Fieldcrest's Mason Faulk named The Times Football Player of the Year

We've all heard the phrase "a well-oiled machine," but even a highly-maintained piece of equipment needs a power source to make it go.

The Fieldcrest Knights football team was equivalent to a navy blue and silver bulldozer for much of the past season, rolling past its nine regular-season opponents and then three postseason challengers before falling to eventual Class 2A state champion Sterling Newman in the semifinals to finish 12-1.

Along the journey, the fuel that made the Knights go came from the engine known as Mason Faulk.

The Fieldcrest senior offensive left guard and interior defensive lineman (who played anywhere between a nose and 3-technique) was a four-year starter on both sides of the ball, three-time Heart of Illinois All-Conference selection and First Team All-State pick this past fall.

His powerful efforts stood out above the rest of the area's gridiron players, earning him The Times 2019 Football Player of the Year.

"Without question Mason fueled us on both sides of the ball this season," said Fieldcrest head coach Derek Schneeman. "I really feel he was not only our best player, but the overall best player on the field in every game we played, to be totally honest.

"We had overall really solid line play, but on offense when we were in short-yardage situations, just needing a couple of yards to move the chains, we were definitely going to the left — for the most part because that was Mason's side, and we just knew we'd get what we needed.

"We face so many teams that are run-oriented, so to have him take up multiple blockers on every single play, it just freed up so many opportunities for other linemen or linebackers to make plays.

"When you really watch the film, break it down and really see what was going on in the interior of the line, you see just how dominant he was on both sides of the ball."

While season goals for other players may be rushing for a certain number of yards or breaking the school record for touchdown passes or leading the team in receptions, linemen aren't normally driven by statistics. That was true for Faulk as well.

"My goal coming into the season was to beat whoever was in front of me each and every play," said Faulk. "As a lineman, really you just want to outman the guy you're going against on every snap. My thought is, if I can make as many tackles or pancakes as possible in any given game, that's going to give my team a better chance to win."

On the season, the 6-2, 285-pound Faulk helped the Knights offense pile up 363.7 yards and 31.9 points per outing. He also recorded a team-leading 81 tackles, including 49 solo stops, as part of a defense that allowed less than 100 yards rushing a game and just 9.2 points.

"I knew I was going to be double-teamed on defense almost every play, but I took that as just another challenge, and really it was fun," said Faulk. "It just made any stop I was able to make that much more exciting, knowing that I was able find a way to make a couple guys look at each other like, 'What happened? Why can't we stop this guy?'

"Really, in the end though, it comes down to each guy on the team doing his job, and we felt if we all did that, good results would follow."

The Fieldcrest season was filled to the brim with highlights and memories to say the least.

There was a Week 4 triumph over defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley that snapped the Falcons' 31-game winning streak; a 34-7 win over rival El Paso-Gridley to clinch a perfect regular season while wrapping up an unbeaten HOIC Large Division crown; and three consecutive home playoff wins over West Carroll, Elgin St. Edward and Clifton Central.

But for Faulk, it was the Knights' first defensive play against Eureka in Week 8, an eventual 21-17 Fieldcrest victory, that stands out as tops in his mind.

"The highlight for me this season, I would have to say, would be the first offensive play Eureka had against us," Faulk said. "We wanted to make a statement and grab the momentum. They ran a play to the outside, and I was able to slip off the double-team block and make the tackle in the backfield for a loss. Everyone was so pumped, and I feel just that one play carried us the rest of the game. It really set the tone."

Further proof of Faulk's work ethic? He spends his summers working for a concrete company in Minonk while also teaming up with a few friends in a lawn care company for the past six years. That to go along with preparing for the football season and working in the weight room.

He said he may be done with football, and for now is planning on continuing working while also attending a community college.

He said he hopes the fact that an award like this has been given to a lineman over anyone else will be a motivational tool for the younger football players who will eventually don a Fieldcrest Knights uniform.

"Receiving recognition and awards as a lineman is special to me," Faulk said. "I think every kid growing up sees themselves as the star running back or all-state quarterback, but this shows those younger kids that are in youth football or seventh- and eighth-graders a year or two away from high school that being a lineman can be just as fun and rewarding."