SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: McClain shining for Kings
Aug. 25—Haden McClain is looking to have a big senior year of sports for the Lewis Cass Kings.
It couldn't have gotten off to a much better start after the Kings defeated Pioneer 16-0 last Friday at Owens Memorial Field.
"It was a big game," McClain said. "We were looking forward to it all summer. We were seeing them a lot at the fair and there was a little chirping everywhere. But it was a big game for us, a big momentum starter.
"It felt great. They're a good team. I've got some friends that go over there. But it was a great win for us and it felt good to beat Pioneer."
McClain had 29 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored the Kings' first touchdown of the season in the first quarter.
He's the Kings' starting fullback in their traditional wing-T offense.
"He's our guy with the quickness that can hit the hole fast," Cass coach Clayton Mannering said.
McClain also starts at middle linebacker on defense.
"He's the guy that can play with some spark on defense and blow plays up in the backfield. Wherever the ball is he finds a way to get there," Mannering said.
"He's been a key player for us the last two years," the Lewis Cass coach continued. "He started for us as a sophomore as a little sophomore, was better as a junior and this year is a key player. He's a bigger, more mature, faster senior and had a really good summer and had a really good first game where not only was he a leader but he also made some big plays for us offensively and defensively."
McClain will be the Kings' starting point guard in basketball this winter.
"We should be pretty good in basketball. I'm not really focused on basketball right now but we'll be pretty solid. I think it'll be a good year for us," he said.
"I'm the point guard. It took me awhile to get to that spot because I was just a knucklehead sometimes. I was hard-headed but it took me awhile and I earned my spot there."
McClain is the Kings' starting catcher in baseball and was a first-team All-Loganland selection last spring. He's looking for the Kings to take a big step forward in that sport as well.
"Our baseball team's been struggling since the 2020 team got canceled. We've been struggling but Marschand's been on us about coming in and getting in there during the summer and we looked pretty solid this summer," he said. "I think everybody's excited. Kind of a new year, a new us kind of team. I think the upcoming sophomores and freshmen that are playing are pretty solid baseball players, so I think we'll be pretty good too."
McClain is a three-sport standout at Lewis Cass.
"My favorite sport is football for sure," he said. "I love the contact."
The Kings are coming off a 3-6 season but have a chance at their first 2-0 start since the Hoosier Conference and sectional championship team in 2019.
"Some of the goals are definitely to win seven games this year, go above .500. We have a lot of confidence in that," McClain said. "We've just got to be with it. Our goal is we want to win a sectional, that's one of our big things, we really want to win a sectional. Last year we did not execute against Delphi. We started off good, then we started playing bad. But we want to win a sectional, that's our big thing."
The Kings host Maconaquah on Friday night. The Braves opened with a 31-20 win over Wabash.
"Maconaquah is a team with a lot of momentum it looks like to me," Mannering said. "They've got good numbers, they are enthusiastic. They're a young team but they fly around and play hard and fast. They look like a team that plans on winning a lot of games this year. They'yre not real familiar with us and we aren't with them because we've missed the game the last two years. It's our most played rivalry actually. We've played them the very first year of Cass football [in 1964] but have had a two-year hiatus here."
"I think they're a good team," McClain added. "They seem a little small but they're a fast team and they have some skill. I'm looking forward to playing them this week."
