If Kyle Svagerko was paid a dollar for each time he saw fear in an opposing cornerback’s eyes, he’d, well, you know, never be considered poor.
Buckeye fullback Kyle Svagerko (40) looks to block for Trevor Thome on a jet sweep. (RON SCHWANE/GAZETTE)
Touchdowns and personal glory be damned because Svagerko is the ultimate teammate — the unsung hero who does the dirty work so slotbacks Trevor Thome and Nathan Scott can run to daylight and quarterback Nathan Polidori can throw bombs, the one who never complains, the one who couldn’t be nicer off the field but also couldn’t be more physical on it.
The 2015 Buckeye team will forever be known for a 10-0 record in the regular season. The jet sweep also will be prominent in the memory bank, and that play wouldn’t be possible without bulldozer No. 40 burying defenders into the football version of hell — on their back and completely worthless.
The respectful, well-spoken senior, whose Twitter profile picture is of him lead blocking for Scott, apologizes for nothing when it comes to his philosophy.
“(My job on) the jet sweep? Just kill the corner,” Svagerko said. “That’s the only thing I have to do. If I do that, we’re 10, 15 yards and probably a touchdown — mostly touchdowns, you know?
“That’s my job. On the jet, the only thing on my mind is, ‘Kill the corner and knock him down.’ If I pancake him, our guy is running. He’s running for lots of yards. That’s my job, so when I complete it like that, there’s no better feeling.”
Old-school, I-formation fullback in a new-school, spread offense is the best way to describe the 5-foot-8, 183-pounder. He’ll never line up anywhere other than next to shotgun quarterback Polidori and, barring a drastic surprise, won’t lug the pigskin Friday when the third-seeded Bucks host sixth-seeded West Geauga (9-1) in the first round of the Division III, Region 7 playoffs.
Svagerko is more than cool with that. His past explains why, as he was the right guard when the Buckeye Jets (Jaret Yohman, Scott and Bruce Barnby) played the Buckeye Jaguars (Thome, Polidori, Brad Calta, Jack Schroeder, Justin Lowry) in the 2009 Brunswick Blue Devils Youth Football championship game.
To say Svagerko was born for the fullback role is the understatement of the century, as he has thrown the lead block on 24 of the team’s 50 offensive touchdowns this season — 10 on jet sweeps, three on isolation runs and 11 as personal protector for Polidori.
“He plows into everyone as I run by,” Scott said. “That’s Kyle personality. He’s the kind of guy who will do anything for someone he cares for. He cares for all of us, and he’ll do anything for this team.”
“I feel like some people could interpret it wrong, like, ‘Oh, all this kid does is block like another lineman,’ Svagerko added. “But I feel like this is my kind of job. I like to hit people, and our team does a good job of glorifying everyone because if I make a good block on someone, it’s not like I’m going to go unnoticed. Everyone gives me credit for it and everyone pats me on the back. I love that.”
The reward was a one-man drive against Wellington in Week 6.
With the Bucks up 34-0 to start the second half, offensive coordinator Bill Turner decided the time had come for the big dog to eat, and Svagerko’s first carry was a counter trey right in which pulling linemen Hunter Gray and Jalin Brock made a massive hole for a 43-yard gain.
That paled in comparison to the next play, as “Beefcake” ran the same play to the left, patiently waited for the hole and cut right up the field. A safety was waiting at the 8-yard line, so Svagerko lowered his helmet, drilled him squarely between the eyes, spun out of the desperation tackle attempt and rumbled into the end zone without any emotion.
All-Ohioan Thome about lost it in excitement, jumping on Svagerko’s shoulders in front of the goal post after the two-play, 71-yard, all-Svagerko sequence.
“The second run when I scored, I was like, ‘Oh, man, this is amazing,”’ said a grinning Svagerko, who only has three carries for 3 yards since that TD. “It kind of made me ball-hungry, but I had to put that aside and save it for the jet sweeps.”
It’s easy to forget Svagerko is a hard-hitting outside linebacker, too.
Life as strong-side linebacker next to Yohman wasn’t what Svagerko expected after playing defensive line for his entire previous football life. However, the then-new coaching staff felt his talents would be better served elsewhere, so Svagerko switched positions.
Last season was a bit of an adjustment, as Svagerko sometimes was caught out of position but still posted 68 tackles (4 for loss). He’s been a quick study, however, and now teams with Yohman and All-Gazette pick Dustin McCullough to form the most intelligent corps in the Patriot Athletic Conference.
Svagerko leads the team with 10½ tackles for loss (6½ sacks) and brought the “wow” factor last week when he unloaded on Brookside standout Dudley Taw for a forced fumble that was recovered by McCullough.
This comes as no surprise to anyone who’s known him.
“With Kyle, he was just one of those kids that was a quiet kid except when it came to hitting drills — then he tired to kill all his teammates,” youth coach Steve Watkins said. “We really had to really watch what we did with contact during the week because you couldn’t have him killing Jaret Yohman and Nate Scott.”
Buckeye enters tonight as the highest-scoring team in Medina County history at 43.1 points per game. The Bucks also haven’t allowed more than seven points since beating Rocky River 42-28 in Week 2.
They all know who selflessly helps them put up such gaudy numbers.
“He’s a throwback,” coach Mark Pinzone said. “He’s definitely a throwback.”