Brody Miller a true unsung hero in Knights title season

With an Ohio Cardinal Conference league title on the line, the Knights went out and stumped Clear Fork to the tune of 42-0, a monumental turnaround after last season’s anticlimactic loss to the Colts.While Luke Ogi was running roughshod over the Colts defense, and backfield mate Garett Ervin was also enjoying a banner night, the guy calling the plays behind center was again simply making sure the Knights offensive machine ran smoothly.Miller was one of those quarterbacks who wasn’t flashy, and often times was overshadowed by the success of his mates in the backfield.However, ask head coach Kevin Maltarich about his senior quarterback, and you get a sense of exactly what his efforts in guiding the Knights to a share of the OCC title meant to this team’s fortunes.“Brody is one of those guys who quietly made this team go,” said Maltarich of Miller. “He improved so much over the player he was last season. He just got a lot stronger physically, and grew up in terms of his decision-making abilities. He was definitely an unsung hero in this year’s success.“I think one of the things which will go largely unseen from this year’s success was how much he matured as a quarterback. He really understood how to take care of the ball and be a team leader.”Miller ended the season with a quarterback rating of 87.0, a very solid rating. He three five touchdown passes but threw just three interceptions in Maltarich’s ground-first attack.And while the Knights didn’t throw a lot, with Miller completing 44-of-78 passes on the season, he delivered the ball where it needed to go all season long, with 17 of those passes going to his favorite target Trenton Bridenthal. Together those two teamed up for nearly 18 yards per completion.For Miller, the season was one which they will proudly remember as the year in which the Knights were given little hope of winning a title, but came through as one to accomplish that feat anyway.“This team definitely came together and stayed together all year,” said Miller. “I am proud of every one of these players.”Miller, in true leadership fashion, said that the upperclassmen spoke to the underclassmen following the season finale against Clear Fork, and made it known that they needed to pick up where this team left off.“We told the underclassmen that they need to stick together, and nobody can back out, because football is downright the best sport ever,” said Miller. “We told them to get ready and get into the weight room, because you can’t take any plays off and you can’t take any days off. You’ve got to go 100 percent.”Miller said that the physical and mental part of his game began to come together this summer, when the Knights again worked with fitness guru Rick Congini.That act alone takes great courage, for Congini’s workouts are anything but easy.Miller said that Congini’s program, combined with plenty of lifting, made him stronger and faster.The other aspect of his game which grew in leaps and bounds is the part that goes largely unseen by the average fan, but means the difference between success and failure for any athlete.“At the beginning of the season, I didn’t have much confidence,” said Miller. “As the season went on. I gained that confidence, and that was probably the biggest thing for me. I got that confidence in myself and in being able to complete passes and trust my teammates.”Not only did his game pick up at the quarterback spot as the season progressed, he also became a major factor on defense, where he lined up and wreaked havoc in the opposition’s backfield, where he racked up a team-leading three quarterback sacks to go with his 50 tackles.Playing on both sides of the ball is taxing on any player, but perhaps even more so on a quarterback than anyone else, because of the mental demands.Miller said the Congini training helped make him stronger and more capable of playing two ways.It all created a most memorable season for Miller and the Knights, and one which they won’t soon forget.“Every day was a challenge,” said Miller. “I think I will remember the practices the most, just getting jacked up for our tough practices,” said Miller.He also said that the coaching staff had a lot to do with the character building and success the Knights had in this championship season.“They made me a better player,” said Miller of Maltarich and the coaching staff. “They made me a better person too. I am going to be a better person in life because of them, and especially Coach Maltarich. They are great guys.”