RUSTON, La. - In 2010, Haughton High School took the field for a quarterfinal game against Franklinton. Up until that point, Haughton was undefeated and a No. 3 seed in the Class 4A playoff bracket. Dak Prescott lined up under center and directly behind him was Louisiana Tech senior running back Marlon Seets.

"It was a magical year," Seets said. "It was the first year that Haughton High School had gone undefeated in the regular season. It was amazing to see the community come out. We had five- or six-thousand people. It was the most people I had ever seen at a game."

Just a few weeks prior, Haughton had defeated Parkway High School in front of a crowd of over 10,000. The offense was clicking on all cylinders. The defense was rolling and excitement was building over what Seets and Prescott were building toward.

That night it all came crashing down. A late turnover and Franklinton was set to knee the ball and end not only the game, but the high school careers of Seets and his fellow seniors.

"When they kneeled the ball, I just turned to my teammates and said, 'I have never met a group of guys like you. I love all of you, y'all are my bothers,'" he said. "I could see tears falling out of their eyes. I knew they had a soft spot in their heart for me."

That is just a glimpse of the brotherhood Seets has experienced through the wonderful game. Seets committed to Alcorn in high school before a coaching change pushed him to switch to the school just 45 minutes from his home in Louisiana Tech.

"Playing here is a feeling like no other," Seets said. "Tech has a family atmosphere and I feel like I am right back at Haughton. My family and friends can come right down the road. I have at least 20 people come to the games every Saturday. Haughton is a small town and it is great to see them come out."

On the field, Seets considers himself a grinder, a guy who never takes a play off.

"I am going to do what needs to be done," Seets said. "That is it. After the fact, I will joke around and play, but not until the job is done."

A role model for Haughton players, Seets paved the way for another Bulldog to follow right behind him on his way to Ruston. A teammate alongside Marlon at Haughton was Jordan Craft, and his brother Jarred bought in to the Bulldog way early on in the recruiting process that brought the talented back to Ruston.

Today, Seets and Craft have become best friends with the elder back responsible for molding the young tailback into a consistent producer out of the Tech backfield.

"Our relationship is phenomenal and it is great to see him succeeding," Seets said. "The way he is hitting holes and transformed his body is incredible. Last year, he was just a young kid out there running around. It is amazing to see how far he has come."

One important aspect of the game to Seets is the brotherhood. The Haughton native not only leads vocally, but through his actions as well. Seets has built unbreakable bonds both on and off the field.

"I look at football as a gateway to learn and meet new people," Seets said. "Everyone comes from a different background. You don't know what anyone is going through. When we are out there between those lines, everyone is together. Football just brings about a brotherhood like no other."

Seets was able to rekindle a past friendship when the Bulldogs traveled to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on Mississippi State. Former teammate and current Heisman hopeful Prescott has become a national sensation since his days at Haughton, but to Seets, he is just one the guys.

"It was amazing to play against each other," Seets said. "That was the first time I was able to see him in person in a long time and it was amazing, even though I was pulling against him. In the back of my mind, I knew the great plays he was making against us. It made me think about the days when we were in the same backfield."

While the bonds Seets has built over the years remain today, the same can be said for the chemistry that has been built on this year's roster. With the team arm in arm every Saturday, Seets and the Bulldogs have their eyes set on an even bigger prize.

"There is no let-up. We are going to take what is ours. Last year, we fell a little short on our goals, losing in the conference championship. We came into this season with the mentality that every week we are going to give it our all."

While Seets is prepared to graduate this winter with a degree in kinesiology, the friendships he has built in his football career from Haughton to Louisiana Tech will stay with him far beyond his days on the gridiron. To Seets, that's what is most important.

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