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  • Velma-Alma’s Alan Beck watches for motion on the offensive side of the ball Tuesday afternoon at Comets football practice in Velma. Evan Grice/The Duncan Banner

    Alan Beck
November 13, 2012

COMET STRONG

Beck provides alertness and spark for V-A

Evan Grice The Duncan Banner

VELMA — When looking around the field at Velma-Alma Comets football practice, there are words like family, tradition, and the ever popular “Hit Somebody!”

For defensive back Alan Beck, these are not just words, but tools for motivation for himself and his teammates.

Beck arrived in Velma shortly following fifth grade and has embraced the Comets ever since then.

“It feels pretty good to put on the maroon and gray,” Beck said. “We’re here to play for everyone that has come before us and it’s a privilege to do that everytime I put on this helmet.”

Of course one of the terms used to describe Beck around practice is something that isn’t plastered on a fence, coachable.

Beck looks at the term as something that comes from working hard for the team.

“To be coachable means your teammates believe in you that you will do your job properly,” he said. “It’s also a portion of doing what the coaches ask you to do and showing them your worth on the field.”

“Alan is a great young man first off,” V-A coach Greg Gothard said. “He’s not the most gifted athlete we have out here, but he always does what is asked of him by the coaches. He’s coachable because he’s in the right place at the right time during the course of a game. There’s about seven plays that are usually right place right time during a game, and Alan is always alert and ready for those situations. It’s more about being able to be coached and being willing to learn.”

Speaking of right place, right time, against Watonga last week in the first round of the playoffs, Beck was right in the middle of two critical plays which helped lead to a Comets victory.

With 3:05 left in the fourth quarter and his team down on the goal line, Beck was the first player to respond when a fumble occurred in the endzone, giving his team six critical points.

Then, with less than a minute remaining in the game, Beck struck again, this time on the defensive side of the ball with an interception that sealed the game for the Comets.

“I enjoy defense more during the game,” Beck said. “Velma-Alma is all about defense. That’s what we preach and what all the coaches here believe in, so that’s why I love playing it so much.”

Velma-Alma will be looking for Beck and the rest of the Comets to be in the right place and the right mindframe this Friday night as V-A travels to Thomas to take on Thomas-Fay-Custer in the second round of the playoffs.

“We need to take care of the football and be able to move it offensively,” Gothard said. “Thomas’ defense is their strong suit. This is about one of the best defenses I have seen in a long time. Last week we were blessed and lucky, but this week we need to not make those same mistakes.”

 

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