Best of the bunch?

Lake City High School has captured two state football championships and played in two other title games under coach Van Troxel.

The Timberwolves are seeking to make the state playoffs for a 12th straight season in the school’s 15th year of existence.

In that span, Troxel has had a number of outstanding linebackers. None may be as good as Jared Heston, an outside linebacker.

“We’ve had some great linebackers, but I’d rank Jared at the top,” Troxel said. “Whether it’s in games or practice, he steps up and whacks people. He’s what a linebacker is supposed to be.”

LC graduate Byron Hout, whom Troxel calls the best football player in LC history, is a true freshman at Boise State. A middle linebacker his last year at LC, Hout is seeing playing time at defensive end and on special teams this fall.

Troxel said Heston is fundamentally sounder at linebacker than Hout was at the same point in their careers.

LC assistant coach Russ Blank agrees.

“His speed and his stop power are the combination that makes him the best,” Blank said. “He has the ability to make great plays like Byron. The difference is Jared doesn’t have the supporting cast that some of our great linebackers have had.”

Heston caught the attention of University of Idaho coach Robb Akey, who offered a scholarship early this summer. Heston was the first in the Vandals’ 2009 recruiting class to make an oral commitment.

When he arrives at Moscow next fall, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Heston will likely be better than all Vandals in one area – the swimming pool.

Long before Heston’s passion became football, he was an age-group swimmer. He set a national U-10 age-group record in 2001 in the 50-yard breaststroke. It’s a record that still stands.

He swam and played football his freshman and sophomore years before he quit swimming competitively.

“To be able to do both my freshman and sophomore years, I had to get up at 4 every day to go to swim practice,” Heston said. “I knew I couldn’t continue to do that and go to football practice and keep up on my homework.”

Blank said swimming had a big effect on Heston’s physical growth.

“The majority of his core strength has come through swimming,” Blank said.

Heston has had to carry a heavy load this fall. In addition to starting at linebacker, he plays fullback, punts, kicks field goals and point-after touchdown attempts. His time at fullback has gone from situational to 10 to 15 carries a game.

“Out of 120 plays in a game, he’s probably in on 110 now,” Blank said.

If Troxel could rest Heston more he would.

“What would life be like without him?” Troxel said, repeating a reporter’s question. “With this football team it would be very tough. We rely on him to be our defensive leader. On offense he’s kind of become our glue. When things need to be settled down offensively, we go to Jared. He’s going to have to play full time from this point on.”

Troxel has no doubt Heston will leave a mark at Idaho.

“He’s going to do well there,” Troxel said. “I’m really excited for him, because I think it’s a great fit. He’ll have an opportunity to get out there and play.”

Heston has seen much improvement at LC. The Timberwolves (3-3 overall, 1-0 league) were inexperienced going into the season.

“We’re getting better, but we can play a lot better,” Heston said. “We haven’t put four quarters together yet and we’ll need to do it against Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston.”

Troxel knows that if LC improves, he’s sure Heston will be in the middle of it.

“The team needs to follow his lead,” Troxel said.

Heston is more than willing to show the way. After all, he rarely leaves the field.