Hockey helps Harger be a good running back

ALBURNETT - He finds a hole over the middle and runs into open field. He's at the 30-yard-line, the 20, the 10.

He shoots and scores!

Welcome to Mitch Harger's world. The state's leading rusher in football, the Alburnett senior also plays defense for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders high school hockey team.

That's a weird combination around these parts.

“My dad took me to a RoughRiders game when I was really young,” Harger said. “These little kids came out and skated around on the ice (between periods). I thought it was hilarious. My dad just kind of said ‘Hey, Mitch, do you want to learn how to skate?'”

That's all it took. Harger learned how to skate at age 6 and has been hooked on hockey since.

He said there's a direct correlation between that sport and being a good running back. Harger - 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds - goes into tonight's battle of unbeatens against North Cedar (both 5-0) with a state-best 1,214 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“When I was coaching at Postville, I read an article that said hockey players don't make good football players,” said Alburnett Coach Chris Evers. “I do not agree with that at all ... Mitch is a hockey player, and that helps with his ability as a running back.”

“Guys look at me and see I'm all stocky and stuff,” Harger said. “Lifting weights, all they want to do is work on their upper body. It's for the girls. But in hockey, it's all lower body. That's what we work on.”

Harger said hockey also helps him have better, quicker feet as a running back. It also has helped his vision on the football field.

Defensemen, in particular, always have their heads up during play, looking for the quick breakout pass out of their own zone and for opponents who might be bearing down on them.

“My goals last season were to rush for 1,400 yards, and I only had 1,000. That was disappointing to say the least,” Harger said. “I had very high expectations coming into this season. I wanted to get 2,000 yards. I've set targets each game, and have been fortunate enough to hit them all so far.”

He gives it up to his blockers, of course, the guys up front who never get enough credit: Alex Stepanek, Kyle Frederick, Dalton Hawkins, Dalton Kramme, Dylan Liebe, Kean McBurney and Connor Frederick. Quarterback Jacob Sevening, interestingly enough, also is a hockey guy, a teammate on the prep Riders.

Harger said he plans on attending Iowa State next year and study engineering. He wants to play sports, whether it's as a walk-on in football or a member of ISU's club hockey team.