SCOL Player Profile: Matracia 'honored' to be a Tiger
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Each time No. 13 for the McClain Tigers sets foot onto a football field, everyone who witnesses the game or practice should know one thing about senior Zach Matracia: Football is his life.
Matracia rarely leaves the football field once the opening whistle blows. He not only plays the game for himself or his team, but he wants the 2010 Tigers to give back to the community.
“Football is my life. Everything is about football,” he said. “All of the seniors are working their butts off, so I want us to have a decent season. But I want us to win for the community. They have been there for us rain or shine, and I want to give back to them.”
The well-spoken Matracia not only cracks shoulder pads and helmets during the fall season, but he is a three-sport athlete and ranks in the top six of his 2011 class in academics.
“Zach is an outstanding student-athlete,” MHS head coach Randy Closson said. “He is a phenomenal student, and he takes his grades seriously. We are hoping to get him into college on a football scholarship. Zach is a win-win situation with his combo of on the field and in school.”
No matter what Matracia does in any sport or classroom, he always comes back to football.
“Just the contact and intensity, and I love the fact it is a team sport. In the game of football, you can’t do anything without all 11 players to win,” Matracia said. “It takes everyone on the field to be successful.”
The soon-to-be three-year varsity starter said when he started at the varsity level, there were some learning curves to maneuver through. But since his sophomore season, Matracia has more than figured out the game at the varsity level.
“I’ve learned it is a lot faster at the varsity level than it is when you play middle school or freshman football,” he said. “Everyone is equally strong, and I had to work hard to excel at the varsity level.”
Closson said defense is Matracia’s strong suit, as he finished with 153 tackles one season ago, along with forcing six fumbles.
“He’s an outstanding defensive player and he is very versatile. He led us in tackles, and he can cover zones,” Closson said. “Zach is like an extra linebacker on the field from the safety position.
“But on offense, Zach is a big and strong. If we need him to run between the tackles he will or he can play slot and run downfield, and we can throw to him.”
Before he played almost every snap at the varsity level, Matracia first took the field when he was in the fifth grade in pony league football.
“I played in Washington C.H. for the Big Boys, and we won the championship that year,” Matracia said. “I started playing when I saw a flyer for pony league football. Before the signups, I never tried football before, and I thought ‘what the heck’ and I gave it a try, and loved football ever since.”
Matracia looked up the players that were older than him, including former Miami Trace running back Grant Jones.
“I looked up to the older guys, and I played with Grant Jones, and he is who I wanted to be like when I was young.
“I wanted to get better, and to get better, I had to keep playing.”
When he was younger and attended McClain games, Matracia said he just ran around the stands with his friends, but he realized once he started playing that ‘it was an honor’ to play on Friday nights.
“To play football, it takes a lot of hard work, and people think we are a basketball school. But it’s here. We have the players and coaching staff to be successful in football. For me, McClain football means everything,” Matracia said.
With the honor of being a McClain Tiger in the mind of Matracia, he said his best moment on the football field as a McClain Tiger came last season against Washington.
“When we played Washington C.H. in our homecoming game, we went on to win the game. That was a good moment,” he said. “The stands were packed and our fans were cheering. I’d never seen it like that before, and it was was special to everyone.
“I want to thank the fans for all their efforts in supporting us.”
Matracia said he has no individual goals but said he wants his team to execute on offense.
“I don’t care about how many yards I have or touchdowns, just as long as we execute, that is what matters most to me,” Matracia said.
One of the moments Matracia is looking forward to on Friday, Aug. 27 is taking the field with his fellow seniors.
“It has been great playing with Jared (Loftis), Aron Hamilton, Joe Barnhart, James Mann and Zach Uhl is coming back this year. I am excited to play football with all the guys, and I love these guys. We want to make our last year the best year we can.
“It wouldn’t be the same without them. We work as one unit, and football wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have these guys to play with.”
Closson spoke about the work ethic of Matracia.
“He has worked extremely hard this year. During basketball, he started working out and lifting to gain muscle,” Closson said. “He’s worked at it all winter and spring. He’s had a great summer, and that is part of him being a leader.”
Though Matracia still has to complete his senior year, he still has a dream to keep him even more motivated.
“My dream is that I’ve always wanted to play college football, and hopefully that goes somewhere.”[[In-content Ad]]
Matracia rarely leaves the football field once the opening whistle blows. He not only plays the game for himself or his team, but he wants the 2010 Tigers to give back to the community.
“Football is my life. Everything is about football,” he said. “All of the seniors are working their butts off, so I want us to have a decent season. But I want us to win for the community. They have been there for us rain or shine, and I want to give back to them.”
The well-spoken Matracia not only cracks shoulder pads and helmets during the fall season, but he is a three-sport athlete and ranks in the top six of his 2011 class in academics.
“Zach is an outstanding student-athlete,” MHS head coach Randy Closson said. “He is a phenomenal student, and he takes his grades seriously. We are hoping to get him into college on a football scholarship. Zach is a win-win situation with his combo of on the field and in school.”
No matter what Matracia does in any sport or classroom, he always comes back to football.
“Just the contact and intensity, and I love the fact it is a team sport. In the game of football, you can’t do anything without all 11 players to win,” Matracia said. “It takes everyone on the field to be successful.”
The soon-to-be three-year varsity starter said when he started at the varsity level, there were some learning curves to maneuver through. But since his sophomore season, Matracia has more than figured out the game at the varsity level.
“I’ve learned it is a lot faster at the varsity level than it is when you play middle school or freshman football,” he said. “Everyone is equally strong, and I had to work hard to excel at the varsity level.”
Closson said defense is Matracia’s strong suit, as he finished with 153 tackles one season ago, along with forcing six fumbles.
“He’s an outstanding defensive player and he is very versatile. He led us in tackles, and he can cover zones,” Closson said. “Zach is like an extra linebacker on the field from the safety position.
“But on offense, Zach is a big and strong. If we need him to run between the tackles he will or he can play slot and run downfield, and we can throw to him.”
Before he played almost every snap at the varsity level, Matracia first took the field when he was in the fifth grade in pony league football.
“I played in Washington C.H. for the Big Boys, and we won the championship that year,” Matracia said. “I started playing when I saw a flyer for pony league football. Before the signups, I never tried football before, and I thought ‘what the heck’ and I gave it a try, and loved football ever since.”
Matracia looked up the players that were older than him, including former Miami Trace running back Grant Jones.
“I looked up to the older guys, and I played with Grant Jones, and he is who I wanted to be like when I was young.
“I wanted to get better, and to get better, I had to keep playing.”
When he was younger and attended McClain games, Matracia said he just ran around the stands with his friends, but he realized once he started playing that ‘it was an honor’ to play on Friday nights.
“To play football, it takes a lot of hard work, and people think we are a basketball school. But it’s here. We have the players and coaching staff to be successful in football. For me, McClain football means everything,” Matracia said.
With the honor of being a McClain Tiger in the mind of Matracia, he said his best moment on the football field as a McClain Tiger came last season against Washington.
“When we played Washington C.H. in our homecoming game, we went on to win the game. That was a good moment,” he said. “The stands were packed and our fans were cheering. I’d never seen it like that before, and it was was special to everyone.
“I want to thank the fans for all their efforts in supporting us.”
Matracia said he has no individual goals but said he wants his team to execute on offense.
“I don’t care about how many yards I have or touchdowns, just as long as we execute, that is what matters most to me,” Matracia said.
One of the moments Matracia is looking forward to on Friday, Aug. 27 is taking the field with his fellow seniors.
“It has been great playing with Jared (Loftis), Aron Hamilton, Joe Barnhart, James Mann and Zach Uhl is coming back this year. I am excited to play football with all the guys, and I love these guys. We want to make our last year the best year we can.
“It wouldn’t be the same without them. We work as one unit, and football wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have these guys to play with.”
Closson spoke about the work ethic of Matracia.
“He has worked extremely hard this year. During basketball, he started working out and lifting to gain muscle,” Closson said. “He’s worked at it all winter and spring. He’s had a great summer, and that is part of him being a leader.”
Though Matracia still has to complete his senior year, he still has a dream to keep him even more motivated.
“My dream is that I’ve always wanted to play college football, and hopefully that goes somewhere.”[[In-content Ad]]