COLORADO SPRINGS — It only takes one play during practice to figure out who Clarence Bumpas is.
If you didn’t know which Sierra Stallion was the senior with an oral commitment to Kansas State, your indoctrination begins with the whistle.
The kid with the long arms and perfect linebacker’s body (6-feet-1, 210 pounds) flies around the outside, drives his blocker into the backfield and hits the running back nearly at the point of exchange.
The whistle blows and Stallions coach Joe Roskam might as well holler, “Darn you, Bumpas!” like Ralphie’s father in “A Christmas Story.” Roskam then orders Bumpas to play with one hand.
What?
“That’s the only way we make it fair on our scout team is he’s got to play with one hand in his pocket,” Roskam said. “And he was still making plays. That’s what is dirty.”
Say hello to the leader of the Dark Side — the nickname the Stallions gave their defense.
“Because we take over,” Bumpas said, laughing. “It’s like once we start, there’s no stopping us.”
Folks, there may not be a better kid to root for in Class 4A this season.
Bumpas has it figured out. He has grown up fast, grown up right and probably managed to grin through it all. He knows what it means to embrace a cause (restoring Sierra football to prominence) and be a leader on and off the field. He’s a leader who is genuine in speech and action.
His words are honest. And they hit as he does.
Bumpas, on the subject of would-be blockers: “Once I’m lined up across from that offensive cat, I’m like, ‘Well, now it’s Judgment Day. You’re going to hit me or I’m going to hit you, and I don’t like to be hit.’ ”
Bumpas, on higher education: “My first option is to go to college so I can actually avoid struggling like my dad and my mom did. I don’t want to end up in that situation.”
And finally, just ask Bumpas, who is exceedingly polite and humble in conversation, what happens to him when he steps on the field. He hesitates. A little prodding, however, does the trick.
“All right,” Bumpas says with a sly grin and hands cutting through the air for emphasis. “When I’m out there, it’s like there’s a whole new person. There’s like, energy. As soon as I get out there, I’ve got to be the generator, the motivator. We may come out there ready, but it’s my job to push that edge and get everybody ready. The crowd involved, coaches hyped.
“I get (the opponent’s) offense scared. That’s my whole mentality: Intimidation rules all.”
The senior-laden Stallions, ranked No. 4 in The Denver Post/9News preseason poll, advanced to the playoffs last season for the first time since 1998. Most have played varsity for three seasons and have the potential to be the kind of game-changing athletes who can play at the next level.
Class 4A top 10
1. Heritage: When you go to the 5A quarterfinals and drop down with most of your players, you start at the top.
2. Dakota Ridge: The Eagles have the skill kids, defense and special teams.
3. Monarch: More speed at the skill positions is always a scary proposition for the Coyotes.
4. Sierra: This is the year all those seasons of playing young should finally pay off.
5. Fountain-Fort Carson: Great skill players have always been a staple.
6. Ralston Valley: The defense will keep everything close.
7. Greeley West: The Northern League will be unforgiving.
8. Loveland: The Indians have a mammoth line.
9. Montrose: Strong in the trenches and versatile.
10. Pueblo South: Colts will put this spot and bragging rights for the Steel City on the line.
Class 4A players to watch
Seth Allen, Pueblo West, Sr., OL
Mon’Darrius Benson, Mitchell, Jr., RB
Kelby Dias, Sierra, Sr., WR-DB
Dave Eden, Standley Lake, Sr., K
Kirk English, Montrose, Sr., QB-DB
Devyn Harris, Fountain-Fort-Carson, Sr., RB-OLB
Dominique Harris, Sand Creek, Sr., RB,
Ben Jackson, Brighton, Sr., OL-DL
Mister Jones, Littleton, Jr., RB
Jake Johnson, Longmont, Jr., QB
