With ‘huge heart,’ Clayton Flack develops into key player for undefeated Mount Vernon football team

MOUNT VERNON — Measurements can tell you a lot about a player’s potential.

Stopwatches indicate speed and quickness. Scales show size, while squat and bench max reveal strength. The spreadsheets don’t have columns for determination, dedication and devotion.

When it comes to Mount Vernon senior center and linebacker Clayton Flack, those categories make him much bigger and stronger than his 6-foot, 200-pound frame.

“You can measure the size of a kid by his height and weight, but you can never measure the size of a kid by his heart,” Mustangs Coach Lance Pedersen said. “This kid has huge heart. He loves his teammates. He loves the game of football. Those are things you can’t measure with a measuring stick or scale, but those are the things that make a difference between him being a stud for us this year and not.”

Flack evolved from an idle reserve his first two years to limited action last season. Now he’s a two-way starter in his senior campaign. Second-ranked Mount Vernon takes on No. 6 Humboldt in a Class 3A state football semifinal Saturday night at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, beginning at 7.

“It’s amazing,” Flack said about reaching the UNI-Dome with an 11-0 mark. “A lot of our guys have put in the hard work in the offseason, even during the season. I think we’re all excited and ready to play.”

The journey has been more than just playing time, blocks and tackles. Flack has developed as a person as much as a player. He credited his coaches and said he appreciated Pedersen’s comment on his intangible traits.

“I think it’s amazing, because my freshman and sophomore year I wasn’t what you’d call a good leader, a good student or even a good son sometimes,” said Flack, who is a current member of the football program’s leadership council. “Junior year, I started to mature more because of (Pedersen) and other coaches.

“I think he’s had a huge impact on my life, making me who I am today. It means a lot to me.”

Not caring and being content to be on the sideline would have been easy. Quitting would have been easier. Flack was motivated by not getting opportunities to play when he was younger. He was actually hungrier to play. The void his teammates filled was an important part of him sticking with football.

“I think it was the family relationship among the team,” Flack said. “I don’t think I’ve had that big of a relationship with people until I joined the football team and that’s what really kept me in it — the family and friendship bond.”

Support came from home as well. Flack said his mom and stepdad, Julie and Adin Wheat, helped instill resolve and hard work. He has reaped the rewards, whether it is making blocking calls for the Mustangs’ offensive line, helping with defensive shifts and alignments — ranking fourth on the team with 30.5 tackles with five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss — or receiving the occasional pat on the back for his play.

“Those two have been so supportive,” Flack said. “They’ve always been there for me. They really pushed me. My mom told me to hit the weight room as a kid and I didn’t really listen to her. I started taking it to heart my sophomore year.”

Flack laughed when he said, “Mom does know best.”

Flack is a product of his effort, which started after last season. He entered the offseason about 170 pounds. Flack lifted weights and worked two jobs — lifeguard at a pool and dishwasher at Sally’s on Broadway in Springville.

Flack also bumped his caloric intake. He never reached his daily goal of 4,500 to 5,000 calories a day, but he loaded up on chicken, burgers, rice and vegetables. The result was a 30-pound boost.

“It was crazy,” Flack said. “Every day in the offseason I hit the weight room, ate good and got good sleep. I think that really helped.”

The exact role he would play still was uncertain until the summer when Mount Vernon assistant Brad Meester contacted him about a move to center. Flack was all for it and immediately studied his playbook. He has learned how to offset his lack of size by studying defenders, reading and anticipating their moves.

Pedersen really started to take notice of his increased size, strength, belief in himself and leadership.

“He kept working,” Pedersen said. “For a center, he probably is still undersized in Class 3A, but then he started to fine-tune his technique. He started to increase his confidence level and then increased his communication skills with the guys around him.

“Everything he has done has contributed to making him the best center for our football team. He continues to work to get better every single day.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com