Lebo would love to see what it could do with a big season from Adam Laflin. So far, thanks to injuries to Laflin, the Wolves have gotten, in coach Butch Jones’ words, “pieces of one.”
A big piece came in last Friday’s 38-36 win over Hartford, when Laflin returned from a high ankle sprain with a 14-carry, 134-yard gem of a performance that included three touchdowns. That’s what Laflin can do, and when he does it, the 3-4 Wolves have a much better chance of winning.
“He is a very talented kid,” Jones said. “You know that athletically, he has got quite a bit of potential ability. He really does. He has some athletic ability; it’s just working through the injuries to see if we can tap it, get what we can get out of him. Right now, it’s been a pretty injury-ridden season for us.”
Lebo has battled perhaps more crucial injuries than any other area team, and Laflin’s ankle sprain, first sustained on a kickoff return against Waverly and reinjured against Marmaton Valley, has been perhaps the most key. And in a sign that it just may not be his year, Laflin is now battling a shoulder injury suffered against Hartford when Jaguars defensive lineman Colby Gardner fell on top of him.
Even with the injuries, Laflin’s had a productive year. He’s rushed for 559 yards on 68 carries and has scored 16 touchdowns. His 8.2 yard-per-carry average is among the Lyon County League’s best.
“I don’t know what he could do if he was healthy all the time — I really don’t know,” Jones said.
An athletic 6-foot-4 presence, Laflin has moved around a lot on the other side of the ball, splitting time between linebacker, safety and his primary defensive position, defensive end.
“He’s a big, strong kid that can stretch the play out, and rush the quarterback and help inside,” Jones said. “... That’s why (we play) guessing games as to where he’s the most valuable to you at. We kind of like him at defensive end.”