Schoonover brothers do whatever it takes for Andover Central football

Andover Central’s football team has a trio of starts in Peyton Huslig, Jordan Birch, and Darraja Parnell, who have accounted for 52 of the 57 offensive touchdowns scored this season.

It also has players like Grant and Clark Schoonover, brothers whose intrinsic motivation to see the team succeed outweighs the extrinsic motivation of scoring touchdowns individually.

Coach Tom Audley sees that as big of reason as any that the Jaguars (10-2) are playing in their first state championship game on Saturday against Bishop Miege (11-1) at the Class 4A-Division 2 championship at Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka.

“You have to have those kinds of glue guys,” Audley said. “You need guys who are just going to plug away at it and do their job. And it’s not like our skill guys are glory hounds. They realize that everybody makes the team.”

Neither Schoonover is particularly tall or particularly large — Grant, a senior, and Clark, a sophomore, each weigh around 180 pounds — but they excel on the field because they excel in the details.

That blitz pick-up that saved Huslig from a blindside hit? One of the Schoonovers (they alternate at fullback) had it. That shoelace tackle that saved a big gain? Probably a Schoonover (they both start at linebacker). That trust teammates need to have in each other? Both of the Schoonovers have it.

“I would give the credit to my parents,” Grant said. “We were raised that if you are going to do something, then you’re going to work hard and do your best.”

Even if that means rarely touching the ball in a high-octane offense.

“Fullback isn’t the most glamorous position in our offense,” Audley said. “It’s a grunt-work position. They’ve got to block people every play and then once in about every 40 plays, we call a fullback dive.”

It’s not their personality to care much about who receives the credit, although both brothers hint that they’ve wondered to themselves what they could do with more touches.

“Every guy wants to run the ball more, but it’s all about the team to us,” Clark said. “Our greatest chance of success is getting the ball in Jordan’s hands, so that’s what we want to do.”

Another example of their willingness to put the team first is Grant learning the technique to become the best long-snapper that Audley has seen while at Andover. Clark has also learned how to kickoff effectively, as he has registered 34 touchbacks this season.

“They’re both very good special teams players and that makes a difference,” Audley said. “It’s huge in the field position game when you make people go 80 yards down the field every time.”

Before the season started, the seniors on the team held an audition to become the “chanter” that would lead the team and student section in a back-and-forth chant after victories. Many tried out, Grant won.

“There’s a few people on the team that everybody listens to when they talk,” Huslig said, “and Grant is definitely one of them.”

It doesn’t hurt that to go along with a booming voice, he also has a “manly man’s beard” as described by his brother.

The chant is intense since it always comes after a victory, but Grant has found a way to take it to another level this season.

Now he has one last chance to do what he does best: Accomplish the anonymous work to help lead Andover Central to victory … and one more chant.

“That would definitely be something to remember,” Grant said. “I’m saving the best one for last, so that would be a perfect way to end my year.”

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Schoonover brothers do whatever it takes for Andover Central football."