What did it feel like to block Eagle's potential game-winning field goal last Friday?

It was an awesome feeling. It was so surreal at first that it almost felt like a dream as I was running off the field to celebrate with my team. It didn’t really sink in that we had just beat Eagle (only the second time Timberline has done that in school history) until we were about halfway home on the bus. I feel like pulling off the upset against the No. 3 team in the state just shows how much we worked as a team in the offseason to improve from last year and put ourselves into the playoff picture. 

How did you first get interested in football?

I honestly can’t remember when I first got interested in football because I’ve always loved it. I first started playing flag football when I was in kindergarten and I’ve always had an affinity for the defensive side of the ball, so I play safety and outside linebacker but I also play some wide receiver and return punts. 

Do you play any other sports?

Outside of football, I also high jump in track. If I had to choose a favorite sport, it would easily be football by a long shot. Nothing beats playing on Friday nights under the lights in front of my school and my community. Nothing compares to sense of family that you get from playing football. 

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from high school sports?

Never take anything for granted in life. When I first started playing on varsity as a sophomore, I never really realized how quickly my senior year would come and go. I would do anything to play one more year of high school football. 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was probably from my coach, Beau Martin, this past offseason when he said, “practice is like putting change in your piggy bank and game days are when you get to take out the money you’ve saved up.” That basically means you get out of this what you put in, and that goes for everything in life, not just football. Nothing is handed to you in life, you have to earn it. 

What has been your favorite high school memory?

My favorite high school memory so far has to be when we made a 22-point comeback in the fourth quarter to beat Meridian on a last second Hail Mary. 

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

My go-to “pump up” song before games is actually “No One” by Alicia Keys.

How do you want to be remembered?

I just want to be remembered as someone who always did the right thing on and off the field and left everything I had on the field every week. 

Shoutout to my mom, Coach Smart, Coach Tyjuan, Coach T Hall, Coach Martin, Coach White, Coach Steichen, Mr. Molet and the entire football team for helping me become who I am today.