Skyview football: Ryan Rambo profile

In late April, I interviewed Skyline (Idaho) noseguard Ryan Rambo. We talked about the 2011 season and his athletic career in general. This is the article that will appear in the Skyview football yearbook.

Ryan Rambo:

His improvement helped the defense

spark Hawks to become a 4A power

By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 

            Ryan Rambo started the 2011 football season as an undersized defensive lineman. By the end of the  year, he and Kody Odom were named the team’s top defensive players and Rambo was Skyview’s only all-state selection.

            In-between, there was a lot of growth, but he never grew bigger than his 6-foot, 235-pound frame.
            “I wasn’t the biggest guy,” he said. “I dealt with guys bigger than me, but I used my speed.”
            Rambo’s success started his junior year. As a senior, he was part of Skyview’s athletic defensive line. He said the Hawks’ front seven this year was the team’s strength. As the noseguard, Rambo anchored the line, but had plenty of help.
            “It was a great year. The games were the best,” he said. “Going out Friday night, the (stadium) atmosphere was great. We were all hyped up and ready to play.”
            Rambo said his best successes started against Mountain Home. He had been saddled with a wrist injury and did not believe he had played to his potential. He was also told by the Hawks’ coaches that Mountain Home’s offense would provide a major threat.
            “We were making all the tackles in the backfield,” Rambo said, smiling. Our linebackers went to (assistant) coach (Josh) Bravo and asked him to hold us back back.
            “On the very first play, I almost got a sack but he (Mountain Home QB Jake Hennessey) got it off just before I hit him. He knew I was there the rest of the game, though. I hit him pretty good.”
            Rambo finished the year as one of the team’s top tacklers, and recorded 1.5 sacks. He said he was double-teamed in most games, which helped free teammates. He said it was pleasure playing with fellow lineman Cameron Cochems, who improved dramatically during the year and helped Skyview’s defense improve.
            “We could stop the run really easily,” he said. “At the end of the year, we were tight and good.”
            Skyview finished 7-3 and lost to Blackfoot in the first round of the 4A playoffs. Despite the early departure, many Hawks felt they may have been the second-best 4A team. Late in the year, they won three straight close games against SIC contenders, which set them apart.
            “Playing those close games was a great experience,” Rambo said. “We always had a full stadium and everyone was excited.”
            Afterward, Rambo joined his teammates in a Skyview tradition of singing the school fight song to the fans.
            “The coaches wanted us to get the student body involved, so we would sing with them,” he said. “We all knew the song and, whenever we won, we would run to the crowd and start singing.”
            Rambo appreciated it most after Skyview’s 7-0 win over rival Columbia. He had been injured (again) and didn’t play the week before vs. Middleton. Against the Wildcats, the defense gave up just 186 yards and forced four turnovers.
"After watching the film, I am even more impressed with the defense," said coach David Young. "That was the most solid, most collective effort of the season."
            “That was a big game because I played football with a lot of them (the Wildcats) in Optimist league,” Rambo said. “The high point our year was beating them because they were supposed to be the ‘chosen one’ since we were freshmen. This year, when it came down to it, we had the most heart and we beat them.
                “I played with the center on their team (Hayden Paul) since third grade. I’ll never forget at the end of the game, he told me how good and fast I was.”
            Like the rest of the Hawks, Rambo was disappointed at how the season ended. He said Skyview didn’t play to its potential in its 28-27 win over Bishop Kelly that secured the SIC title and then suffered a letdown in the first half against eventual state champion Blackfoot.
            “They just overpowered us, but in the second half, we were all clicking,” he said. “If we hadn’t had that first half, we might have won that game.”
            After football, Rambo played against 5A opponents in an all-star game at Eagle High School and also earned a $500 athletic/academic scholarship. In the spring, he competed in the shot put and discus with the Skyview track team. He said he would likely attend Boise State in the fall, but was also considering Idaho State and possibly trying out for football.