This is the second installment of a News Courier series featuring Limestone County’s top leaders on the gridiron. Players were chosen by their coaches for their leadership both on and off the field and in the classroom.

SALEM—Palmer Askew and Wesley Hughes have been best friends for quite a while—since eighth grade actually.

There’s not much they don’t know about each other and there aren’t many days where they’re not seen together. But the one place you’ll always find them over the next few months is on the football field.

The two have been playing football in the Salem community almost as long as they have been friends. And although Askew may be a little more intense than Hughes on the field at times, Hughes said he uses that as motivation.

“Where I’m weak, he’s strong,” Hughes said. “Seeing the way he plays every play make me just want to play that much harder.”

Not only do they push each other to their potential but they push the team as well. Because of the leadership they show at West Limestone High School, Askew and Hughes have been selected to The News Courier’s list of Limestone’s Leaders.

“They both bring very good leadership,” West Limestone Coach David Arnsparger said. “They’re different kinds of leaders. Wesley has a lot of knowledge about football. He knows what’s going on. People look to him to get answers.

“Palmer is a great football player,” Arnsparger added. “He’s a big hitter and knows what to do. You want the ball in his hands because you know he’s gonna get the job done. Bottom line.”

Although Hughes saw most of his playing time last year on defense, this year he’s swapping sides to take over the quarterback position. He said he’s fortunate to have a good group of receivers this season, including Askew.

“I feel very good about them,” Hughes said. “The most experienced is Jeremy White. Ethan Buckelew really came out and worked his butt off this summer, and Parker has been really versatile. Not every quarterback can say they have one or two quality receivers and, for me, I can say I have two or three of them.”

Askew added that with the group they have coming back, he feels like they have the potential to be successful again this season.

“We have the potential to be great,” Askew said. “It all just depends on how hard we play.”