His numbers the last two seasons have been jaw-dropping, but to fully understand Tristan McClone’s legacy may not be possible until next fall when he’s not in the backfield for Warsaw Community High School’s varsity football team. Plain and simple, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior running back is going to leave quite a void. “You don’t replace someone like Tristan McClone, on or off the field,” said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen. “For the last two years, we knew what we were gonna be, what we were gonna do. Next year will be different. You just can’t replace someone like that. Players like Tristan don’t come along often.” McClone, also a standout on the track team, carried the ball 297 times this season for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. To say the least, McClone shouldered the load for the Tigers, who were 7-4 overall, 5-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference, and played in the sectional final for just the fourth time in program. For everything he meant to Warsaw’s team – which is hard to put into words exactly how much – McClone has been named the Times-Union Offensive Player of the Year. He garnered the award last year after rushing 320 times for 1,718 yards and 16 scores. Asked about what he thinks his legacy will be, what Warsaw’s fans and opponents alike will remember about him, McClone answered in his typical humble tone. “I want to be remembered for working hard,” said McClone. “I want people to remember I gave everything I had and left everything on the field. I had really great teammates that I’m gonna miss. “When I was a freshman, we won one game,” added McClone. “And then we won four, and then six games last year and seven this year. We got better each year, and we did it as a team.” Though McClone jukes personal attention as quick as he runs over or around a defender, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve the numerous headlines and accolades he has received. McClone owns school records for yards in a game (322) and season (1,718), as well as carries in a career (643). McClone’s career numbers read like this – 643 rushing attempts for 3,340 yards and 34 touchdowns. And it needs to be pointed out that McClone had all of 26 carries and 100 yards as a sophomore while backing up then-starter Zach Rooney. “What he’s done the last two years is pretty special,” said Jensen, this year’s Area Coach of the Year. “When you look at how many games he didn’t carry the ball after halftime, he could have even more yards, the same with Brad Seiss 10 years ago. What would those guys’ numbers be if we kept giving them the ball in the second half?” Andy Conrad, a 2010 graduate, holds Warsaw’s mark for career rushing yards with 3,680. Conrad started in the backfield as a freshman. McClone made his first varsity start as a junior – and only fell 340 yards short of Conrad’s record. “I was definitely sore some Saturday mornings, but God blessed me with very good health,” said McClone. McClone’s staying healthy, and for the most part injury free, also had to do with his work ethic, according to Jensen. “He’s the epitome of what we talk about, son, student, athlete,” said Jensen. “He’s just a great kid. It’s December, the season has only been over a month, and he’s already been in the weight room getting ready for track and helping his little brother lift. That’s just the kind of hard worker he is.” McClone said he is currently unsure of his plans for next year, but that he does want to play college football. He has gotten interest from Army and is waiting to see if he receives an offer. McClone said he would love to attend West Point. McClone said other options include Valparaiso University, Indiana State University and University of Indianapolis. Jensen earned Coach of the Year honors after Warsaw posted its most wins since 2009. Jensen has said numerous times his teams have goals of winning three championhips – the W game with Wawasee, the NLC and the sectional. The Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak to Wawasee this year. Warsaw went into the final game of the season with Concord with a chance to win an outright conference title. And the Tigers were the only team in the coverage area to play in the sectional final. “These kids just liked being around each other,” said Jensen. “They were always ready to go. This was a good group of young men. They bought in to our slogan “All In” and they just went to work.” ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM OFFENSE OL – Stuart Wagner (Warsaw) OL – Tyler Hinora (Whitko) OL – Jake Semler (Manchester) OL – Justin Vardaman (Wawasee) OL – Austin French (T. Valley) QB – Gage Reinhard (Wawasee) RB – Tristan McClone (Warsaw) RB – Jacob Casper (Manchester) RB – Tanner Hughes (Whitko) WR – Tanner Andrews (Valley) WR – Clayton Cook (Wawasee) DEFENSE DL – Nick Gamble (Valley) DL – Ben Plummer (Warsaw) DL – Dusty Akers (Wawasee) DL – Chris Baker (Whitko) LB – Kyle Heckaman (Warsaw) LB – Braxton O’Haver (Wawasee) LB – Seth Fouts (Warsaw) SEC – Nolan Sponseller (Valley) SEC – Gabe Furnivall (Warsaw) SEC – Austin Lutz (Wawasee) SEC – Brodi Carter (Manchester) SPECIAL TEAMS K – Caleb Klusman (Warsaw)
SPECIAL AWARDS Offensive P.O.Y. – Tristan McClone (Warsaw) Defensive P.O.Y. – Nolan Sponseller (Valley) Coach of the Year – Phil Jensen (Warsaw)
