Missouri-bound Ray upholds Platitudes at Bishop Miege (Kan.)

Following stellar 2009, Shane Ray is ready to bury opposing quarterbacks and lead the Stags to another Kansas state crown.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Dean Backes

By Dean Backes

Jul 31, 2010, 7:14pm

As he gets into position along the line of scrimmage, Shane Ray remains reasonably calm. Then with a flick of a wrist and a snap of the ball, the Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) defensive end adheres to the words of his father, former Missouri defensive lineman Wendell Ray.

"Dictate and Dominate."

Shane Ray was in on 131 tackles last season.

Photo courtesy of Sebrina Johnson

Over the years, his father has provided Ray with a slew of platitudes. But it’s been his own performance on the field that will allow Ray to play football on the same stage as his father. The 6-foot-4-inch, 230-pound Stag is committed to playing football at the University of Missouri.

“It really did play a role in my decision,” Ray said of playing at his father’s alma mater. “What better place to play than the same place as my dad. Some day I will be better than him.”

Although he can’t pinpoint the exact part of his game that he believes led to Missouri's recruitment of him, Ray does have one theory.

“I think a lot of people from around the country don’t believe guys from the Midwest bring a lot to the table,” Ray said. “I’ve been to camps and competed with guys from Oklahoma, Texas or wherever... guys from around the country. They’ve seen that I can compete, no matter who steps up.”

Ray thrives on bullying offensive linemen, or opposing ball carriers, but he realizes too that staying cool and playing smart is crucial to being a good teammate. His approach to each game is to first feel the guy out across from him before exploiting his weaknesses.

“If I’m supposed to stay home, I’m going to stay home,” Ray said. “All you do is hurt your teammates by getting out of position. But if a play comes to me, I’m going to make that play.

“I’m going to hit him hard…as hard as I can at full speed. I’m going hard and I’m not stopping. If he does…it’ll all be bad.”

Ray partook in plenty of play wrecking a year ago. He contributed to 131 tackles, including 15 sacks and 25 tackles for losses, forced four fumbles and recovered two others. He displayed his big play capability by returning one fumble 55 yards for a score in a 60-0 season opening win over Atchison.

“He’s a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball,” Bishop Miege coach Tim Grunhard said of Ray. “He often makes big plays that can change the momentum of a game, whether it’s a turnover, a sack or a play at a crucial point in the game.

“He has a lot of upside. He is very fast. I can’t teach him speed and quickness. His father played at a very high level too, so he comes from good lineage. I haven’t figured it out yet, but it seems that if dad played then some how it works out that their kids have talent too.”

Ray was one of five Division I athletes to play on Bishop Miege’s Class 4A state title team a year ago. As far as the second-team Eastern Kansas League selection is concerned, the Stags wouldn’t have won the school’s first state football title since 1977 without the services of a bunch of blue-collar guys.

“On top of the D-1 athletes that we had on the team were a bunch of regular guys just doing their jobs,” Ray said. “This year I think we’re going to bring a little more talent to the table. I think we’re looking good.”

Bishop Miege struggled to a 2-2 start in 2009 before winning 10 straight games to end the season. Ray and the defense held Bishop Miege’s opposition, including five playoff foes, to an 11-point average during that time span.

“I think we’ll get off to a better start than we did a year ago,” Ray said. “Guys are in better shape than they were, and if we’re ahead of last year, there is no telling what can happen for us this year. We just gotta come out and play. We can’t be afraid of greatness. That’s got to be our mentality. We just have to go out and take it.”

If the Stags are going to battle their way through a 5A schedule in 2010 and win a second straight state title, Ray and company may have to figure out a way to stop six-time state champion Hutchinson (Kan.). The Salt Hawks have won the last two 5A championships after barreling through the 6A bracket in 2004-07.

Ray (52) will be crossing the border to Missouri next season.

Photo courtesy of Sebrina Johnson

Ray offered a simple, no nonsense approach to dethroning Hutchinson.

“Hutchinson football makes football players that know how to win,” the honorable mention All-State defensive end said. “It’d be big if we could knock off the Titan. All it takes is a bunch of players that work hard, pull together and win. I believe Hutchinson should be nervous.”

Ray said the majority of teams in 4A employ a run oriented attack. But as they move up to 5A, the Stags will be forced to butt heads with quarterbacks that are capable of throwing the ball, and throwing it well. Grunhard’s topnotch defender may have the game to create problems for some of those signal-callers.

“Shane Ray is one of the finest athletes I’ve coached,” Grunhard said. “He can do a lot of things on the football field. He just has to keep the right frame of mind. He is very accomplished at wrestling the quarterback to the ground. Some guys can get to the quarterback, but they don’t finish him. He does.”

One such match-up features Gardner-Edgerton (Gardner, Kan.) quarterback Bubba Starling who appears on the Stag slate in mid-September. Ray is looking forward to that one.

“That’s my game,” he said of facing the Nebraska recruit. “Our relationship has been written in stone. That is definitely a game that I am looking forward to.”