Flail has flair for big plays

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Penciled in as North Schuylkill's starting tailback in the preseason, Kody Flail was in a position to have a great season.

And he has, but not as the Spartans' starting tailback. Instead of sulking about losing a starting spot on one side of the ball, Flail has become one of the biggest playmakers as a starter on the other side of the ball.

Flail has played at any number of positions on defense, from cornerback to defensive end, and it's safe to say that when North Schuylkill has needed a big play, Flail has had his nose in it somehow.

"It's a team effort," Flail said. "Hopefully, with the way the guys are playing around me, I can make a big play."

Flail and his defensive mates will need to be up to the challenge on Saturday when the Spartans travel to Palisades High School to take on West Catholic in the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals at 1 p.m.

Making Scott Houser the team's starting tailback and letting Flail focus primarily on defense early in the season couldn't have worked out better for head coach Rick Geist's team or for Flail individually.

"During two-a-days we saw better looks with Scott running the ball, and in the beginning of the season he was doing great," Flail said.

Flail hasn't been completely absent from the backfield, and has gained 437 yards on the ground with most of those coming in the second half of the season.

"Now Coach Geist goes with who has the hot hand, and Rick wanted us to focus on defense so I played there a lot more," the junior said.

Some of the big plays Flail has made on defense this season include two interception returns for touchdowns, a 32-yarder against Jim Thorpe, and a 53-yarder against Tamaqua. Flail also has a nine-yard fumble return for a touchdown and an 81-yard kickoff return for a score, also against Tamaqua.

And then came Flail's biggest game of the season on offense last week, with 104 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans' District 11 championship win over Northern Lehigh.

And so when opposing teams turn on tape of the Spartans it would almost seem that No. 32 was cloned because he's in so many places making plays. Flail, as do all the Spartans, shies away from accepting too many personal accolades.

"Our success is because of teamwork in general," he said. "It's not just offense or defense or even special teams, but we all play well. And the fans have been great. When we were down they were jumping up and down and that's what we fed on in the second half."

Defense seems to fit Flail's personality a little bit more. Although he'll never say no to getting a chance to run the ball, Flail is definitely defensive-minded.

"As tailback, I like running the ball behind our two fullbacks and the line that's been together a while," the junior said. "But I like playing defense. It fits into how I play a little more, and we have a lot of pride in our defense. We were something like the third best in the state in points given up this year. Now we're seeing better offenses, but we're still finding ways to win games."

One of the reasons Flail may like defense a little bit more is the opportunities and responsibilities Geist has given the linebackers in his scheme.

Flail is in charge of his own assignment in certain alignments. Depending on what certain teams do offensively Flail reads and react on seeing certain keys, often times resulting in blitzing.

Flail has done well at it, and says that part of the game has gotten easier as the season has gone on. But Geist, who is always honest in his assessment of any of his players, was just as quick to point out Flail's missed assignment on a touchdown play against Panther Valley, although Flail accepts full culpability in the mistake.

"It was a little awkward," Flail said. "I read the run and the tight end stuttered and caught a touchdown. It was my fault, but things are going to happen, and later in the game we were able to make plays on defense."

Perhaps it's better that Flail and his teammates were in a couple of dogfights in the playoffs, so they're ready for an 11-2 West Catholic team that has the talent to scare anyone. But the Spartans don't scare easily.

"We'll need to make some adjustments and shut down their running game," Flail said. "Their quarterback is looking at some D-I schools, and their running back is a threat to bounce it outside every time he gets the ball."

Not even the change of venues, from nearby Schuylkill Haven to Palisades, is enough to upset North Schuylkill's apple cart.

"We were really happy about playing in Schuylkill Haven, but that's not up to us," Flail said. "We're going to have to go down to Palisades and prove ourselves just like we had to in the second Panther Valley game and again against Northern Lehigh."

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