Columbus North quarterback Zac Horn throws a pass during practice at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, July 14, 2022.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
When Columbus North begins its football season next month, Zac Horn will have a vastly different vantage point than the one he had at the start of last season.
Horn was on the sidelines in a wheelchair early in the 2021 season after undergoing surgery on both labrums. Now a senior, he is battling for the starting quarterback job.
“It was awful because I had already been really affected, and finally when you’re told you’re not going to have your whole junior season, and you’re really not going to do much your basketball season, it was really tough, especially when you see all your teammates working, and you’re sitting on the sidelines while they’re running in all this heat and everything, so you want to be out there with them,” Horn said.
As a sophomore, Horn was the backup to starting quarterback Luke Hammons. Horn saw a little action in a season-opening win against Gibson Southern, but as the season progressed, he noticed he was losing mobility.
“Over time, I just realized, ‘Man, I’m getting slower. I’m not as quick, maybe can’t make a cut like I used to be able to do,’” Horn said. “Especially my sophomore year, I started to go into that football season, I was a little bit slower, and then that basketball season, I was in a whole lot of pain, and we definitely knew something was wrong then.”
Eventually, he was diagnosed with torn labrums in each hip.
“It was kind of a bone deformity in the hips that caused those tears and did some kind of scraping,” Horn said. “You’re just kind of born with the bone spurs in there. At first, they didn’t know what it was because it’s kind of rare, and you don’t see it a whole lot. It took a couple months really to figure out what was going on. I went to therapy for about 50 visits, and then eventually, we were recommended to go up to Carmel to Methodist Sports and get that looked at.”
Horn had surgery on his left hip on July 15, 2021, then had the right one done on Aug. 5, the day before school began.
After being in a wheelchair at the start of the season, Horn progressed to crutches, then was off crutches late in the season. He was able to run by November, and was released to play basketball in December.
“I’m a lot more mobile,” Horn said. “I’m stronger, faster. I’m still not quite there yet. Even throwing the ball, everybody talks about arm talent, strength, really it’s hip strength. It’s that rotation that you get to ball. Even now, I lack that a little bit. I’m still trying to get that rhythm back, but even now, it’s still a little tough throwing the ball. I have a couple more months to go, but I’m almost back.”
The Bull Dogs have a new coach this year in former Avon and Manchester University quarterback Logan Haston.
“Coming in, I was kind of briefed on his situation,” Haston said. “I didn’t know all the details, but guys kind of told me he had been working to recover. They said he went through spring practices and did well, so that was nice to know. I wanted to see it with my own eyes and see if he could throw. All the signs point to, he’s healthy, and he’s ready to play.”
Currenty, Horn is locked in a battle for the starting job with junior Hudson Elwood, who was last year’s backup.
“It’s great competition,” Horn said. “We’re each working pretty hard out here, and we each make some pretty good plays, maybe some plays that could be a little better, but we’re both getting better.”
“Zac and Hudson are kind of battling in out right now, and we’re not going to rush into that decision,” Haston added. “It’s a pretty important decision. We want to make sure we get it right. Those dudes are kind of pushing each other, and they’re learning from each others’ mistakes and cheering each other on. It’s been a good, healthy competition.”
North began the summer with a team camp, and went to Indiana University for scrimmages against Avon, Ben Davis, Center Grove and Noblesville. The Bull Dogs had a home scrimmage against New Albany just before moratorium week and scrimmaged at Whiteland on Tuesday.
“In those competition periods, I feel like he’s gotten better throughout each one of them,” Haston said. “The mistakes have gone down. There’s still a long way to go, but he’s progressing through the summer. There’s some moments where maybe you can tell he’s struggled through some things, but he’s very honest about that. He’s not trying to be a tough guy or anything. He’s very aware of his body, and he knows when he needs to get rest and when he needs to get treatment. He’s very mature in that regard.”
While Hammons, who was a three-year starter, was a run-pass dual-threat quarterback, Horn is more of a passer than a runner.
“He’s definitely a pocket guy,” Haston said. “I think he would tell you that, too. He’s not going to beat anybody with his speed, but he’s a big, tall body that can stand in the pocket and make some throws with some pressure around him. That’s where been impressed with him so far.”
Horn is hoping to be able to get on the field and throw a few passes to his cousin Cooper Horn. Cooper, a basketball standout, played high school football for the first time last fall, and is North’s leading returning receiver.
“We see each other at all the family gatherings and everything, so we like to poke fun at each other,” Zac said. “He has a good basketball IQ, but also a good football IQ, and I can always talk to him, ‘Hey, what do you think about doing this a little bit different,’ and he understands everything, so it’s a lot of fun.”
While the starting job likely won’t be determined until after the Bull Dogs begin official practice in August, Zac for now is happy to be back in action, getting reps and being around his teammates.
“It’s been really awesome to kind of get back and start working again,” Horn said. “I can tell I’m getting better and getting a little bit faster, getting a little bit more spring in that step. Everyone is supportive. The coaches might say, ‘Do this a little bit differently,’ but they’re helping me out through it. I know sometimes it’s a little frustrating because I think maybe I can do something, but not quite. It’s a lot more fun getting back to it after I wasn’t able to do it last year. We have a new coach, new offense, but it’s a lot of fun.”
