Hayden Robb - Def Coach Swafford and Ryley Besler

It's not unusual for a football team to be lead in tackles by their linebacking core. Sometimes, you even have a linebacker that registers 100 tackles or more in a season. For Perry Lecompton, they have four linebackers that are all seniors and have been dominant compiling multiple 100+ tackle seasons. These multi-year starters and top performers in the Big 7 League and the state for the Kaws include: Hayden Robb, Ryley Besler, Jaxson Folks and Thad Metcalfe.

So far this season, Besler has 119 tackles, Robb has 115, Folks with 98 and Metcalfe posting 77 total takedowns. Besler, Robb and Folks have also all posted more than 10 tackles for a loss and a combined 14 sacks and they are responsible for forcing 11 of the team's 23 takeaways on defense. Metcalfe has three interceptions while Robb has forced four fumbles and Besler has a trio of recoveries. 

Last year Robb had 155 total tackles after posting 108 as a sophomore and 113 his freshman season. That's a total of 491 tackles in high school for Robb.  Besler had 122 tackles a year ago while Metcalfe finished with 118 stops in 2019. 

This year the Perry Lecompton defense has allowed 9.5 points per game, holding 10 of their 11 opponents to two scores or less, with Rock Creek getting a season-high 22. Of the 105 total points allowed, only 80 were scored against the Kaws starting defense in 11 games. The Kaws won the Big 7 League for the first time this year and are looking to return to the 3A State Championship game in Hutchinson next week, where they finished runner-up last season. 

Perry and their tight-knit group of seniors including the four phenomenal linebackers host league foe Holton this Friday at 7:00 PM in the semifinals and a rematch from a 28-14 victory against the Wildcats in week three earlier this fall. The game will be broadcast live on KNZA 103.9 FM.

Side note: Earlier this year, Folks earned $1,500 for his school in an equipment grant for earning the NFL Way to Play High School award winner demonstrating an excellent tackling technique.