Many kids gravitate toward the skill positions. There is excitement, even glory, in passing and running and receiving.
And scoring a touchdown? There is no greater feeling in sports.
But among the ideals of youth football is the infusing players with the value of every position on the field. USA Football understands that the linemen who battle in the trenches and might never touch the football all season are just as important as the running backs for whom they open up holes.
The folks in Akron, Colo., know a little something about unsung heroes. Their Rams have won four of the last seven Class 1A state championships with a suffocating defense, the seeds of which were planted at the youth levels. Akron coach Brian Christensen is quite thankful to the coaches who make it happen.
"Most kids play in (nearby) Sterling," he explains. "They have a youth league there for kids in grades 3 through 6. You can see the difference in the players who come through the youth program, especially in their tackling abilities. I think 80-90 percent of our players have had youth football playing experience."
The tiny school has barely maintained a high enough student population to remain in Class 1A and avoid sliding into the 8-man classification. But despite representing one of the smallest schools in the division, the Rams have proven annually to be among its premier teams.
And it's the defense that has led the way. In fact, Akron has yielded just three points a game over the last two seasons and less than a touchdown a game in each of its title years.
"It's a cliché, but defense really does win championships," Christensen says. "The years we won the championship our defenses were outstanding statistically."
The Rams struggled to get over the hump until 2001, generally qualifying for the playoffs but failing to win the big game. That's why, despite the fact that his team has blossomed into a perennial champion, Christensen still considers the 2001 title the most special of all.
"We had come close for several years, but we just couldn't get it done," he says. "That year definitely had that special feeling and I still think of it as unique. We considered it both a blessing and a relief when we finally won the championship in 2001. There are a number of great coaches who don't get to experience what I did even once and thinking about that year still gives me goose bumps."
The Rams have dabbled a bit with a spread offense, but have remained conservative for the most part, utilizing the single wing to their advantage. Among those who performed it brilliantly and was involved with that 2001 title-winning team was David Hall, who ran for more than 1,000 yards and passed for 900 more as a senior.
Hall was aided in the backfield that season by versatile wing back/cornerback Jared Lambertson, who racked up 1,200 yards combined rushing and receiving. The defense was anchored by all-state safety Matt Glosson, who doubled as a tight end and has since returned to Akron High School as an assistant coach.
Aaron Lambertson (Jared's brother) also excelled before graduating in 2004, rushing for 280 yards in the 2002 state title game.
The more recent champions featured 2007 Class 1A Defensive Player of the Year Chris Gebauer, a lightning quick nose tackle, as well as offensive lineman/middle linebacker David McStrand, who finished with 100 tackles last season and earned a scholarship to the University of Wyoming.
McStrand, however, didn't lead the Rams in tackles. That distinction belonged to all-state safety Jorgen Anderson, who paced the team in tackles in each of the last two seasons.
One and all have made the town of 1,700 residents quite proud. In fact, there are far fewer folks in town when the Rams play on the road. Many of them accompany their favorite team to its destination.
"We get as good a travel crowd as anyone," Christensen says. "We've had road games in which we have more fans in the stands than the home team does, and that's saying something because we're one of the smallest school in our classification."
Indeed, they come out to watch a group of kids who strive more to win as a team than to gain individual glory. And those ideals have been ingrained in them since they first stepped onto a youth football field.
Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.