Reid Messer has not always gotten his kicks performing on the gridiron.
“I was a soccer player growing up and all I knew was that my brother (offensive lineman-linebacker Connor Messer) played (football),” Reid recalled. “I first started playing in the fifth grade and really knew nothing about football.”
However, he proved to be a quick learner of the game.
“There are a few big influencers in my career and in no real order are my brother (2021 graduate), (quarterback-defensive back) Alex Stirn (2020 graduate), and (wide receiver-defensive back) Logan Koehne (2021 graduate),” explained Messer. “Alex was the one upperclassman that really took me under his wing and showed me the way. Logan helped me learn how to play safety and understand the game from a scouting and knowledge standpoint, and Connor taught me how to be tough in every aspect of life, including football.”
All of this helpful advice has paid off tremendously for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior running back-defensive back as he helped lead North Decatur to its first (Class 1A) regional championship on November 11.
In the 29-14 triumph over No. 6 Sheridan, Reid carried the ball 31 times for 165 yards with a touchdown and caught two passes for 44 yards. Just for good measure, he added five tackles, along with an interception to preserve the monumental triumph.
The No. 3 Chargers (13-0) hope to continue their magical post-season run this Friday (November 18) when they host top-ranked and defending Class 1A state champion Indianapolis Lutheran (13-0) for the southern semistate title.
Next up for the survivor is a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium to battle No. 2 Adams Central (13-0) or No. 4 North Judson (12-1) for the state championship on Saturday, November 26.
The fact the Chargers are undefeated at this point in the season for the first time is no surprise to Messer, who has compiled 213 carries for 1,524 yards with 35 touchdowns, 33 receptions for 537 yards with four scores, and a punt return for another tally.
“We’ve…
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