedy linebacker on a sweep or pitch, earning the praises of Unger already in the young season.

“As an offensive tackle he is extremely athletic which enables us to do the stuff we do in our offense,” the coach said. “He is very versatile. As a defensive end he does a lot of the same things. He is explosive off the ball, has a great motor, and can chase down balls.”

Despite the Indians’ 0-2 start to the season, Colton says he remains optimistic the Indians can still contend for a playoff berth. He credits Unger with having the team well prepared week-in and week-out and echoes his coach’s mantra when talking about team expectations.

“Just keep trying to win each week,” says Colton.

Also a wrestler, Colton hopes the hard work he put into becoming a football starter will improve his .500 record from a season ago. An avid biker as well, Colton plans on studying economics in college, though he is still undecided as to which college he will attend.

What he does know is that his football career has been a grind and fighting his way into a two-way starter and a standout role only happened because he pushed through and never quit.

Says Colton: “Playing JV for those years kept me motivated. I didn’t want to sit on the bench anymore so I just kept working really hard.”