Prep football: Liberty Ranch running back leads the charge as the Hawks stay grounded
Arthur Draeger doesn’t say a lot, but his legs sure do.
They speak volumes for who and what the Liberty Ranch High School senior is about, which is to say, a prolific, entertaining and devastating-to-the-defense running back. Draeger rushed 17 times for 219 yards and five touchdowns Thursday night to key a 49-20 victory over Natomas in a nonleague contest in Galt.
For good measure, one of the region’s most talented if not most unsung players also had two receptions for 37 yards and returned a kickoff 11 yards. Draeger was all grins when it was over. He was quick to credit his teammates for a game well done, right on down to plotting the next In-N-Out Burger run to feed the guys who lead the charge: the linemen.
That would be seniors Brody Budesilich, John Condruic, Eddie Mendoza, Camron Monette and Johnny Sigala.
“We are a team in the truest sense, and I love these guys,” Draeger said. “We’re nothing without those linemen.”
And they’re nothing without each other. Late in the game, Liberty Ranch coach Warren Schroeder had backup do-anything Christian Wallace take some snaps at quarterback. The 5-foot-7, 125-pound senior ball of energy and pride looked the part of a polished leader. Sure enough, in the postgame team talk in the south end zone, by the flagpole, Draeger acknowledged Wallace, whom everyone calls, “Wally.”
From the star power of Draeger and tight end Cody Smith right on down to Wally, everyone took a bow on this night. Liberty Ranch is 2-0, gets Friday off from practice and collectively bounds into its Sept. 2 game at Linden feeling good about where the program is headed. It’s been a solid program over the years and it is built to become good and great.
Schroeder said the program has 90 players total on the freshmen, junior varsity and varsity levels. This includes two of the coach’s sons, JV lineman Mikey and varsity lineman Timmy. The ball boy is 11-year-old Christopher Shroeder. The nervous mom working the sideline, track and stands is Anngela Schroeder, wife of coach Schroeder.
The home crowd support has been as impressive as the on-field product. The halftime entertainment was the mascot Hawk getting chased by a swarm of little kids who raced through a blow-up Hawk in hot pursuit. The Hawk ran out of gas and was easy pickings at the 50.
Schroeder, in his third stint as Liberty Ranch coach, raved about his players and their commitment. He said Draeger at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, is a hidden recruit gem. Draeger scored on runs of 7, 1, 2 and 12 yards. His game is all about instincts, burst and breakaway speed, though he can crash into defenders, too.
Headed to Idaho on scholarship, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Smith caught his first high school touchdown pass, a 9-yarder from Kymani Fenika, and Gavin O’Brien punched in a 1-yard scoring plunge to lead the offense. Fenika had two interceptions from his cornerback spot and Nicholas Camarillo had one against a speedy Natomas team coming off a 40-21 victory over Esparto.
Draeger isn’t new to those who have seen his act in Galt over the years, or those in the Sierra Valley Conference. He scooted for 1,781 yards and 24 touchdowns for a team that went 7-4 and reached the playoffs last season.
“Oh my gosh,” Shroeder said of Draeger, “he’s one the best running backs around. He’s a hard-working kid. He carries the weight of the team offensively. He’s out there for our team dinner, being a kid, not feeling the pressure of the accolades and pressure. He just wants to play for friends. We are such a team. We have a guy score, anyone, and everyone celebrates. As a coach, those are your best teams.”
How can Draeger get on the college football recruiting radar? He has the grades and ability to keep on running after graduation. But where and how?
“He’s flying under the radar,” Shroeder said. “Over the course of time this season, as we get more of his film out there, he’ll get noticed by college. He’ll go somewhere. He’ll play somewhere. He’s got to.”
Wallace, AKA “Wally,” is playing his final games in football this fall and he’s giving it every ounce of effort. He regularly picks the brains of coaches about what’s going on and why. He wants to play any and all positions, even the trenches. He aspires to be a coach.
“Love Wally!” He’s an example that practice is worth it, that games are your reward,” Shroeder said. “It’s neat to see. We are a team. Everyone’s in this together.”
Mekhei Byrd was again the best player for Natomas. The speedy senior receiver/defensive back had a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 57-yard touchdown run. Michael Hendricks also had a 45-yard touchdown run for Natomas, which plays Rosemont on Thursday.
This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 4:04 AM.