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They’ll still be friends, close-knit by the experiences of an excellent playoff run and the toughness of their coach. But Plainview’s 2012 signing class is spreading its wings.
The Indians’ four collegiate signees — Blake Campo, Josh Huckleberry, Gary Heller and Christian Edmonds — are all going somewhere different for football. Campo will head to Southern Nazerene in Bethany, Josh Huckleberry will venture west to the University of San Diego, Heller goes north to William Penn University (Oskaloosa, Iowa) and Edmonds will join the soon-to-be-operational Oklahoma Baptist football team.
The quartet was an important part of Plainview’s success not just this season but each of coach Chris Berus’ three seasons at the helm of the Indians. Each of the four were All-Ardmoreite Super Team selections as seniors.
“What’s unique about each one of these young men is that they got to this point different ways,” Berus said. “Blake and Gary are close, Christian’s been a Plainview kid since he was in pre-K and Huck’s been here two years.
“Each one brings different life experiences. When you get a group like we had — not just these four but the entire senior class — you’ve got to be grateful.”
Campo (running back) and Huckleberry (offensive line) will be on the offensive side of the ball, while Edmonds (defensive end/linebacker) and Heller (linebacker) will play defense in college.
Heller, who led the Indians with 130 tackles and seven sacks this season, said William Penn positions its linebackers just like Plainview’s. It’s a perfect fit for him, even if it’s 11 hours away from his friends and family.
“The past couple of days have been real emotional,” Heller said. “But there’s nothing stopping that bond. It’s too strong to break.”
“Me, Christian and Gary all went to the same camps and visits together, always shot for the same schools,” said Campo, a three-time All-Ardmoreite selection who led the Indians in rushing the past three seasons. “It’s kinda hard to separate, but we’ll call each other.”
Huckleberry, who grew up in Phoenix, will be five hours from there when he lands at San Diego. He sent recruiting video around and was picked up by the Division I-Football Championship Subdivision school, which plays in Pioneer Football League. He’ll take his first official visit to USD on Feb. 25 for its spring game.
They’ll still be friends, close-knit by the experiences of an excellent playoff run and the toughness of their coach. But Plainview’s 2012 signing class is spreading its wings.
The Indians’ four collegiate signees — Blake Campo, Josh Huckleberry, Gary Heller and Christian Edmonds — are all going somewhere different for football. Campo will head to Southern Nazerene in Bethany, Josh Huckleberry will venture west to the University of San Diego, Heller goes north to William Penn University (Oskaloosa, Iowa) and Edmonds will join the soon-to-be-operational Oklahoma Baptist football team.
The quartet was an important part of Plainview’s success not just this season but each of coach Chris Berus’ three seasons at the helm of the Indians. Each of the four were All-Ardmoreite Super Team selections as seniors.
“What’s unique about each one of these young men is that they got to this point different ways,” Berus said. “Blake and Gary are close, Christian’s been a Plainview kid since he was in pre-K and Huck’s been here two years.
“Each one brings different life experiences. When you get a group like we had — not just these four but the entire senior class — you’ve got to be grateful.”
Campo (running back) and Huckleberry (offensive line) will be on the offensive side of the ball, while Edmonds (defensive end/linebacker) and Heller (linebacker) will play defense in college.
Heller, who led the Indians with 130 tackles and seven sacks this season, said William Penn positions its linebackers just like Plainview’s. It’s a perfect fit for him, even if it’s 11 hours away from his friends and family.
“The past couple of days have been real emotional,” Heller said. “But there’s nothing stopping that bond. It’s too strong to break.”
“Me, Christian and Gary all went to the same camps and visits together, always shot for the same schools,” said Campo, a three-time All-Ardmoreite selection who led the Indians in rushing the past three seasons. “It’s kinda hard to separate, but we’ll call each other.”
Huckleberry, who grew up in Phoenix, will be five hours from there when he lands at San Diego. He sent recruiting video around and was picked up by the Division I-Football Championship Subdivision school, which plays in Pioneer Football League. He’ll take his first official visit to USD on Feb. 25 for its spring game.
Edmonds will wait longer to get fully into OBU football. The NAIA school is starting its football program again in 2013 after a 73-year hiatus. Edmonds is one of four commits to OBU thus far, but he picked the school more for its ministry program.
“That’s what made me choose it over other schools,” said Edmonds. “I also get to go get used to the college life and just practice, play a couple of JV games. (In 2012) Everyone is a redshirt so you don’t feel behind.”
Edmonds and Huckleberry each graded out at better than 90 percent on Plainview’s offensive line this past season, which Edmonds attributed to Coach Berus’ coaching style.
The style? Toughness — not for not just linemen, but linebackers, running backs ... the list goes on. Reflecting on what made this class — which led Plainview to the Class 3A quarterfinals — a special group, Edmonds laid down the Indians’ secret.
“We were relaxed when it came to crunch time,” he said. “We were fun, but we were mentally and physically tough.
“Coach Berus was good at creating toughness.”
It will serve the Plainview 4 well at the next level, be it on the West Coast or in the Southwest.
Erik K. Horne
221-6522
