Anglley loves making big hits for Owls

Sometimes high school football players may overthink the game, however, Elgin defensive end Jack Anglley keeps his mind on the basics of the game.

“To me it is all about that one-on-one matchup where it is my job to shuck a blocker and just go make a tackle,” the 6-3, 180-pound senior said before Monday’s practice. “That is what I love, that challenge of two people trying to do their jos. Wrestling has made me a better football player and the things we use in that sport—leverage, strength, quickness—are also the skills you need in football.”

Anglley began playing in the 7th grade and before settling in at defensive end he played tight end and linebacker. Now he’s become a force on the defensive front and he loves every minute of every game.

“The first thing I have to do is read my guards and then the tackles and see where they are headed,” he said. “I will follow them to the ball or if the ball is coming my way I have to fight off those blockers and then make a tackle. Last week El Reno had a big old offensive line and they just ran the ball up the gut on us.

“They drove right down the field and fumbled near our goal-line. On the next play Matt (Lund) goes 99 yards for a touchdown. That was a huge play but then they get the ball again and drive it right downfield again on us. They then tried some type of RPO (run pass option) play and that’s when Ritson (Meyer) gets that interception and takes it for a touchdown.”

That play call stunned the Owls.

“It was much like the Super Bowl when Seattle had a big drive and then gets down to the 1-yard-line and then threw that interception and Tampa Bay won. We were all surprised they tried that after driving right now the field on us.”

Meyer raced 97 yards to score on the Pick 6.

“I didn’t get a great look at the play because it went the other way but Ritson is a power back but he also has a great deal of speed. I figured he’d score because we had guys out there blocking for him.”

That is because the Owls practice what to do in those situations.

“We use cones when we practice what to do after turnovers and the guys on that side just formed their blocking wall and he did the rest. By the time I got to that side of the field he was long gone.”

While the Owls were left stunned by the Indians’ play call inside the red zone, the difference in the game centered around how Elgin was able to offset El Reno’s size with the Owls’ quickness and strength up front.

“I didn’t think I was being very physical in the first half and myself and some of the other guys just got together and knew we had to do a better job along the line,” he said. “I think our conditioning was important in the second half and our coaches did a good job of making some adjustments and going to a four-man front at times. Our big guys played hard and they stuck it out and just kept making plays.”

Anglley has his sights set on a career in automotive collision repair but for now he’s working at the Elgin Dollar General as he finishes up his senior year.

“I’m one of those guys who would like to go to college if I can play football or wrestle but I also understand that there are good blue-collar jobs out there where you can make good money and provide a much-needed service,” he added.

Last week his defensive mate Peyton Christiansen was asked about defensive coordinator Jack Baker and he thought I was asking about Anglley. Christiansen said, “Jack is a guy who likes controlled chaos,” thinking I was asking about Anglley.

While the mix-up was good for some laughs around the coaches’ office, just a few minutes with Anglley or any of the defensive players shows just how much that group loves playing for Baker, the Owls’ defensive coordinator.

“Coach Baker is just an amazing coach,” Anglley said. “We all look over there to the sideline to see the calls and he’s all animated over there. He’s just like us; he loves the game of football. He’s also one of our wrestling coaches and the mental toughness we learn in both sports is why we are having success in both.

“What we are learning out here—mental toughness—also carries over to daily life. You have to be focused and driven to succeed in anything you do in life.”