Football Player of the Year, Offense | Balliette, Braden River went on historic run to state semis

If Chase Balliette has a flaw, it's that he is a perfectionist.

It has enabled the Braden River linebacker to excel on the football field, but at times he needs to be reminded that everyone makes mistakes.

"We were going through the season and he hadn't missed a tackle until Week 6. When it happened, he got down on himself," Braden River head coach Curt Bradley said. "I had to tell him there is not a linebacker in America that hasn't missed a tackle at any level. He is the type of kid that has such a good heart and felt like he let everybody down."

Any mistakes Balliette made this season were few and far between. It's a reason he has been selected the 2015 Defensive Player of The Year.

Balliette was the the catalyst for a Braden River team that excelled in all areas of defense. He was in the program as a freshmen when the team went 1-9 and was a catalyst in Braden River's run to the 7A state semifinal this year and back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.

"I am a very prideful person. People always tell me it's OK if you are not perfect and I have a hard time with that," Balliette said. "I also long snap and, if I mess up, it hurts everybody. I am a motivated person and an emotional person. If something goes wrong, it gets me down."

Few things went wrong the last two years for the Braden River football team and Balliette was a key reason. He played inside and outside linebacker, long-snapped and spent some time at receiver and running back.

"Chase was the one linebacker for us who was interchangeable," Bradley said. "Against the speed teams that were more perimeter run-oriented, he would play the outside. Against Plant City (in the region final) he did a great job of setting the edge and nobody could get outside of him. Against some of the more physical teams, we would move him inside because he was a bigger body. He knew the defense and could play any of our four linebacker positions. You tell him one thing and you never have to tell him again."

Balliette led the Pirates with 22.5 tackles for loss and was second on the team with four sacks. In a testament to his speed and knowledge of the game, he had seven pass breakups and added three forced fumbles.

"I feel more natural playing inside because I like hitting people more than I like covering people, but I did whatever the coach wanted," Balliette said. "There is less contact on the outside, but you have to move around more and you don't get to make the big plays as much."

Heading into his sophomore season, Balliette was hampered with an injured back. He didn't start the first game but was inserted in the first quarter and started every game for the next three years.

"I am so proud of how far he has come that allowed him to move out of the shadow of his big brother (Marcus), who played linebacker for us," Bradley said. "He played with his brother his sophomore year and made his own way the last two years, which was awesome for him."

Balliette wants to play in college and is looking at options. The 6-foot, 208-pounder listed offers from Augustana, Cumberland and Warner universities.

He is a natural leader, which made playing linebacker so appealing to Balliette, who doesn't turn 17 until May.

"At linebacker you have to make everybody around you better. If a defensive linemen messes up, you have to make them right," Balliette said. "If they go in the wrong gap, you have to make everyone around you right. I love the leadership role and I absolutely love helping people and giving them hype."

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Football Player of the Year, Offense | Balliette, Braden River went on historic run to state semis ."