For Ian Burnet, football is about much more than wins and losses—it’s about the relationships he builds along the way. “I can’t pin down a favorite memory, but I can definitely remember that most of my favorite memories playing football was eating team dinners with everybody before games and just having a ton of fun,” he said. Those simple moments, shared with teammates, stand out the most.

This fall, Burnet has set clear personal standards for himself. “Some of my personal goals this season are to mainly be a better leader to all the guys on the team and be more of a positive encouragement to all the guys,” he said. Leadership, both on and off the field, is what he values most.

That leadership has been fueled by the energy around him. “I was very encouraged by a lot of these younger classmen working their tails off all year to get better and I was amazed by several guys in our first week of practice when I got to see all their hard work really show,” Burnet shared.

As a senior who plays defensive end and left guard, Burnet has noticed real growth within the program. “Well, I believe some of our biggest improvements is definitely rallying to the ball on defense. I also have seen a lot more players staying focused and doing their jobs and trusting that everyone else will do the same,” he said.

That focus ties directly into the team’s aspirations. “One of our main team goals this year is to definitely make it to playoffs and really surprise some people who have counted us out. Some ways I’m working to achieve this goal is doing the little things like trying to lead by example in practice and not only offering encouragement to everyone, but holding each other accountable,” Burnet explained.

Looking ahead, he knows what kind of mark he hopes to leave. “I don’t want my legacy to be the district championships, or the playoff runs I got to be a part of. I want to be remembered as somebody who really stepped up as a leader and a friend when people needed me,” he said.