Southeast Missourian football Player of the Year: Jackson's Mr. Versatility

Blake Peiffer played every position on the offensive line this season -- something he offered to do early this season.

"I told coach that if he needed me anywhere on the line, I could play all [the] positions," Peiffer said.

The coaching staff took advantage of Peiffer's versatility.

The Jackson senior started the Indians' Sept. 12 contest with Gateway Tech at offensive tackle with his regular No. 59 jersey. But during halftime, the coaching staff decided to move him to tight end. So Peiffer was given a new jersey with a new number that made him eligible to catch passes.

Peiffer already had proved he was a top defensive player while starting at linebacker both his sophomore and junior seasons, even leading the Indians in tackles (112) as a junior.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comJackson senior Blake Peiffer is the 2008 Southeast Missourian football Player of the Year.

He continued to play terrific defense again this season, leading Southeast Missouri with 162 tackles. He did it while also starting on the offensive line in more than half of Jackson's games and playing all the positions -- center, guard, tackle and tight end. Because of his versatility and ability to create havoc on defense, Peiffer is the Southeast Missourian football Player of the Year.

Peiffer has received a scholarship offer to play football at Southeast Missouri State next fall and has entertained interest from Iowa.

Peiffer, who helped lead the Indians to their second straight Class 5 state semifinal berth, also plans to send out film to other schools.

But Jackson lost its semifinal to Hazelwood East 33-6, falling one win shy of playing in the Class 5 championship game for the second consecutive year.

"With his intensity and his love of the game and actual understanding of the game, he's been an impact player for us," Jackson coach Van Hitt said.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comJackson linebacker Blake Peiffer makes a tackle during the Indians' game against Parkway North this season.

Peiffer understood the importance of helping out on the offensive line because the line had graduated all of its starters from the 2007 team.

With a young and inexperienced group, Peiffer started the year playing center. He moved to tight end the second game and played tackle in the first half of the third game before moving to tight end. By the final game, Peiffer was starting at left guard.

Peiffer had done his homework on all the positions before the season.

"It wasn't really too tough because from sophomore to junior year I learned all the positions really and knew what they all entailed," Peiffer said.

Peiffer's real passion, however, remained playing defense.

"I just like running around, hitting people," Peiffer said. "That's the main thing."

Peiffer, whose father is a retired NFL center for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins, had four sacks, 17 tackles for loss and one interception, which he returned for his first touchdown at any level of football.

"He kind of sets the standard for [the linebackers]," Hitt said. "They all kind of follow in his footsteps to a degree. ... He loves the contact aspect of football. That's the part that really attracts Blake."

Peiffer said he just felt like a better player this season. He let his instincts take him to the ball more than thinking and reacting.

Peiffer said he could not have asked for a better group of teammates at linebacker that included Ryan Marble and all-Southeast Missourian team selections Drew Bucher and Cole Rodgers.

"All four of us knew what the other ones were capable of and what we were going to do and what are jobs were," Peiffer said. "So it made it easier ... because then you could fly around and do what you had to do out there."

Peiffer had 15 tackles in each of his first two games, 16 tackles in a win over Central and 16 tackles in the regular-season lost to Eureka.

"This year we were kind of competing with each other," Rodgers said. "He got the better of me. He's got a nose for the ball. He knows where the ball is at all the time and he can get to it. That's what you really want to do and he's good at doing it.

"He likes to challenge us before games. On kickoff ... he was lined up right across from me and he was always challenging me, telling me he was going to beat me down the field and stuff. We're always trying to compete and stuff."

Peiffer also is a member of the Jackson wrestling program and track and field program, competing as a thrower. He said he plans to focus on wrestling during the winter. He plans to start to run and lift weights more to prepare for college football when the spring arrives.

"Like I've told everybody, football is basically my life," Peiffer said. "I've loved it since I was a little kid. Right now I just want to get somewhere I can play in the future. Like I said, I'm not really sure where yet. But I just want to find somewhere that fits me right now and just get my chance to play there. I don't really know what kind of expectations people have for me, but I always set high goals for myself."

Peiffer added that he always would reflect back on his career at Jackson positively.

"I told coach Hitt at the end of the year that he was what made me the player that I was," Peiffer said. "And that is what will help me throughout my college career. So like I said, I couldn't have asked to play at a better school, better coaches, better teammates and the atmosphere, too. You couldn't get that anywhere else."