(Underwood) — One other sterling season for the Underwood soccer staff lends itself to a different postseason filled with awards.
The Eagles completed on the UNI Dome within the state semifinals for a second consecutive season whereas ending the 12 months with the second-highest scoring offense. With that in thoughts, one of many Underwood’s most dynamic threats is that this 12 months’s KMAland Small Class (A/1A/2A) Offensive Participant of the 12 months.
Receiver Mason Boothby was at all times liable to attain a landing on any given play. He posted his first 1,000-yard receiving season (1,097 to be actual) on 47 receptions and scored 17 instances by the air.
“I’ve had two actually good quarterbacks,” Boothby mentioned of catching passes from Alex Ravlin and Garrett Luett the final two seasons. “For my part, two of the very best within the state. All of us grew up collectively. Discovering that connection rising up collectively and taking part in sports activities since we had been little (was key). I’m glad I bought the possibility to be certainly one of their receivers.”
Boothby’s numbers almost mirrored what he did as a junior. He had simply seven extra receptions and 71 extra yards, however he made a giant leap find the tip zone, including six extra scores.
“I really feel like this 12 months was similar to final 12 months,” Boothby mentioned. “I simply bought extra appears nearer to the tip zone and some extra deep photographs. We had a pair deep performs that actually labored properly for us. Garrett has a extremely gifted arm, so he can put it on the market for me, and I can run beneath it. I’m simply lucky to have had these two.”
In relation to the flexibility to seek out the tip zone and put up the numbers he did, Boothby says it comes all the way down to sheer velocity and discovering the fitting matchup inside the offense.
“I like to make use of my velocity,” he mentioned. “That’s my benefit, so to get me on a linebacker who is generally not as quick is unquestionably a bonus for us. To get me out broad, after which Garrett places an excellent ball in there.”
Underwood’s season, although, goes a lot additional than the numbers. The offense and protection complemented each other all season, rating second in each factors scored and factors allowed in Class 1A. And when you may have that, you may have loads of success.
“It was a extremely large aim for our seniors to get again to the Dome,” Boothby mentioned. “The second time for us and solely the third time in class historical past. That was actually particular. Our senior group was actually gifted this 12 months. Nice explosive runners, Garrett at QB, our line and the remainder of the receivers. I can’t take all of the credit score for all of the catches. They’ve bought to protect the opposite guys, too, and so they can’t simply decide one man. They’re the threats that gave me an opportunity to get open.”
As Boothby closes out his soccer profession, he says he’ll keep in mind the wins and the brand new commonplace inside the program that he and his teammates had been capable of set.
“We’ve got good coaches that push the youngsters,” he mentioned. “I believe it’s simply exhibiting (youthful children) that it’s attainable to (go to the Dome). Once we had been in center faculty and elementary, it had by no means occurred in my lifetime. For us to work arduous and push ourselves to get to that stage and to play two years in a row there was actually particular to us.”
Boothby repeats as a KMAland award winner, though final season he was the Small Class Defensive Participant of the 12 months. The aforementioned Ravlin was a earlier winner of the A/1A/2A Offensive Participant of the 12 months from Underwood. Take heed to the total interview with Boothby within the audio file under.
PREVIOUS KMALAND A/1A/2A OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2022: Michael Turner, Tri-Middle
2021: Alex Ravlin, Underwood
2020: Austin Kremkoski, Riverside
2019: Tyler Moen, Atlantic
PREVIOUS KMALAND OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR (PRE-SPLIT)
2018: Max Duggan, Lewis Central
2017: Nick Foss, Harlan
2016: Chase Shiltz, Creston
2015: Chase Shiltz, Creston
2014: Ben Wellman, Tri-Middle
2013: Austin Simmons, Lewis Central
