Andy Amey
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Two weeks ago tonight, West Vigo senior Dylan Aff did not appear to be a happy camper — although it was hard for his teammates and coaches to notice.
The Viking football team was struggling offensively in its season opener against Evansville Harrison despite Aff¹s best efforts, and he'd have let
people know how he felt — if he¹d ever come off the field for an opportunity to do so, that is.
"I'm on everything except [placekicking] and punts," said West Vigo's slotback/safety/kick returner this week. "I stay pretty busy."
As the Vikings head down the long, winding road to Nashville today for their Western Indiana Conference opener at Brown County, Aff is in a better mood.
His team shook off that disappointing opening loss to beat Greencastle last week, a key play in West Vigo's 15-13 win being Aff's 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, and he's ready to do everything he can — literally — to make the night a successful one.
"He's one of the most competitive kids you¹ll ever run across," coach Jeff Cobb said earlier this week when asked about Aff.
"He's a great student, he¹s an on-the-field leader, he's an off-the-field leader — he's the kind of kid you trust."
West Vigo fans no doubt remember Aff¹s older brother Drew, a fiery leader for the Vikings on the basketball court and Dylan's predecessor as the center fielder on the West Vigo baseball team.
Dylan chose football instead of basketball, perhaps because he's a few inches shorter than his older brother — or perhaps because they call fouls
in basketball.
Asked if he had a preference between offense and defense this week, Aff said, "[My preference] used to be more offense, but I'm starting to get the
feel for defense." Opposing ball carriers and receivers who have run into Aff in his safety's role might also be getting some kind of feeling, and not
necessarily a pleasant one.
"I think he's even more competitive than Drew was," is Cobb's opinion.
Offensively, Aff has been a Viking threat since the first time he stepped on the field. Although he generally lines up away from the quarterback, he's
dangerous running the ball as well as catching it.
"He's a slotback, and in our offense that's where you put your most versatile kid," Cobb explained.
Aff just wants to help any way he can, so statistics are not what he plays for. Team success is what drives him.
"So far we've progressed a lot," he said this week. ³We had some first-game jitters, but now we should start rolling. I think we¹ll get better and
better [the rest of the season]."
The amount of his workload — "I try to make sure I get him some rest when I can," Cobb insisted — is not a problem either, he indicated.
"It's my senior year, so I like to get in as much as I can,² Aff said. "I have to be a leader — lead by example, and work as hard as I can every day."
Before his last Viking football season is over, Aff hopes to see his team accomplish several things.
"Our goal every year is to win the WIC," he said, "and we want to go as far as we can in the [postseason] tournament], and have a winning season. We¹ll
try to bounce back from last year [a 4-6 record after a 3-0 start]."
The longer his final high school season lasts, the more Aff will enjoy it.
"Friday night. There's nothing like it," he said with a smile.
