By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

WEST BRANCH – Jacob Graves knows all the elements that make a good cornerback.

The West Branch senior ticked off the checklist of qualities that a strong corner would possess.

Speed, technique, anticipation and awareness all play a role in making a successful defensive back.

In order to pull in interceptions the way Graves did there is another element that comes into play – luck.

“You have to read the quarterback, you have to stay behind the receiver and watch his hips and you have to make strong breaks on the ball,” Graves said. “Sometimes you have to get a little lucky but you have to put yourself in good position.”

Graves admits he had a little luck on his side while intercepting seven passes last season, second most in Class 1A.

There was nothing lucky about the work Graves did to put himself in position to make plays.

“You have to put yourself in the best position,” Graves said. “That’s what I tried to do and I was able to make plays but it all starts with doing your job.”
Graves did more than just pick off passes last season.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder ranked second on the team with 47 tackles, including a team-high 38 solo stops on his way to second-team all-state honors.

This season Graves leads a deep and talented secondary that expects to be a strength of a West Branch defensive unit hoping to improve on the 25 points it allowed per game last season.

“They are fast, they are experienced and we should have an excellent secondary,” West Branch coach Butch Pedersen said. “It’s great support for the front seven to know that those four are back there and we have some depth.

Graves leads a group of three returning starters in the Bear secondary.

Senior corner Ben Thompson (6-1, 170) returns along with junior safety Brett Schiele (5-8, 165).

Thompson finished fourth on the team with 31 tackles and picked off three passes while Schiele made 19 stops and had an interception.

“This year our chemistry is good back there,” Schiele said. “Out of football we are good friends too so it really helps with communication.”

With a young front seven the West Branch defense will expect a lot from its veteran secondary and not just as pass defenders.

Graves says the defensive backs need to set the tone in every way this season, starting with being aggressive.

“The coaches want us to be aggressive on every play,” Graves said. “We can be pretty good but we have to be more aggressive and come up and hit people.”  

The interception totals were high for West Branch last season but teams had success through the air against the Bears.

West Branch allowed more than 250 yards through the air in four of its final seven games.

According to Graves improving those numbers starts with stronger, more aggressive tackling.

“We have to wrap up and bring people down,” Graves said. “Last year we had too many broken tackles that led to big plays.

West Branch Secondary

Returning Starters: Senior cornerback Jacob Graves (5-9, 170) headlines a group of three returning starters after earning second-team all-state honors. Ben Thompson (6-1, 170) and Brett Schiele (5-8, 165) are back after combining for 50 tackles and four interceptions.

Key Players: Graves picked off seven passes a year ago, tied for the second most in Class 1A, and figures to be among the top cover man in 1A this season.

Statworthy: West Branch allowed 190 passing yards per game and 18 touchdown passes last season and are out to improve both of those numbers this fall.

Why it’s a strength: Three returning starters combined for 11 of the Bears’ 16 interceptions last season and Graves and Thompson both ranked in the top four on the team in tackles.

The West Branch secondary is one of the most experienced spots on a young squad with senior Lucca Passeri and junior Brady Lukavsky capable of providing veteran depth.