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INDIANAPOLIS — One more high school gridiron go-round.
That’s what three area players — Concord’s Donovan Arnold and Derek Gomez and NorthWood’s Austin King — got by participating for the North in the 60th Indiana Football Coaches Association Murat Shrine North/South All-Star Classic played Saturday at Decatur Central High School.
The South bested the North 23-9.
Arnold, a 5-foot-11, 310-pounder, was a two-way lineman for the Craig Koehler-coached Minutemen and was used on the offensive side for the North.
“It was a really fun and great experience,” Arnold said. “Some of the people I competed against, it was fun to be teammates with them.”
Arnold collected so many helmet decals that they were layered on top of each other.
His Concord football days are filled with memories. One that stands out is the dramatic 47-45 regional victory against Lafayette Jeff.
“That was the best game I’ve ever played,” Arnold said. “I enjoyed playing defense, but the offensive side was our strength, so I enjoyed playing it more.”
Taking his natural strength, Arnold went into the weight room and added technique and made himself even stronger.
The powerful Arnold is bound for Purdue University-Fort Wayne where he will throw the discus for the track and field team and study business management.
“The offer (from Purdue Fort Wayne track) was too good to turn down,” Arnold said. “But I do love the game of football and I more than enjoyed my time (on the gridiron) at Concord High School.”
Except for missing a few games to injury as a junior, Arnold was a starter on the O-line from Week 1 of his freshman season.
“He’s probably a Division I quality lineman in his strength levels,” Koehler said of Arnold. “He’s a good enough player at that level. But if you’re not 6-2 or 6-3, they won’t even look at your tape. He had a chance to play Division II, Division III or NAIA, but Purdue Fort Wayne put together a package he couldn’t turn down.”
Gomez, a 6-foot, 230-pounder, played all over the field for Concord and was a running back and long snapper for the North.
“He was like our Swiss Army knife last year,” Koehler said of Gomez. “He was our starting linebacker and starting tight end. We put him in the backfield and handed it to him a bunch. He was our long snapper, our short snapper, our backup kicker and, probably, our backup punter. He was one of the best football players I’ve ever had at Concord.”
Gomez is headed to Wabash College in Crawfordsville to play football and perhaps walk on for baseball.
“I was planning on doing both,” Gomez said. “I understand that will be really hard. But I’m willing to give it a try if they let me.”
What does Gomez envision as his role with Little Giants football?
“I think I’m going to be like an H-back type of player, maybe a little running back, similar to what I did at Concord,” he said.
Gomez came up through the system, starting in the Concord Football League as a fourth grader. He also played soccer from age 4 or 5 through his freshman year and has been a baseball player since he was very young.
This past spring, Gomez split his time between baseball and shot put on the track team.
He plans to study sports management and analytics at Wabash.
“They’ve both incredible kids,” Koehler said of Arnold and Gomez. “They are the kinds of kids you would be proud to have as your sons. They were that kind of kid. Zero issues ever off the field. They represented our school exactly the way you’d want them to and they’ve just awesome kids.”
King, a 5-foot-8, 200-pounder, was a linebacker for Panthers head coach Nate Andrews at NorthWood. The athlete was used as an outside linebacker for the North. In addition, he was on the punt and punt return units.
He also made a lot of new friends.
“The biggest takeaway with me is the relationships I made for sure,” King said of his all-star experience. “Then just being able to put on the pads again and compete in the game. King now is bound for the workforce.
After the all-star game, King went back to Minnesota to resume an internship with Marvin Windows and Doors (his father is a dealer). At this point, Austin is not going to college.
“I put myself out there a little bit, but not as much as I could have,” said King of college football. “This (work) opportunity was really hard to pass up. It was a hard decision, but this is what I wanted to do.”
King has plenty of fond memories of NorthWood football.
“I think it’s the best program there is,” said King, who was young when he began his gridiron days. “When I would bring it up to people in Indy, they always had good things to say. NorthWood carries a good reputation with great coaches. That’s the place I want my kids to be, and I will always support them.”
King also wrestled for the Panthers and was in track his seventh through ninth grade years.
“I’ve known Austin for a long time,” Andrews said. “He was always that tough, hard-nosed kid even as a little guy. He just loved the game and being around his teammates and was infectious with his personality and his smile.”
King had a strong freshman year then became a starter as a sophomore on the Panthers’ state runner-up team in 2023. He enjoyed another super junior year, was banged up at the beginning of his senior year then came on strong at the end.
“He nearly willed us to win in that sectional game against Mishawaka,” Andrews said. “He laid it all out there. He put it on the line. He wears it on his sleeve. He’s just a tough kid that we’re doing to miss.”
Arnold and Gomez are the 12th and 13th all-star player during Koehler’s 11 years as Concord head coach. Koehler was an assistant coach that last time the North won (2019).
“It didn’t hurt that we had Bronson Yoder,” Koehler said of NorthWood’s single-game, season and career rushing leader and top single-season and career touchdown producer.
Andrews has been head coach at NorthWood for 12 seasons. In that time, 10 players have participated in the all-star game in addition to four coaches. Andrews has been head coach, an assistant and an athletic trainer.
Continue reading...
That’s what three area players — Concord’s Donovan Arnold and Derek Gomez and NorthWood’s Austin King — got by participating for the North in the 60th Indiana Football Coaches Association Murat Shrine North/South All-Star Classic played Saturday at Decatur Central High School.
The South bested the North 23-9.
Arnold, a 5-foot-11, 310-pounder, was a two-way lineman for the Craig Koehler-coached Minutemen and was used on the offensive side for the North.
“It was a really fun and great experience,” Arnold said. “Some of the people I competed against, it was fun to be teammates with them.”
Arnold collected so many helmet decals that they were layered on top of each other.
His Concord football days are filled with memories. One that stands out is the dramatic 47-45 regional victory against Lafayette Jeff.
“That was the best game I’ve ever played,” Arnold said. “I enjoyed playing defense, but the offensive side was our strength, so I enjoyed playing it more.”
Taking his natural strength, Arnold went into the weight room and added technique and made himself even stronger.
The powerful Arnold is bound for Purdue University-Fort Wayne where he will throw the discus for the track and field team and study business management.
“The offer (from Purdue Fort Wayne track) was too good to turn down,” Arnold said. “But I do love the game of football and I more than enjoyed my time (on the gridiron) at Concord High School.”
Except for missing a few games to injury as a junior, Arnold was a starter on the O-line from Week 1 of his freshman season.
“He’s probably a Division I quality lineman in his strength levels,” Koehler said of Arnold. “He’s a good enough player at that level. But if you’re not 6-2 or 6-3, they won’t even look at your tape. He had a chance to play Division II, Division III or NAIA, but Purdue Fort Wayne put together a package he couldn’t turn down.”
Gomez, a 6-foot, 230-pounder, played all over the field for Concord and was a running back and long snapper for the North.
“He was like our Swiss Army knife last year,” Koehler said of Gomez. “He was our starting linebacker and starting tight end. We put him in the backfield and handed it to him a bunch. He was our long snapper, our short snapper, our backup kicker and, probably, our backup punter. He was one of the best football players I’ve ever had at Concord.”
Gomez is headed to Wabash College in Crawfordsville to play football and perhaps walk on for baseball.
“I was planning on doing both,” Gomez said. “I understand that will be really hard. But I’m willing to give it a try if they let me.”
What does Gomez envision as his role with Little Giants football?
“I think I’m going to be like an H-back type of player, maybe a little running back, similar to what I did at Concord,” he said.
Gomez came up through the system, starting in the Concord Football League as a fourth grader. He also played soccer from age 4 or 5 through his freshman year and has been a baseball player since he was very young.
This past spring, Gomez split his time between baseball and shot put on the track team.
He plans to study sports management and analytics at Wabash.
“They’ve both incredible kids,” Koehler said of Arnold and Gomez. “They are the kinds of kids you would be proud to have as your sons. They were that kind of kid. Zero issues ever off the field. They represented our school exactly the way you’d want them to and they’ve just awesome kids.”
King, a 5-foot-8, 200-pounder, was a linebacker for Panthers head coach Nate Andrews at NorthWood. The athlete was used as an outside linebacker for the North. In addition, he was on the punt and punt return units.
He also made a lot of new friends.
“The biggest takeaway with me is the relationships I made for sure,” King said of his all-star experience. “Then just being able to put on the pads again and compete in the game. King now is bound for the workforce.
After the all-star game, King went back to Minnesota to resume an internship with Marvin Windows and Doors (his father is a dealer). At this point, Austin is not going to college.
“I put myself out there a little bit, but not as much as I could have,” said King of college football. “This (work) opportunity was really hard to pass up. It was a hard decision, but this is what I wanted to do.”
King has plenty of fond memories of NorthWood football.
“I think it’s the best program there is,” said King, who was young when he began his gridiron days. “When I would bring it up to people in Indy, they always had good things to say. NorthWood carries a good reputation with great coaches. That’s the place I want my kids to be, and I will always support them.”
King also wrestled for the Panthers and was in track his seventh through ninth grade years.
“I’ve known Austin for a long time,” Andrews said. “He was always that tough, hard-nosed kid even as a little guy. He just loved the game and being around his teammates and was infectious with his personality and his smile.”
King had a strong freshman year then became a starter as a sophomore on the Panthers’ state runner-up team in 2023. He enjoyed another super junior year, was banged up at the beginning of his senior year then came on strong at the end.
“He nearly willed us to win in that sectional game against Mishawaka,” Andrews said. “He laid it all out there. He put it on the line. He wears it on his sleeve. He’s just a tough kid that we’re doing to miss.”
Arnold and Gomez are the 12th and 13th all-star player during Koehler’s 11 years as Concord head coach. Koehler was an assistant coach that last time the North won (2019).
“It didn’t hurt that we had Bronson Yoder,” Koehler said of NorthWood’s single-game, season and career rushing leader and top single-season and career touchdown producer.
Andrews has been head coach at NorthWood for 12 seasons. In that time, 10 players have participated in the all-star game in addition to four coaches. Andrews has been head coach, an assistant and an athletic trainer.
Continue reading...
