Bader’s play speaks loudly for McQueen

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

To fully understand the dominance of the 2000 McQueen High defense, you might try talking to coaches and players from Elko. Or Douglas, Reno, Churchill County, Reed, Galena or Wooster.

All seven teams were shut out by the Lancers this season. And how did McQueen's other seven opponents fare? They combined for 73 points, an average of just 10.4 points per game.

That's not a bad recipe for success, particularly considering the Lancers' offense generated a whopping 615 points on the other side of the football.

For McQueen, it proved to be a formula for perfection this year. With their defense leading the assault, the Lancers rolled to a 14-0 record culminating in the 4A state title.

The captain of that defensive unit, senior linebacker Ryan Bader, has been selected the Sun's 2000 State Defensive Player of the Year.

"We take pride in our defense," McQueen coach Ken Dalton said. "You have a chance to compete in every game if you play good defense. And when we needed a big play on defense, people looked to (Bader)."

Bader, a strong, physical athlete with an individual state wrestling title on his resume, finished his final season with outstanding numbers, racking up 168 tackles -- including 27 for losses -- and 14 sacks. He broke five school records, including those for total tackles, assisted tackles and sacks.

As much as for his own hard-nosed play, Bader earned this year's award by elevating the overall play of the entire defensive unit, his true value as a veteran leader.

"He's a quiet guy, not a big talker. But once he gets on the field he's a great leader," McQueen coach Ken Dalton said. "He has this great respect with just his presence."

From the moment Bader first stepped into a varsity game two years ago, his coach knew he would be a factor.

"We brought him up in a big game against Reed, and in his first series he intercepted a pass," Dalton recalled. "He had a real knack for the ball, he was very physical, and no one intimidated him, even as a young kid."

The following season, Dalton anointed Bader his quarterback on defense, giving him the responsibility of calling plays and checking assignments. The Lancers made it to the state championship game but lost the title to Cimarron-Memorial, giving Bader and his teammates something to think about heading into their senior year.

"That was our whole motivation," Bader said. "Last year we got there but we didn't finish it. This year, we wanted to finish it."

Adhering to a strict team-first philosophy, Bader helped make sure the Lancers would finish the job in 2000, posting a final 35-0 shutout of Wooster in the finale to punctuate an outstanding campaign.

"We're not individual oriented. Our whole defense is one unit," Bader said. "We pursue the ball and we always wrap up. We all worked together."