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8-Man Football: CAM juniors Stork and Armstrong honored INA All-State
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Defense noted for upstart CAM, Alex Stork recognized as First Team Defensive Utility, Jaxson Armstrong listed as Second Team D-Back
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
ANITA— The story has been told plenty that the CAM Football program did something special in 2008.
This week, they’ll add another line to their extensive and growing resume as two Cougars players are named to the Iowa Newspaper Association’s All-State Team.
Junior fullback/linebacker Alex Stork was named to the First Team Defense at the utility slot, and junior quarterback/defensive back Jaxson Armstrong earns accolades on the second team as a defensive back.
It’s just the latest in a series of pleasant surprises for CAM head coach Joe Wollum and the large core of Cougars (CAM will lose just one senior) now hungrily looking towards 2009.
“I never would have thought this possible,” Wollum says when asked what news like this—spun back through time— would have greeted him had he been told him in August. “As a defensive back, Jaxson is night and day compared to what he was last year and Alex wasn’t a known commodity yet. “
Stork and Armstrong, just juniors, are the cornerstones of next year Day 1 and are now the face of a group set out to prove what’s happening at CAM is more a movement than a passing fad.
“We know that next year, a lot more is going to be expected of us,” Wollum said this week. “Things are different now and there’s a different mentality and that energy has already carried over for us in the weight room. It’s three weeks after the season ended and we’ve got more kids in there lifting than we’ve ever seen.”
Alex Stork—First Team Defense Utility
As a linebacker, Stork finished with 115 tackles this season, 10.5 of them for a loss. Those exploits, coupled with his exploits as one of the leading runners in 8-man (1,338 yards on 189 carries - 7.1 YPC and 26 TDs) made Stork one of 8-man’s finest breakout players this fall.
“There probably isn’t a more deserving kid than Alex,” Wollum says. “The time he puts in, not only to football and sports but also in school. He’s a true student athlete.”
Stork’s numbers running the ball were pretty loud and he proved the heart of an offense that measures success in their ability to run the ball. Emboldened with a line that should return everyone a year more physically developed, CAM should have a mighty ground fleet in 2009.
Not to be overlooked, Wollum points out that no team rushes for over 2,800 yards without an offensive line that can push around the defense more times than not.
“Yea, Alex got the yards, but without that line, it doesn’t happen,” Wollum says. “And Alex will be the first one to tell his line that. I really think that award is also shared with the offensive line.”
Jaxson Armstrong – Second Team Defensive Back
Armstrong has started since he took over the reins at quarterback a couple games into his freshman season and this fall as a junior grew into his role as chief of the defensive backfield in such a way that it not only earned him unanimous First Team All-District honors, it now pushes on to All-State status.
Wollum says the difference for Armstrong from last year to this was Armstrong’s upgrade in his physical presence and eagerness to deliver four quarters of hard-hitting play at the line.
“Jaxson likes the contact now whereas last year he stayed home a little bit,” Wollum says. “He’s a little bigger after one more year in the weight room and lot more aggressive and confident.”
Armstrong finished this season with a 9 interceptions and led the team 124 tackles, 85 of them coming solo.
Also the team’s punter, Armstrong might be the school’s best all-around athlete, lettering in baseball, football, basketball, golf and track. His flexibility and instinct on defense and ability to run a successful offense are part of it, but what makes him special in 8-man football is the athleticism and dexterity.
“He can make plays all over the field, no matter what he’s doing,” Wollum says. “The kid is a tremendous athlete.”
This week, they’ll add another line to their extensive and growing resume as two Cougars players are named to the Iowa Newspaper Association’s All-State Team.
Junior fullback/linebacker Alex Stork was named to the First Team Defense at the utility slot, and junior quarterback/defensive back Jaxson Armstrong earns accolades on the second team as a defensive back.
It’s just the latest in a series of pleasant surprises for CAM head coach Joe Wollum and the large core of Cougars (CAM will lose just one senior) now hungrily looking towards 2009.
“I never would have thought this possible,” Wollum says when asked what news like this—spun back through time— would have greeted him had he been told him in August. “As a defensive back, Jaxson is night and day compared to what he was last year and Alex wasn’t a known commodity yet. “
Stork and Armstrong, just juniors, are the cornerstones of next year Day 1 and are now the face of a group set out to prove what’s happening at CAM is more a movement than a passing fad.
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Alex Stork—First Team Defense Utility
As a linebacker, Stork finished with 115 tackles this season, 10.5 of them for a loss. Those exploits, coupled with his exploits as one of the leading runners in 8-man (1,338 yards on 189 carries - 7.1 YPC and 26 TDs) made Stork one of 8-man’s finest breakout players this fall.
“There probably isn’t a more deserving kid than Alex,” Wollum says. “The time he puts in, not only to football and sports but also in school. He’s a true student athlete.”
Stork’s numbers running the ball were pretty loud and he proved the heart of an offense that measures success in their ability to run the ball. Emboldened with a line that should return everyone a year more physically developed, CAM should have a mighty ground fleet in 2009.
Not to be overlooked, Wollum points out that no team rushes for over 2,800 yards without an offensive line that can push around the defense more times than not.
“Yea, Alex got the yards, but without that line, it doesn’t happen,” Wollum says. “And Alex will be the first one to tell his line that. I really think that award is also shared with the offensive line.”
Jaxson Armstrong – Second Team Defensive Back
Armstrong has started since he took over the reins at quarterback a couple games into his freshman season and this fall as a junior grew into his role as chief of the defensive backfield in such a way that it not only earned him unanimous First Team All-District honors, it now pushes on to All-State status.
Wollum says the difference for Armstrong from last year to this was Armstrong’s upgrade in his physical presence and eagerness to deliver four quarters of hard-hitting play at the line.
“Jaxson likes the contact now whereas last year he stayed home a little bit,” Wollum says. “He’s a little bigger after one more year in the weight room and lot more aggressive and confident.”
Armstrong finished this season with a 9 interceptions and led the team 124 tackles, 85 of them coming solo.
Also the team’s punter, Armstrong might be the school’s best all-around athlete, lettering in baseball, football, basketball, golf and track. His flexibility and instinct on defense and ability to run a successful offense are part of it, but what makes him special in 8-man football is the athleticism and dexterity.
“He can make plays all over the field, no matter what he’s doing,” Wollum says. “The kid is a tremendous athlete.”
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