When you have reached the pinnacle of high school football season, it is hard to say that many of the names on your roster who contribute are underrated.
But, each season when we send area teams to the state finals, we certainly find that there are a couple of guys on every team that probably have not gotten the praise that they deserve for their role in advancing to Lucas Oil Stadium for that big trophy.
Before Adams Central and Snider take the field on Friday and before Bishop Luers joins them on Saturday, we take a look at a couple of those unsung heroes on each of the state bound area teams.
ADAMS CENTRAL
Max Kaehr, Linebacker
The Adams Central junior had a team high 123 total tackles on the season. While he has been an efficient pass defender with an interception and also has 4 sacks, the fact that he has led a really efficient defense in tackles deserves the highest of praise. Kaehr is just involved in everything on the defensive side of the ball and has been the anchor for allowing just 5.9 points per game.
Trevor Currie, Wide Receiver/Kicker
We have to mention Currie at receiver because he has become the favorite target of Jack Hamilton. Currie has amassed 26 receptions for 810 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air, helping make the Flying Jets more diverse overall in their third straight trip to the state finals. But the unsung part of his game comes in his kicking. Currie is an ace for the extra points, but gives Adams Central a three-point threat as well with his boot. Currie is solid punter but his kickoffs are usually good for 50 or more yards as he is so good at flipping the field and forcing opposing offenses back deep in their own territory.
SNIDER
Boston Conley, Wide Receiver
Sure, its hard to call a team’s leading receiver an unsung hero, but how much emphasis have news outlets put on Conley on like he deserves. With a run heavy offense for Snider, being able to mix things up by Ke’ron Billingsley at quarterback has been key. It wouldn’t be so successful if Conley was not as dialed in as he has been this season. The senior has a team high 292 yards on a team second best 23 receptions. They aren’t huge numbers but Conley has been efficient when called on and spreading out opposing defenses is something he is very good at.
Wade Raines, Free Safety
A little bit of a cheat because Raines has played in just three varsity games for the Panthers. In those three games, he already had two interceptions, tied for the fifth most on the Panther team. He has become a huge boost for the depth of the Snider defense and is already a guy that teams just have no interest in throwing in the area of. Raines also has a catch for 15 yards but his defensive prowess has been a big addition for the Panthers.
BISHOP LUERS
Jaylen White, Wide Receiver
So much focus of Bishop Luers is that they run the ball well and run the ball hard. When the passing game comes up, the athletic Isaac Zay is often credited. But Jaylen White has been a really consistent presence to help spread out the Knights offense, catching a team high 38 balls for 550 yards and seven touchdowns. Other than two games, White has been consistent at receiver with 12 double digit receiving yard games and is coming off a season best 112 yards last week in the win over LCC. He also has an interception on defense as he dabbles as a free safety for the Knights.
Jacob Felger, Linebacker
This is a guy who has done a little bit of everything for the defense this season. He has two forced fumbles, an interception and nine pass deflections. His one interception led to a 29 yard return, which is more than any other Knight has in interception return yardage this season. Felger has three sacks and a team fourth best 78 total tackles on the season. When we talk about a defense that has started answering the bell, Felger is a big part of it.
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