Sports

Hononegah Freshman Jack Young Earns All-State Honors as an RRL Junior Indian, Impresses Coaches with Relentless Play

Hononegah freshman Football Player Jack Larson finished his youth playing career by earning an All-State Honor.

Jack Larson with his Coaches at the All-State Wisconsin Football Game at Carroll University

Hononegah freshman Football Player Jack Larson doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold of a dominant defensive force. He’s not the biggest kid on the field. He’s not the loudest. But ask anyone who has coached him, played with him, or—unfortunately—played against him, and you’ll hear the same thing:

Jack Young is a problem.

The kind of problem offensive coordinators lose sleep over.

Jack Larson playing defense in the All-State Wisconsin Football Game at Carroll University.

The kind of problem that earned him a spot in lthe Wisconsin All-State Youth Football Game at Carroll University, where he not only held his own among some of the Midwest’s top players.

Jack’s football journey began in third grade, first with Macktown Warriorsnd then with the RRL Junior Indians, where he spent the rest of his youth career. What started as “trying it out because all my friends liked it,” quickly became a passion. “I love hitting people,” Jack said with a grin during our interview. “I love helping out my team.”

His mother, who serves on the Junior Indians board, describes him simply: “Small but mighty.”

Jack Larson with his parents at the All-State Wisconsin Football Game at Carroll University.

A Coach’s Perspective: ‘I Don’t Want to Play Against This Kid Ever Again’

Few people know Jack’s game better than RRL Junior Indians coach Ryan Aulenbacher, who first noticed him not while coaching him—but while trying to stop him.

“I noticed what a good football player he was when he was a 6th grader,” Aulenbacher said. “He came through on a middle blitz and blew the play up… then picked off a pop pass. I’m like, who is this kid?”

By seventh grade, Jack was wreaking havoc on Aulenbacher’s game plans.

“He really took my lunch money the whole day,” he said. “Everything I tried to do, he counteracted. He had a natural nose for the ball.”

Eventually, Aulenbacher had seen enough.

“I said, I can’t play against this kid anymore. I need him on my team.”

When the Junior Indians redrafted their teams the following season, Jack was a priority.

And once he arrived?

He was everything they hoped for—and more.

“He only has one gear, and that’s Jack’s gear, which is 100%,” Aulenbacher said. “We’d have to dial him back in practice so he wasn’t killing our guys.”

In games, Jack’s instincts took over.

Jack Larson with his team at the All-State Wisconsin Football Game at Carroll University

“He shut down one whole half of the field,” Aulenbacher said. “If another linebacker made a mistake, Jack would fill the void instantly. He has tremendous range for his size.”

And then came the line that every parent dreams of hearing:

“There’s no mistaking—you’re going to know who he is within the first few minutes of any football game he plays in.”

All-State Weekend: Confidence Found, Doubts Erased

Jack was originally selected for the Illinois All-State team, but when that game was unexpectedly canceled, he was offered spots with either Wisconsin or Indiana. His family chose Wisconsin for the shorter commute.

He arrived nervous—surrounded by kids towering over him—but quickly realized he belonged.

“I was keeping up with everyone,” Jack said. “I was surprised.”

His mother added that the experience changed him.

“His confidence going into high school was a little low because of his size,” she said. “But he went to All-State, played against huge kids, and was one of the five MVPs. It showed him size doesn’t matter—your mindset does.”

Aulenbacher agreed.

“There’s no doubt he can keep up with those kids,” he said. “He has a natural feel for where he’s supposed to be. I’m sure he excelled.”

He did. On film, Jack made several standout plays—including a screen pass he diagnosed from the opposite hash, beating two offensive linemen to the spot and limiting the play to a short gain.

Coachability, Character, and What Comes Next

Beyond the hits, instincts, and highlight plays, Aulenbacher emphasized Jack’s maturity.

“He’s very disciplined,” he said. “He looks you in the eye, answers clearly, asks questions if he doesn’t understand. He’s a great teammate. When someone else makes a big hit, he celebrates just as hard as if he made it.”

And then came the quote that sums up Jack Young better than anything else:

“He’s one of those kids where you say, I wish I had 20 more of him… but we’d need three ambulances at the field if that was the case.”

Jack enters Hononegah High School this fall with renewed confidence, a growing reputation, and a coaching staff already aware of what he brings.

Aulenbacher believes he’ll find a role quickly.

“He’s a heat-seeking missile,” he said. “Whether he ends up at linebacker or safety, he’s going to seek and destroy anything he sees.”

The Junior Indians Impact

Jack and his mother both credit the Junior Indians program for shaping him—not just as a player, but as a person.

“It teaches you teamwork, dedication, how to make friends quickly,” Jack said.

His mother added:

“The Junior Indians is like a family. The coaches—Coach Timmerman, Brian LaPier, Coach Ryan Aulenbacher—they believed in Jack even when he didn’t believe in himself. Without them, he wouldn’t be the player he is today.”