Cedar Valley’s Gustafson is state’s top tackler

CEDAR RAPIDS – It sounds like a backhanded compliment to say a guy is the leading tackler for a team that gives up 60 points per game, but don't hesitate to give Eric Gustafson all the compliments, kudos and plaudits you can. He deserves them.

The senior linebacker isn't just Cedar Valley Christian's top tackler, he's also the leading tackler in the state going into Week 7 of the prep football season. The Huskies play Friday night at West Central in an Eight-Player game.

'We try to align our defense around him,” CVC Coach Ed Betsworth said. 'He is strong in pursuit, reads the play and tackles well. We try and keep (offensive line) guys off of him, so he can do those things.”

Gustafson has 104.5 tackles, which averages out to 17 per game. Thirteen of his stops have been for loss, with five sacks.

He had a whopping 25.5 tackles in a 94-7 loss in mid-September to sixth-ranked Elkader Central. That's also an Iowa best this season.

Bottom line is the kid always is around the ball.

'Pretty cool,” Gustafson said of being the state tackles leader. 'I don't really talk about it that much. I think it's something that gives me an extra push.

'Our line has improved so much this season. They pick up the offensive linemen, which helps me stay free and make tackles.”

When Cedar Valley Christian began a varsity program in 2011, literally from scratch, Gustafson was the only player with any organized football experience. He played in the Metro Youth Football League and at Roosevelt Middle School.

As you'd expect, it's been a slow and sometimes frustrating journey for the Huskies. They've struggled to be competitive in most games.

But a 30-20 win over Harmony in the season opener in August was the much-sought breakthrough everyone wanted and needed. Gustafson had a mere 15 tackles in that game and caught a pass for 12 yards.

He also is CVC's leading receiver this season (20, including three touchdowns).

'I still think about that game,” Gustafson said. 'It's like Coach told us, no one can ever take away from us that we were the first time to win a game here.”

'It's just so hard to gauge (the progress being made),” Betsworth said. 'We've got so many guys who are in just their first or second year of playing football. We are trying to be as patient as we can and push them to get better. We are just four years in. I talked to the Don Bosco coach, and he said it took them 10 years to get to the level to be in a state championship game.”

The coach eventually his program will regularly churn out players like Gustafson, who said he wouldn't mind playing college football somewhere next season.

'I didn't know if I was ever going to play football again. Then they said they were starting a program here,” Gustafson said. 'That got me really excited.”

'He is a hard worker,” Betsworth. 'I'm glad he's on my team and not somebody else's.”

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