Published: November 06, 2009 12:07 am      

Spear returns with a vengeance

Senior back leads Mustangs into Sectional final

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — At times, Rick Malone must feel like a kid in a candy shop.

The Fountain Central football coach isn’t exactly lacking offensive weapons, and the versatility of the Mustangs’ offense has so far created endless problems for opposing defenses.

Scott Moore, Sam Shoaf, Zach Robertson and Brandon Bowlus have all had their hands in the action leading the Mustangs to an 11-0 record for a team averaging just over 45 points a game.

But right in the middle of the mix is Trent Spear.

The senior running back passed the 1,000-yard mark in last week’s Class 1A sectional win over Riverton Park, and leads the team with 21 touchdowns. He’s also the team’s third-leading tackler on defense at outside linebacker.

But more than anything, Spear is just glad to be able to contribute.

After rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the football offseason prior to his junior year, Spear thought everything was fine heading into camp. But when he was hit during two-a-days, the injury was reaggravated meaning additional surgery and a cozy spot on the sideline in street clothes for the entire season.

“That was unbelievably frustrating,” Spear said. “Watching your friends play football knowing that you couldn’t play with them. No matter if they were winning or losing, I just wanted to be out there with them.”

Perhaps deepening the frustration was the realization that he couldn’t do anything at all to help his teammates through a struggling 3-7 season.

But now that he is back, Spear has strengthened the Mustangs’ offensive attack and added a spark to a Fountain Central program attempting to right the wrongs of the 2008 season.

“Playing without one of our best friends, we were wishing he could be out there,” senior Sam Shoaf said. “Knowing that he was a big part of it and how much he could help, it was hard at first but we just had to deal with it and do what we could do.

“I think we are a lot more versatile with Trent. But not just with Trent, everybody has stepped up. Since we have him, everyone else has picked up our game. We have a couple of new coaches. We have a different offensive attack. It’s more powerful with all these new things and Trent back.”

Malone had just taken over as head coach prior to Spear’s injury and was looking forward to watching him play up close. He just didn’t think he’d have to wait a full season to do so.

“(Spear was) the best player I had seen on film and never seen play live,” Malone said. “I’d seen him on film when he was a sophomore when I got the job and I knew he was a special player.”

Malone never doubted Spear would make an impact once he returned to the field, and saw the evidence during the Fountain Central senior’s rehab. Once the doctor had cleared Spear to resume activities, he wasted no time at all getting back into shape.

“He was out here helping, doing whatever he could,” Malone said. “He was doing his exercises out here and did his jogging and whatever he was allowed to do. When the season was over, he just lifted and lifted and lifted.

“You would never know (he suffered the injury). He goes so hard every second he’s out there. You’d never know if any of our kids have had any kind of injury because they are so committed to doing the things that they have to do to get better.”

Spear has been held under 100 yards of total offense only twice this season and hopes to add to his totals in Friday’s sectional championship game against Rockville.

But as successful has his return has been, even he has been surprised with his production.

“I didn’t think coming back that I would ever be where I am now,” Spear said. “It’s just a lot of hard work and not giving up on myself. That’s the way I am.

“It’s either go big or go home at this point.”