THE FRONT ROW WITH BRUCE BOURQUIN: Friday, Nov. 6, 2015

It must be nice to be a coach’s kid, to come home and always have someone to come to when you’re a bit stumped on, for example, playing a 3-4 defensive end a year after being a 4-3 outside linebacker.

For St. Maries High senior running back and middle linebacker Chase Truscott, he has two sources. Tom Truscott is an excitable defensive coordinator on the Lumberjacks’ football team. Bill Katy was an all-Big Sky Conference player for the University of Idaho on the offensive and defensive lines. Katy was kind of a big deal in his day and tries to impart his wisdom upon his 5-foot-10, 220-pound grandson.

BUT FOR all the football — and basketball and baseball — Chase is immersed in, it’s something that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with sports that is pretty neat.

Although he’s undecided for now on where to attend college next year, two he’s been looking at are Rocky Mountain College in Billings and University of Montana Western in Dillon. Wherever he ends up going, he wants to major in education and put it to good use.

Last year, Truscott and his boys basketball teammates played one play with Xan, a student with special needs. Meeting him had a big impact on Truscott’s decision to become a special needs teacher in the future.

“I want to teach those who have been an influence on me,” Chase said. “I met him and others and I fell in love with them. They’re fun, they feel just like everyone else. My friends and I are very protective of them. Both are top-notch schools for teaching special ed.”

Needless to say, Truscott’s coach, Craig Tefft, has relied on his team captain, a four-year player and three-year starter.

“He’s our emotional leader,” Tefft said. “What I like about him is his humility. He’s a humble kid, he’ll accept whatever role he’s given. He’s one of your kids on your team that when he says something, the kids listen. When things go bad, he’ll get us right. He’s the heart of our defense. On offense, he’s our lead blocker.”

Tefft said he’s heard some cool stories from Vandal land regarding Katy.

“A funny story is one time his head was so big that they took a motorcycle helmet and screwed on a face mask,” Tefft said. “I’m not sure they’d allow that nowadays, but that’s what they did. He grew up in Fernwood, (22 miles) out of St. Maries. He doesn’t miss a game; he gives him some tips.”

St. Maries (8-1) has enjoyed a run and last Saturday, it played its first home playoff game in 24 years, topping off New Plymouth in the first round of the state 2A playoffs, 35-0.

TRUSCOTT ENJOYS the fact he helped the Lumberjacks get better over his time there. As a junior last season, St. Maries went 6-4 and reached the state 2A quarterfinals, losing 23-6 to Orofino after beating New Plymouth, 36-28. As a sophomore, Truscott saw his team go 2-7 and during his freshman year, the Lumberjacks lost a state play-in game, again to New Plymouth.

“It’s a great experience to know as a freshman, we won some games,” Truscott said. “We gradually got better. To win a state playoff game that we had not had in 30 years, that was the highlight of my life and sports career.”

Good ol’ dad and grandpa are always there to help Chase get even better.

“My grandpa did what he did and has always said ‘Play mad’,” Chase said. “My dad gave us pointers, he’s been my coach since I was in third grade.”

This season, Truscott has 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, one interception and four fumble recoveries. Over the past three season, Truscott has 156 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

A huge lesson for Truscott came on Oct. 9, in a 27-12 loss at home to Grangeville.

“It was on senior night,” Truscott said. “I think it was my best memory, because it was an eye opener. I think going into the game, we were a little overconfident. We played great, but they were better. It was the first time in a while anyone punched us in the mouth. Sometimes you understand that’s the best thing that can happen to you.”

Truscott also loves the outdoors. He likes hunting and fishing, mostly in Clarkia, 30 miles south of St. Maries.

If Truscott ends up becoming a special education teacher, or whatever he becomes, and does it half as well as he’s played, he’ll end up being a superstar teacher.

Bruce Bourquin is a sports writer at The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2013, via e-mail at bbourquin@cdapress.com or via Twitter @bourq25