Athlete of the Week: Souerdyke stands out as Titans' triple threat
HEBRON, Neb. — From punting bombs to delivering hard hits on defense, or even bursting through tackles to score on Friday nights, Sam Souerdyke does it all for Thayer Central.
"He's a fantastic athlete," said senior Jordan Mariska. "The kids is a standout in football, a standout in track and a standout in basketball. He really does everything, and he really works hard to make sure he's the best he can be for his team."
For Sam, this work ethic comes from his connection with his Dad.
"We're very, very close," said Souerdyke. "We're always talking about basketball, football, anything. He's always pushed me since I was young to be the best I could be."
His Dad also encouraged him to play with older and bigger kids growing up, which helped prepare him to take on a large role for the Titans, even as a freshman.
"He almost broke 1,000 [rushing] yards last year as a freshman, so we're trying to get him that 1,000+ this year as well as help him bring us to victory," said Mariska.
That's exactly what Sam did in their 46-15 season-opening win over McCool Junction, scoring four of the Thayer Central's six rushing touchdowns.
"He has one of those instincts, where, on the football field, he knows how low to lower his pad level into contact to get extra yards and when to do it," said Titans head coach Doug Hoins. "Where to make cuts to slice through the lines. He's aware of everything around him."
This vision also makes him a good linebacker on defense.
"He's really good at finding the ball," said Mariska. "I know at McCool [Junction], he almost had that pick. I know me playing defensively, I can't do that. I just can't see it, but he seems to have a really good flow to the ball."
Expect big plays from Sam in all three phases for the Titans this season.
