Colorado State is No. 1 for Hutchinson football's Heeney for now

Hutchinson senior Ben Heeney will get plenty of his hard knocks in as the Salt Hawks attempt to win a state-record seventh straight football title.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Dean Backes
By
Aug 16, 2010, 9:01am
At the velocity at which he collides with wide receivers and ball carriers, Ben Heeney serves two purposes for Hutchinson coach Randy Dreiling. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior is an intimidator on defense and an instigator on the Salt Hawk side of the football.

Either way, Heeney has played a pivotal role in the last two of Hutchinson's six straight Kansas state football titles.

"He sets the tone for us," Dreiling said of the returning Class 5A honorable mention all-state defensive back. "He is so explosive. Ben is a great tackler…a punishing tackler. In the Carroll game a year ago, he put some great sticks on their wide receivers. They're not used to getting hit that often, and certainly not that hard. His explosiveness and his impact when he gets to the ball carrier is what has caught the attention of college coaches. His closing speed is what sets him apart."

"It's a boost to the rest of the team when one of our guys just wallops somebody," Heeney added. "I want the guy to experience pain. If I can get a big hit the other guys take note and step up their game. It pumps everybody up."

Over the years, Dreiling has produced plenty of players that have taken a liking to Heeney's brand of defense. That's why after losing 31 seniors and a ton of starting experience following the 2009 season, Hutchinson is still a favorite to win it all in 2010.

Strong challenges could come from defending 5A runner-up Gardner-Edgerton and Wichita's Carroll, both of whom return plenty of top-level athletes as well as an abundance of starting experience. Still, no one knows how to win state football titles like the Salt Hawks.

"I think we'll be fine," Heeney said. "We lost a lot of talent, including our whole offensive line, but we'll be alright. We've won state championships the past two seasons and traditionally we're expected to win it.

"No class wants to be the one to lose the streak, and we're no different. We're playing for everybody that came through here before us. We're playing for all of those guys that played here and won a state championship."

Heeney, who is in his tenth year of playing organized football, started on both sides of the football through his freshman season. Although it has been three years since he last reached the top of the depth chart on offense, Dreiling is considering promoting Heeney to the No. 1 fullback spot this season.

For that to happen, though, someone else will have to step up defensively.

"If other players develop on the defensive side of the ball, we'll try to give him more time at running back," Dreiling said. "I believe he is one of those guys that could run for more than 2,000 yards.

"But we don't play anybody two ways here, so someone will have to prove they can do his job first. We try to put our best guys on defense. You can't hide guys in the secondary."

Should Heeney remain on defense, last season's second-leading tackler has his sights set on becoming the top producer in that category in 2010. He also hopes to surpass the school’s single-season interception mark of 13.

A knee injury forced Heeney to sit out of the Salt Hawk basketball and baseball seasons a year ago. Minor knee surgery followed in March. Heeney showed no signs of wear and tear earlier this month, however, when he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at a football camp at Kansas State.

His strong recovery may be attributed to the grueling work ethic required for success in the Salt Hawk football program.

"Playing here is kind of like working a good job for us," Heeney said. "We lift year round and put a lot of time into playing football here. In the offseason we get together three times a week. Football is everything here.

"For me football is a safe haven…a comfort zone. A lot of people consider themselves to be basketball players, while others consider themselves to be baseball players. I've always considered myself to be a football player."

As the 2010 season quickly approaches, Heeney and the Salt Hawks are preparing to open Sept. 3 against Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) for the third straight season. The Hawklets are the very team against whom Heeney earned his first varsity start.

"It was a great atmosphere," Heeney recalled of the 28-21 loss at Rockhurst in 2008. "That was one of the toughest games I've ever played in. It's always like that. It’s the season opener and there is always a lot of hype.

"I was so nervous. No I was scared. It was a big game. My first start came against Division-1 quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase (University of Illinois)."

Once the whistle blew to open the game, Heeney recorded about a half dozen tackles, including one for a loss in the third quarter that helped set the tone for his prep career.

"I thought it was a big play," he said. "It was a sweep. I came around the corner and just creamed the guy."

Heeney's savage style of defense has already netted the preseason all-state defensive back a scholarship offer from Colorado State. He, however, is hoping to gain more interest from schools like Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State or Nebraska before making a final decision.

If no other takers come along, Heeney will be just fine playing for the Rams.

"I really liked it there," Heeney said of a recent unofficial visit to Fort Collins, Colo. "Colorado State gave me the early offer so right now they're No. 1 for me. I met with the coaches and the players and they're definitely all really good guys.

"As a safety, they like how physical I play. They like my speed and my size. I like to hit people, and I think I'm pretty good at it. Really, I'll play anywhere. I just want to play football."

Related Content