Maddock Senior Ben Backstrom made his first touchdown in Benson County’s football game against Tri County on September 25. What is somewhat unusual about this feat is that Backstrom plays nose guard or defensive tackle. In those positions, he is not usually the player that makes the touchdowns.

However, for one play, Coach Mitch Strand made the decision to play Backstrom as a running back and Backstrom came through with a touchdown.

“That was pretty fun,” said Backstrom, who loves football.

He admits that he is built smaller than many football players and isn’t the fastest runner on the team.

“I didn’t think I had gotten it,” he explained.

He said he lay there for a minute while thinking to himself, “I didn’t make it.” Then as he got up he saw some teammates holding their hands over their heads as they do when a touchdown has been made. Backstrom realized that he had actually made the touchdown.

Backstrom didn’t think he would play football other than at recess in grade school so he didn’t even go out for the sport in seventh grade. In eighth grade, he decided he might as well try it.

“It’s about the only sport where you can run full speed and actually hit people,” said Backstrom laughing.

He has been playing for five years. He knows his strengths and he knows his weaknesses.

“I’m not too much of a goal setter, when I go in I try to play my best,” he said.

Leeds and Maddock joined together this year for football. So, Benson County is his team. The team has smaller goals like running a certain number of yards during a particular game to making it to the larger goal of making it to playoffs.

It has been a struggle for BC this year. In order to make the playoffs they will need to beat St. John, a game they will play on Friday, October 8. However, North Star needs to beat St. John, as well. Then there would be a tie-breaker game between North Star and Benson County to determine which team goes to the playoffs.

“From here on out we have to win all the games,” said Backstrom.

Incidentally, Backstrom plays with a prosthetic leg since he lost it in an accident in the fifth grade. He has proven that playing the game is all in the attitude.

His parents are Dennis and Priscilla Backstrom, Maddock.