Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! 

Many of our readers have likely seen the movie "Rudy".  A classic underdog story about heart and determination, it chronicles the true story of a Notre Dame walk-on who dreamed of suiting up for the Fighting Irish, despite the odds being stacked against him. Well dear reader, you don't need to pay for an over-priced Disney+ subscription if you're looking for a story that will warm your heart.  Instead, just pull up a chair and dig in for a tale we think is blockbuster worthy.

For the past three years, we've followed Blake Vanderhoof's story as he and the FVL Foxes have competed on the grid iron. Number 50 for the Foxes has fought in the trenches on both sides of the ball doing whatever was needed to help the team. Holding his own on offense, and making some great tackles on defense, Blake always brought effort to the team.

While we all want to be a starter, there's a limited number of positions on the field and for a team at FVL's level those spots are hard to come by.  As committed as he was, heading into the final game of the regular season in his senior year, Blake had yet to start a game at the varsity level. Due to several close losses, the Foxes needed to win that final game, and get some help, in order to punch their ticket to the post-season (can anyone hear music playing in the background yet or is that just me?)

With the team getting ready for their "win or go home" contest, FVL had a problem. Not only was their starting center injured and unable to play, but the backup center was also injured. With a dilemma on his hands, FVL's coach decided to hold an open competition early in the week. Whoever rose to the top would get first team reps in practice on Thursday (the day before the game). Our protagonist, no not Sean Astin, but rather Blake Vanderhoof, entered the fray. Showing he was up for the challenge, when asked about his approach to the competition Blake said "I approached it like a normal practice, but with more intensity".

His intensity paid off.  Before Thursday's practice, Blake was informed he'd be taking snaps with the first team offense. After a solid day of work, Blake was then placed into the starting lineup (seriously, do you all hear Fanfare for the Common Man playing now?).

Let's pause here for a minute.  For any compelling story, our hero not only rises from an unlikely setting to meet their moment of destiny, but as the narrative unfolds there needs to be a "rising action" (defined by Webster as "the part of a story that builds tension leading to the climax"). Well dear reader, our story has plenty of rising action. Resume story....

In high school, many teams have their quarterback start under center. This means the center simply hikes the ball straight back to the QB's hands in a quick motion. While not automatic, it's relatively "risk free".  Do the FVL Foxes have their QB under center for their snaps?  No dear reader, no they do not. FVL runs a more modern offense where their QB takes the snap while in shotgun formation. This requires the center to snap the ball back to the QB who is several yards behind him. Snaps need to be quick, precise, and consistent.  Every single one.  If a single snap is too low, or too high, too soft or too fast, the impact could be disastrous. A low snap could result in the timing of a run or pass play be disrupted.  A high snap over the QB's head could result in major yards lost. Any bad snap could end up with a game-altering turnover.  

This might be a good time to share a bit more background on Blake's career.  As a freshman, our hero played a grand total of one game at center. In his sophomore season, Blake recorded only a few reps at the position.  His junior year?  Not a single rep. Senior year?  Nada.  So let's recap.  FVL's season hangs in the balance. They are a team that uses shotgun 100% of the time, and their center has minimal experience at the position . For Blake, it was like getting your driver's license, and then being handed the keys to a sports car and entered in the Grand Prix on the same day (I think the music has changed to something from a really scary movie at this point).

On the day when our hero had his date with destiny, it was probably fitting that a comet could be seen on the horizon as the sun set over Shawano High School. Blake didn't have to wait long for his first action, as FVL received the opening kickoff. Looking calm and collected, Blake took the field and prepared for his first snap. He broke the huddle, and lead the team up to the line of scrimmage. FVL's QB, Lucas Papendorf, barked out the cadence, and right on queue, Blake's snap found it's target. This first snap was unfortunately the last one of the drive, as FVL's pass was intercepted. Blake went back to the sidelines, prepping for the next drive.

FVL's defense was up the challenge, and got the ball back without any damage done. Blake trotted back to the field for his second series.  While they suffered a three and out, both father, in the stands, and son on the field, were pumped. When asked how he felt when he stepped on the field, Blake said "Both excited and nervous. After our first two drives I was settled in and just enjoying the game". Dad could see the excitement in his son's stance on the sideline and in the huddle. Blakes snaps were crisp and on target. Despite solid play from their new center, FVL closed out the first quarter tied 0-0.

The second quarter would be kinder to FVL. Just a few seconds into the quarter, Blake's snap started off a play where Papendorf rolled left and threw across his body to his WR for a quick score. Blake's defender was nowhere near the QB on the throw.

After Shawano fumbled on the next drive, FVL had a golden opportunity to take control of the game. Vanderhoof approached the line. Papendorf looked over the defense and liked what he saw. On command, Blake fired the ball back to his QB...and then absolutely stoned the oncoming defender at the line. It was at this point that Shawano fell into a classic blunder...no, not entering a land war in Asia (or the slightly less famous going all in vs a Cicilian when death is on the line) but rather giving Papendorf a clean pocket.  With no pressure in his face, he uncorked a beautiful spiral down the left sidelines which landed into Jacoby Dobberstein's hands for their second touchdown of the game.

Shawano responded with a long, time consuming drive that culminated with a touchdown and two point conversion. With a little over 2 minutes left in the half, FVL had little time to score. They only needed one play. Blake's snap to Papendorf lead to a swing pass around the left side that went for a long touchdown.  Number 50 hoofed it down the entire length of the field to meet his teammate in the end zone to congratulate him. The Foxes, needing a win to make the playoffs, were up 21-7 at the break.

In lots of hero/action movies, the main character has a moment where, despite things looking grim, they defy the odds and rise to the occasion.  Blake was a part of one of those moments in the 3rd quarter. Remember the rising tension we built earlier in our story? How every snap is in shotgun, and each one has the possibility for a game changing moment? On their first offensive snap of the half, Blake was over the ball, and possibly due to the halftime break, he misfired. He didn't get a good handle on the ball, and it trickled off his hands, bouncing once, then twice on it's way to the QB.  As a suddenly very nervous father watched from the stands, and with only a two score advantage, the game could have turned in an instant. Instead, sometimes it's just your night. The ball bounced right into Papendorf's hands, and the QB nonchalantly scooted around the left end for a big gain. Blake settled in, and a few plays later the Foxes took a 24-8 lead on a made FG.

The Foxes defense came up with another big play, and once again Blake lead the lineman out of the huddle and lined up over the ball.  Papendorf wasted no time. He called out the signal, and Vanderhoof again drilled a snap right on the bullseye. In one motion, the QB hopped to the left and delivered a strike to his WR who had gotten behind the defense. 31-8, with time winding down in the third.  It was all over but the crying.

Shawano managed to sneak in one final score in the 4th, but failed on the conversion.  With 3:05 left in the game, Blake jogged on to the field for the last time. Number 50 launched the first snap from the 50 yard line. A few short runs later, the Foxes had a 4th and 1 with under a minute left and the clock running.  FVL's coach called a run right up the middle. Blake stood over the ball for the last time in his career. Papendorf called for the snap, and Blake delivered a perfect strike. He fired off the line and stood his man up, moving him just enough for the FVL running back to run behind him and pick up the first down.  The final seconds ticked away, and the Foxes walked of the field not only victors, but as a team headed for the playoffs.

When asked what was going through his head after the game, Blake said "I felt accomplished and satisfied in my varsity football career. That game will be the game I always remember".  We will too Blake...we will too.

We should point out, in the famous movie Rudy, the eponyous character only played in three snaps. A kickoff, an incomplete pass, and then his final play where he delivered a sack. The game in which he played was essentially meaningless. In Blake's story, he plays an entire game, delivering time and again when his team needed him, in a game that truly mattered.  For our money, Disney might want to consider doing a reboot of Rudy and call it Blake.

After Blake's memorable evening, FVL's season wasn't done yet. The Foxes were victorious in their first round playoff matchup. They played well most of the evening vs Wasau East, getting out to a 23-0 lead.  While it tightened to only a 30-27 lead at the break, they reasserted control in the 2nd half before winning 44-41. The next week, the Foxes weren't as fortunate. Despite their best effort, they were trailing late to the Ross Hackbarth coached Medford team. Blake entered the game at left guard, and on the final snap of his high school career, he got off the ball quickly, shuffled to his right, and stuffed his man at the line. This enabled Papendorf to throw a touchdown. Not a bad way to close the books.

One final note, now with this experience under his belt, Blake qualifies as a credible source for discussing all things "in the trenches". As Blake ponders a potential move up to the booth for commentary, we wanted to get his insight on a certain topic. Our readers may recall earlier this season Packers helmsman Josh Myers (and then by extension Malik Willis) suffered through a stomach issue. When asked what advice the Post Pattern's favorite center (sorry Larry McCarren) would give Myers, Blake said "Don't eat fast food before your games Josh Myers!".  The kid is a natural.

Blake's memorable night can be viewed in it's entirety below:

The final snap of Blake's career can be seen in this video below (around the 3:10 mark)