Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – Ben Swails and Gage Freeman have followed a familiar path of steady progression during their prep football careers.

Both got valuable varsity experience as sophomores before becoming varsity starters on the defensive side of the ball last season.

Even with two years of varsity experience the biggest leap lies ahead for the Clear Creek Amana senior tandem – the jump from junior starter to senior leader.

“We had dudes on the team last year and we were basically the little dudes on the team, the secondary leaders,” Swails said. “We know we have to step up and take their role this year.”

For Clear Creek Amana to click on all cylinders this season and improve on a 4-4 mark from a year ago Freeman and Swails will need to fill sizeable leadership shoes left by a group of 21 graduated seniors.

Not only do Freeman and Swails recognize the leadership duties they are excited to step into the role.

“Last year I was looking to other guys to be leaders and this year it is completely different,” Freeman said. “We have guys stepping up vocally and we are stressing that, being vocal, being leaders and helping out the team.”

As three-year starters playing key positions Swails and Freeman are natural fits for large leadership roles.

However, the senior duo really seems to embody the entire 2021 Clear Creek Amana squad.

Two players with experience taking on bigger roles on a team with previous success looking for more.

“Those guys really have to take off,” Clear Creek Amana first-year coach Matt Haddy said. “They have been big-time contributors for the varsity team the last two years but the leadership onus has not been on him so from that stand point I think that is where they need to step up is that leadership role.”

Swails and Freeman have both played productive football during their careers, even excelling at the varsity level.

Freeman has rushed for more than 500 yards and six touchdowns the past two seasons and Swails had a team-high six interceptions a year ago.

Just as Swails and Freeman have had success so have the Clippers, posting three consecutive .500 seasons highlighted by an 8-2 mark in 2018.

After 5-4 and 4-4 records the past two seasons the Clippers are after more in season one under Haddy and for that to happen Freeman and Swails will need to excel as top offensive options for the first time in their careers.

After spending the past two seasons as offensive backups Swails takes over at quarterback and Freeman finds himself the horse in the Clipper backfield for the first time.

“We want to be balanced but we want to do what it takes to win, that’s first and foremost,” Haddy said. “If Gage Freeman carrying it 40 times then absolutely Gage Freeman will carry it 40 times in a football game. If Ben Swails throwing it 35 or 40 times wins us football games then by all means that is what we will do.”

Freeman has shown the ability to be a game breaker at running back.

The 6-foot, 185-pounder averaged 7 yards per carry last season while rushing for 253 yards and two scores and also caught eight passes for 111 yards.

“I’m extremely excited,” Freeman said. “I just feel like I can do more for the team and I am hoping to bring it this year.”

Swails finds himself in a similar spot.

A standout defensive back a year ago, the 6-foot-3, 170-pound Swails has spent the past two seasons as a back-up quarterback and an offensive jack-of-all trades.

Last season Swails caught four passes, ran for a touchdown and completed 13-of-25 passes for 169 yards and three scores.

“I’ve learned a lot about the leadership that comes with it,” Swails said of playing quarterback. “If an offensive guy messes up it’s my fault, I have to hold the accountable and I have to hold myself accountable to correct them in the right way and I basically have to be the leader of the whole offense and I think I can do that.”

Neither Swails or Freeman are strangers to the spotlight or high-leverage situations.

Both are multi-sport athletes who have excelled in other areas. That experience has already come in handy this season.

“They have played a lot of varsity football but they have also been in huge roles in other sports at the varsity level,” Haddy said. “Both of those guys ran big time relays down at state track, Swails has been a big-time baseball player and all of that helps out here.”

With Swails and Freeman leading the way along with senior receiver Harrison Rosenberg who 19 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns last season the pieces are in place for a dynamic Clipper offense.

“I feel like our offense can be really high octane,” Freeman said. “We have a great quarterback who can really sling the ball. Our wide receivers are very disciplined, our route running has sharpened a lot from last year and if our offensive line can come together I think we will be a very good offense.”

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.