Max Metcalf, in his second start at linebacker, helped lead Oklahoma Bible Academy’s defensive charge in the Trojans’ 26-21 win over Stroud Friday for OBA’s first-ever 11-man victory. He visits with News & Eagle sports reporter Bruce Campbell.

News & Eagle: How do you like playing linebacker?

Metcalf: I’m enjoying it a lot now. I’m finally getting used to it.

News & Eagle: What was the hardest thing to get used to?

Metcalf: It was just filling the hole up, wrap up.

News & Eagle: Was it a big adjustment going from end to linebacker?

Metcalf: They’re different positions, but it’s still playing football. You still got to go hit.

News & Eagle: You seemed a lot more comfortable with the schemes Friday.

Metcalf: I really enjoy that a lot. They sent us on some real good blitzes. I enjoyed that.

News & Eagle: Are the blitzes the most fun part about being a linebacker?

Metcalf: It’s one of the highlights of it I would say.

News & Eagle: How does it feel to get a big hit like you had Friday?

Metcalf: It felt really good to keep them back behind the line of scrimmage.

News & Eagle: What did it do for the team to get that first win?

Metcalf: I think it obviously boosted our confidence. We finally got our first 11-man win. We needed it. Hopefully, we can have the same kind of heart for the next game (Yale Friday).

News & Eagle: How hard was it going 0-5? In eight-man you all were fairly competitive.

Metcalf: It was pretty tough. The seniors weren’t used to that. We were used to having winning seasons. It was tough at first, now it’s time to turn things around.

News & Eagle: Coach (Terry) Fettke has been saying the seniors need to step up, do you feel like guys like you and Noel Treadwell (who scored winning touchdown after taking the ball away from a Stroud ball carrier) step up Friday night?

Metcalf: I’m proud of Noel. He was giving everything he had and was playing up to his size. He’s a big kid out there and he was doing it. We started stepping up and doing what we needed to.

News & Eagle: You felt you step up your game?

Metcalf: I’m finally playing up to the best of my ability.

News & Eagle: You’re six-foot and 187 pounds. Isn’t that light for an offensive lineman as yourself? Are the players in 11-man a little bigger and tougher to block?

Metcalf: The average (11-man) weight is a lot more. I was being outweighed by 50 pounds a lot of times. In eight-man, I was going against some big kids in eight-man. I remember going against Brady Bond (of Garber and now Oklahoma State) when I was a sophomore.

News & Eagle: What’s the hardest thing about being an offensive lineman at 187 pounds?

Metcalf: In four years, you finally get your technique down. You have to stay low and, if you’re a lot quicker, that makes a big difference. I’m enjoying it. Hopefully, I’m contributing to the team. I think I’ve gotten a lot better than I was last year. I’m quicker than I was last year.

News & Eagle: Do you like the challenge of the trenches?

Metcalf: It’s always enjoyable. You don’t get as much attention, but it’s always fun there. It’s always fun to be able to compete against somebody that should beat you, but you get them.

News & Eagle: What do you like doing outside of football?

Metcalf: Right now all I’m doing is homework. I enjoy hanging out with family and friends.

News & Eagle: Is it going to be hard to give up football?

Metcalf: It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I think it’s going to be a sad time. Next year when I’m watching football games, it’s going to be a whole lot different thing. I’ll be more sad then.

News & Eagle: What are your future plans?

Metcalf: I plan to attend OSU and hopefully be an aerospace engineer.

News & Eagle: How did you get interested in that?

Metcalf: Oh, just engineering. I’ve heard things about engineering. I figured that would be what I would want. I can draw well. From what I’ve heard, that would be the most exciting thing I could do with my life.

News & Eagle: Like to work in the space program?

Metcalf: One of my brother’s friends works for Lockheed-Martin. I thought that would be something exciting ... work on airplanes, missiles, what not.

News & Eagle: This is your first year to punt. How do you like that?

Metcalf: I’ve really enjoyed it. I think I went out there and told coach I would like to try it one day. I did it. I liked doing that. It contributes to the team.

News & Eagle: What’s more pressure — trying to block someone bigger than you are or getting off a punt against a heavy rush.

Metcalf: It’s pretty exciting to get a punt off against a heavy rush, but I would say if I could get a punt off 40 yards that would be more exciting. Blocking the big guy is always a big thing. You think about it all week and then finally go out and hit.



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