'Rocky' and protein shakes: How Jake Balis transformed into Penn's physical running back
MISHAWAKA — Jake Balis has developed a consistent routine before his football games.
The pregame meal rarely variates. A bagel with peanut butter, a protein yogurt and sometimes a low-calorie muffin for carbs or a protein shake. For music, no rap or country is in Balis' headphones. Instead, he turns on the soundtrack from his favorite movie "Rocky IV."
"I literally watch it whenever I need motivation," Balis said of the 1985 megahit staring Sylvester Stallone as heavyweight boxer Rocky Balboa. "It's the ultimate warrior movie. I can't get enough of it. All the scenes of him training, working hard to beat Drago. I feel like I can relate to that a lot."
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Balis, a junior running back at Penn, said that connection stems from his upbringing and building a name for himself with the Kingsmen.
Balis' dad, Matt, is the strength and conditioning for the Notre Dame football team and has been at the forefront of his son's body transformation. Jake gained 30 pounds this offseason to his current playing weight of 190.
"He's pretty much taught me all I know," Jake Balis said. "I am using that to my advantage."
Including his pre-game meal that Balis said his dad has told him to eat every night for the past year to get stronger.
"It does get boring. It gets terrible," Balis said. "My whole thing is eat for performance."
In his first full varsity season, Balis has become the physical running back Penn needed. He made his first start for the Kingsmen in last year's sectionals and heads into this year's postseason as his team's featured back. And with his added weight Balis said he's confident putting his shoulder down, running though tackles and having the strength to finish plays falling forward rather than getting tackled back.
"I believe that everything starts in the weight room," Balis said. "It is the number one thing for me. If you don't have talent first, you can have a working mentality and strength. That is something I strive for."
Heading into the Kingsmen's Class 6A sectional semifinal game against undefeated Fort Wayne Carroll Friday night, Balis has over 600 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His playing style compliments backfield running mate JoJo Williams as the two have become one of the area's top one-two punches.
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"It gives (defenses) a harder look against us," Balis said. "You have two premier running backs there. It makes everything fuzzy. Josiah is a speed demon and I take pride in myself as a downhill old-style running back."
Carroll has allowed just 68 points this season and only twice have opponents scored in double figures. The Chargers' defense has also been stout against the run all season, allowing one rushing score since September.
On paper, it appears to be one of the toughest challenges Balis and Penn's offense will face all season.
But certainly one some JIF and "Eye of the Tiger" will get Balis ready for.
SOUTH BEND-AREA SECTIONAL & DISTRICT PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
INDIANA SECTIONALS
CLASS 6A
Sectional 2
Fort Wayne Carroll (9-0) at Penn (7-2), 7:30 p.m.
Elkhart (7-2) at Warsaw (7-2), 7 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Sectional 11
Concord (4-5) at Goshen (2-7), 7 p.m.
South Bend Adams (1-8) at Mishawaka (8-1), 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Sectional 17
New Prairie (9-1) at Lowell (7-3), 8 p.m.
Sectional 18
Logansport (8-2) at Northridge (6-4), 7 p.m.
NorthWood (10-0) at South Bend Saint Joseph (4-6), 7 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Sectional 26
Jimtown (8-2) at Glenn (6-4), 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Sectional 33
Andrean (6-3) at LaVille (10-0), 8 p.m.
Bremen (6-4) at Lake Station (4-6), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 1A
Sectional 41
South Central (3-7) at Culver (6-4), 7:30 p.m.
Triton (7-3) at North Judson (9-1), 7 p.m.
MICHIGAN DISTRICTS
DIVISION 4
Friday, Oct. 28 DIVISION 4
Region 2, District 1
Paw Paw (4-5) at Edwardsburg (8-1), 7
Niles (5-4) at Three Rivers (5-4), 7
DIVISION 6
Region 3, District 1
Watervliet (6-3) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (8-1)
Buchanan (8-1) at Constantine (8-1), 7
DIVISION 7
Region 3, District 1
Niles Brandywine (4-5) at Lawton (7-2), 7
Delton Kellogg (4-5) at Schoolcraft (6-3)
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Indiana high school football sectional preview: Penn vs. Carroll
