Following in the footsteps of his parents, Bret and Candy, and his brother Cody who have all earned numerous World, Congress and futurity championships, Chase has run straight to the top with his own passion.

This year, as a junior, he piloted his high school football team, the Colquitt County Packers to a Georgia High School Association highest class, AAAAAA football title and an undefeated 15-0 record.

Always a quarterback, Chase first started playing football for the local YMCA at the age of 5

“I spent a lot of time watching football with my dad and brother growing up,” Chase says. “We all really loved it and when I started playing, I really got into it. My dad really sparked a fire in me to go for it.”

Chase’s dad, Bret remembers well.

“Since he was little, Chase always wanted to do something different than his brother,” he recalls. “Cody always loved the horses but Chase always loved the ball.

Even at a very early age, they had different interests.”

Chase did however show when he was younger and actually won the 2005 Quarter Horse Congress in the Small Fry Horsemanship at the age of 7 aboard Skipafied.

He also partnered with his brother in a “pony breaking business” that Cody started when he was 5. When Chase got old enough, he joined up with his brother.

“It was really fun when I won the Congress but the most fun I had with horses was when Cody and I had the pony breaking business,” he laughs. “We went on doing that for quite a few years. It was a really good time!”

Yet Chase could not help but return to his love for sports and played both football and baseball through middle school. His love for action led Chase to decide to just concentrate on playing football in high school.

Chase’s whole family has been really supportive of the team and attends all his games. They have also gotten to know many of the team’s players especially Chase’s best friend, Kiel Pollard, receiver for the Packers, who spends a lot of time with them.

“I have a very large cheering section at the games, consisting of my family and friends,” Chase says. “I really appreciate all their support.”

Bret and Candy even flew home from this past year’s Congress on a Friday to watch Chase’s game and then flew back the next morning to show.

“Our customers have been really supportive of Chase which we have really appreciated,” Bret says. “We were really fortunate our schedule allowed us to have been able to do that last year.”

A dream season for the Packers, they went all the way to the Georgia State Championship game on Dec. 13 in the Georgia Dome. Chase passed for 187 yards and three touchdowns in the game and the Packers, who had not won a state title since 1994, defeated Archer 28-24.

Bret could not be more proud of his youngest son who was awarded the Offensive Player of the game.

“It was really a lot of fun to watch,” he says but admits, “It was a little stressful too! Chase handles stress a lot better than I do. Both our boys handle pressure well. They must get that from their mom!”

Chase set the record for single season passing touchdowns at Colquitt County High School and recorded some quite impressive personal statistics including: 2,835 passing yards; 73 percent completion percentage; 29 passing touchdowns; three rushing touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 117.

Behind the scenes, Chase’s family have all been shoulders for him to lean on and he says he owes much of his success to them. He has been able to learn first hand the life lessons of hard work and determination to succeed from his family who know this all to well from their experiences in the horse business.

“My family has played a huge role in my success and the succcess of my team,” Chase says. “They have always kept me so encouraged.”

Because not every day is a good day and Chase’s practices can often be grueling, Bret says the family really tries to bond together to help him through whatever challenges he may be encountering.

“He has always had a really strong work ethic. Successful people don’t have to be pushed, they push themselves. But his practices can be really gruesome so Candy, Cody and I have really tried to support him on a day-to-day basis,” Bret says. “We have also encouraged him to keep his priorities straight and stay grounded, which I think he’s done a really good job of.”

Just starting the process of choosing a college to attend, Chase and his family are very much looking forward to his senior year. And like trying to win the Quarter Horse Congress back to back years, Bret advises his son to keep that hunger.

“I told him based on my experiences with horses and winning big shows, you have to work hard to get there but even harder to do it again.”