As we prepare for Saturday’s Class 1A state title football game, we wanted to look at a few of the guys who don’t get as much recognition sometimes but have been huge for South Adams’ program during the 2020 season.
BRADEN BIXLER, WR/DB
A three-year unsung hero in the program, Bixler started as a sophomore wide receiver and now is part of the huge Starfire senior class, playing both ways each of the last two seasons. Bixler has tremendous speed and cuts well, breaking away six different times for touchdowns that ended up called back for penalties through no fault of his own. South Adams coach Grant Moser said it shows his selflessness that at no time does he ever show he is mad about those situations, just gets back and ready for the next play. Bixler has caught 33 passes for 445 yards and three touchdowns on the season; he also has a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery to his name.
“He’s a quiet kid. He’s a kid, if you asked me his sophomore year I’d say maybe he’d get to play some his senior year but he has made it so hard to not play him,” Moser said. “He’s probably the fastest kid on our team actually.”
CARTER LEWIS, LT
The offensive line guys are always unsung, aren’t they? Lewis is a three year starter at left tackle and is one of the team’s most fundamental linemen and best pass blockers. Moser says that Lewis is just a very intelligent player, maybe even sometimes too smart for his own good. He has been critical in giving quarterback James Arnold time to throw, which has led to the Starfire QB having the most passing yards in the state right now. Lewis has even gotten a little bit of defensive work with 10 tackles on the year; half of them are for a loss.
“He’s the one that knows every blocking scheme and can help out other guys beside him sometimes,” Moser said.
ALEX GORNEY, DB
Gorney is a major part of the Starfire speed in the secondary. His brother Austin gets a lot of attention as the team’s leading tackler, but Alex has made some major plays throughout the season and his career. Alex has registered 35 tackles on the season, has a team best six pass deflections and team third best three interceptions. When you have so many speedy defenders with good hands, opposing defenses have to pick and choose who they are going to challenge. There may be other defensive backs that get the attention at South Adams, but Gorney is a guy who teams have had to avoid too because he has the same attributes that lend teams to avoid Drew Stutzman or Aidan Wanner. He had a season high six tackles against rival Adams Central.
“He doesn’t get a lot of attention just because we have so many athletes and he goes along with all the athletes we have and the speed,” Moser said.
BRIAN HERNANDEZ, OL
He has started in all but one game in his high school career since he was a freshman. ‘Big Hern’ as he is only ever referred to by Moser, has a big physical presence about him, mostly coming from the tackle position. But as aggressive as he is in helping open up holes in the line when needed and defending Arnold’s timing, one of his great attributes for this team is to keep things from getting too overly serious. Moser says there are times when big plays are coming, he will yell out different things from the line that mean nothing at all. But his good time helps calm down everyone else a little bit. Moser refers to Hernandez as the energy guy. ‘Big Hern’ also dabbles on defense, with 22 tackles, and has kicked off a few times this season.
“I think freshman year, it looked like he was 23 already,” Moser said with a laugh. “He’s our emotional leader. He’s so fun to be around, his personality is contagious.”
BRAYDEN GILBERT, C/DE
Gilbert has been one of the rotating captains throughout this season and has had to fight off a bevy of injuries in his career, including a pretty nasty looking finger dislocation against Bluffton this season. Yet, he keeps pushing through the pain to be one of the most reliable two way players in the Starfire lineup. Gilbert has seen his importance upped every year after not playing as a freshman, playing tight end as a sophomore, then starting regularly as a junior before moving into his permanent two way role in 2020. On the defensive side of the ball, Gilbert has 30 tackles this season although he has missed a couple of games.
He also has registered two sacks and is one of three Starfires with multiple fumble recoveries on the season with both coming against Lewis Cass; one of those he picked up in the end zone for a touchdown.
“Just a kid that loves football. He wants to win. He’s a tough kid,” Moser said.
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