The tall number 54 can be easily picked out from the stands, but Zach Behrend is quite the original character. He has two loves in life. One is the hard hitting, strenuous game of football, and the other is the moving, elegant art of theatre. As he is known for both of his pastimes, let’s take a look inside of this talented teen’s life and see what we can find.

AT: How long have you been playing football for Tom Bean High School?

Booward: I’ve been playing football for T.B.H.S. for four years now, and I must say that it feels great to graduate through football.

AT: Was there any outside influence when you decided to have a go at playing football?

Booward: Originally, my parents wanted me to do an outside sport in order to stay active and to keep fit. I tried other sports in the past, but football was the only one that clicked. I eventually just fell in love with the game.

AT: Now that you’ve been involved in it for quite some time, what would you say is the most difficult part about being a student athlete?

Booward: It would definitely be balancing the student and the athlete. You have the student part, which involves behaving in class and acting right so as to have a good influence on those who look up to you. As an athlete, there is physical training, but you have to study as well. Some people don’t realize it, but you have to do it in order to prepare yourself for the next game.

AT: Is there anything special that you have to do, as sort of a routine, on game days?

Booward: Usually, on game days, we are really pumped up from the pep rally. It’s traditional for us to have a team meal so we can get some extra carbs and focus on the game so we can get done what needs to be done. After that, we go to the field house so we can sit back, relax, and think about our assignments as far as who to block, where to run, who to throw to, and things like that. We just sit there and focus on the game, and that gets us pumped and ready to go.

For me, I have to just clear my mind of everything. I do that by listening to heavy metal music, and that just helps me focus. I just turn on my music, usually don’t talk to anybody, and just forget about everything else but the game.

AT: You’ve been playing football for four years now, so you have obviously created some memories. What is the best feeling that you have had playing football for Tom Bean?

Booward: The best feeling I have ever had happened two years ago in a game against Howe. I was on the defensive line, I penetrated their line, and I went back and nailed their quarter back. I mean, I really popped him, and I heard this, "Ufff!" as he went down. The ball shot out of his hands and straight up into the air, and I got the sack. That’s probably got to be the best feeling I have ever had. Getting that sack was pretty exciting.

AT: When you are on the field, is there anything or anyone that keeps you working hard and doing your best?

Booward: Yeah, that would have to be my teammates. If one of us isn’t working hard, we’re all not working hard. We have to build each other up, and not bring each other down. If we’re not there to pick each other up, no one is. That’s what makes us a team. We have to stay together, play together. Essentially, we are brothers. Now, we may not like each other, but on the field we love and protect each other. If we can successfully do that, then we will win our games.

AT: Besides football, another thing you are particularly known for is your performances on stage and in theatrics. Is there anything you can take from theatre that is the same or similar in comparison to football?

Booward: The relationship between theatre and football is the team effort that both require. In football if your team doesn’t work together, then nothing works. Your line doesn’t block, the quarter back gets tackled, people don’t have that chemistry, and it just doesn’t work out. Same thing with theatrics where you have a cast, or a team, and if not everybody does their part or cover everyone else, then the play is just horrible. What you can use from theatre and move to athletics is your self-confidence that builds up in theatre. You know you can do something, and you start to build everyone else up. You gain more self-respect and self-discipline, and you can help your teammates achieve the same thing.

AT: Last question. A lot of people are branding this year as a big one as far as building the team and program back to playoff standards. Although you guys are not written off, playoffs are a high expectation for this year, but might come in the near future. Do you believe that playoffs can and will return for Tom Bean during the next few years?

Booward: Yeah. If the coaching staff stays the same, keeps giving their attitude; they’re giving their 100%, doing everything to the best of their ability, so they are doing everything right on their side of the street. Players are starting to accept it and apply it a lot better, and that’s being shown through how much our defense has changed this year and our offense. Granted, it’s not where it needs to be, but it’s getting there. Week by week we have improved and I see that as a sign of a program on the rise. I believe that, yes, this program will go to the playoffs in the near future, and possibly win a title.

Those are certainly some strong last words, but a sign of confidence from a senior player is nice to hear. So, we wish good luck to Zach "Booward" Behrend as he finishes out his senior year playing the sport he loves, and we also say, "Break a leg", as he continues his success in theatre.