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Two MVPs dripping intensity

HIGH SCHOOLS: Black Hills' Peterson, Timberline's Swanstrom lead 2009 pack

GAIL WOOD; The Olympian | • Published November 26, 2009

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As a running back, it's Cody Peterson's job to score touchdowns.

As a linebacker, it’s Dylan Swanstrom’s job to keep opponents out of the end zone.

Different jobs. Different talents. Same results – excellence.

Peterson, a three-year starter for Black Hills High School, scored a combined 45 touchdowns in the past two seasons. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry.

Swanstrom, a three-year starter at Timberline, had 265 tackles the past two seasons. He averaged 11 tackles per game.

Both are league MVPs. And they are The Olympian’s co-Players of the Year for football.

“Cody has a never-quit attitude,” Black Hills coach Jack Zilla said. “He plays just as hard on his first carry as he does on his last. He gives it all he has.”

With the same intensity, Swanstrom was the leader on a stubborn Timberline defense that allowed just 10.6 points per game during a 10-1 season.

“Dylan’s the prototypical middle linebacker,” Timberline coach Nick Mullen said. “He’s missing a front tooth. He loves to smack people. He listens to AC/DC. Old rock stuff. He’s a throwback.”

Their remarkable seasons – Peterson rushed for 2,138 yards and Swanstrom had 136 tackles to lead their teams to the playoffs – came after both were expected to miss their season openers with knee injuries. Peterson tore his meniscus on the first day of football practice at a June mini-camp. Swanstrom tore his meniscus in a single-car accident in late May.

Peterson had surgery. Swanstrom didn’t need surgery and rehabbed.

On the first day of two-a-day practices in August, Peterson got the doctor’s approval to turn out. Swanstrom got clearance in late July.

“Psychologically, there was some stuff I had to get over,” Peterson said about his knee injury. “I favored it for a while. I was pretty rusty for the first few weeks. But I got better week by week.”

In Peterson’s first game, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior rushed for 163 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 38-9 win against Nathan Hale. Yet he felt tentative. After the game, his knee was swollen and hurt.

“I had to ice it after the first couple of games,” Peterson said. “It was just something I had to deal with.”

Swanstrom had a season-high 16 tackles in a win against Capital, and he didn’t finish with fewer than 10 tackles in a game this fall. At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Swanstrom, who runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds, was an offensive coordinator’s worst nightmare, often blowing up plays with big hits.

He wasn’t always so intense.

“My sophomore year, I was timid,” Swanstrom said. “Coach Mullen is really a nice guy to talk to, but you can see the intensity. That rubbed off on me. I saw what I needed to do to be successful.”

Swanstrom’s favorite player is Brian Urlacher, the Chicago Bears’ All-Pro middle linebacker.

Peterson has applied to the Naval Academy. A Navy coach called Peterson two weeks ago and told him he wanted him as his fullback. Next month, Peterson has an interview with Congressman Brian Baird to get the needed nomination to the academy. Peterson has also attended a few University of Washington games as a recruit, and the Huskies running backs coach called him to talk.

Swanstrom has been recruited by Eastern Washington and Central Washington but has not received a scholarship offer. Swanstrom, who has a 3.2 GPA, is hoping to play college football.

“He’s the best linebacker I’ve coached,” Mullen said. “He’s got it all.”

Whether it’s in the classroom or on the football field, Peterson strives for excellence. He has a 3.8 GPA and is taking three advanced placement classes. He’s taken to heart what his coach often tells his players.

“He says it’s OK to be great,” Peterson said. “He mentions a lot of people settle for mediocrity, and that often gets rewarded in this world. Everything I try, I try my best at. I believe anything worth doing is worth doing your best at. That’s just what I do.”

Peterson and Swanstrom started playing football in second grade. They had similar beginnings – both played center. Within a couple of years, Peterson moved to running back. Swanstrom played linebacker through middle school and switched to defensive end as a sophomore before moving back to linebacker last year.

“I love playing linebacker,” Swanstrom said. “You get a running start at people.”

Both players benefitted from weight training, which transformed them from beanpole underclassmen. Peterson can bench press 300 pounds and squat 480 pounds. Swanstrom can bench press 350 pounds and squat more than 500.

“He’s a freak in the weight room,” Mullen said about his all-league linebacker.

Peterson has been a workhorse for Black Hills. In three seasons, he rushed for 5,808 yards and averaged 31 carries a game. In his last high school game, Peterson carried the ball 40 times for 211 yards in a 14-7 loss to Lynden in the playoffs.

“They tell me carrying the ball 30 times a game is like being in a car wreck,” Zilla said. “So on Mondays, he’s stiffening around. But by Tuesday, he’s ready to go.”

Swanstrom also is a gamer, playing through pain.

“He has a high pain threshold,” Mullen said. “He’s a tough kid.”

With similar toughness and commitment, Swanstrom and Peterson led their teams to the playoffs, capping remarkable high school careers.

Gail Wood: 360-754-5432

gwood@theolympian.com