David Fason developed into an all-around force for Cedar Rapids Prairie football

CEDAR RAPIDS – David Fason’s earliest football member was a youth flag football game.

He recalled breaking a long touchdown on the first play of the game in front of excited family. The early moment planted a seed that has blossomed into a passion.

“Ever since then football always talked to me differently,” the Cedar Rapids Prairie senior said. “It’s a sport but it’s also kind of my life. That’s what I do.”

Fason has become a game-changing, versatile player and leader for the Hawks. The University of Iowa commit ranks among the state leaders in tackles for loss and has been a difference maker on offense, defense and special teams.

Prairie Coach Kyle Knock has coached NCAA Division I players, including one that went on to play in the NFL. He said Fason ranks among his best players.

“Just the way that he impacts the game all the way around is unreal,” Knock said. “On top of it all he’s a great kid. He works hard and he never takes a play off in practice and he plays about 90 snaps a game on a Friday night. For a guy that does that, weighing 250 pounds, that's pretty impressive.”

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Fason has excelled in multiple sports, starting on Prairie’s state tournament baseball team and playing basketball. Knock said he has benefited from other activities, allowing him to develop into an all-around competitor.

“He's a phenomenal athlete,” Knock said. “He's played multiple sports growing up. And he's learned how to compete and move in different ways for different sports.”

Football is his No. 1 since he was an energetic youth who liked to wrestle and rough-house with friends.

He said his mom tried to channel his rambunctiousness into football. It was a natural fit and has evolved over the years.

“Physicality is a big reason I play but as I‘ve gotten older the things you go through in practice I feel it helped shape me to be a better individual in my life,” Fason said. “It shows you life can have its ups and downs.”

Prairie has experienced those peaks and valleys during this season. The Hawks opened with two dominant wins and climbed the rankings. Consecutive losses to Bettendorf and No. 1 Waukee Northwest dropped them out of the top-10 poll. Prairie has rebounded with back-to-back lopsided wins.

Fason’s approach reflects his maturity and resilience, transferring his knowledge and experience from life to football.

“That’s another lesson,” Fason said. “It’s always taught me to be the best you always have to be on your game. There are not days off.”

The 6-foot-2 defensive end and tight end has been a force, helping Prairie to a 4-2 record before Friday night’s game at No. 6 Cedar Falls (5-1). A home game against No. 8 Iowa City West looms next week.

Fason is rare mix of power, quickness and athleticism.

Offensively, he has amassed more than 400 offensive yards and five touchdowns, rushing for 122 yards and two scores in a 63-20 win over Dubuque Hempstead last week.

“Last Friday was kind of the tipping point for me … every time he touched the ball, there’s kids getting out of the way because they’re like making a business decision,” Knock said. “They’re like I’m not tackling that.”

Knock added, “He's just so explosive with big and heavy hands. He's strong and he's thick.”

“You can't get a surface on him because he knows how to lower his shoulder. And you don't want to take on his thighs because they're 30 inches around. You start seeing DBs just diving at ankles or just stepping out of the way because they just know better.”

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Fason is a disrupter on defense. He has 35.5 tackles, including 32 solo, seven sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, which ranks first in Class 5A and third in all classes. Fason had at least three tackles for loss in five games and eight total tackles in three games.

Fason had eight tackles, seven solo, three sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in a win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. A sack and forced fumble in that game stands out and proof of the havoc he wreaks.

“I look back on that play a lot and just laugh at it,” Fason said. “I hit him pretty hard. I’d say that’s my highlight of the year, but I feel like I have some stuff coming.”

If that wasn’t enough, he averages 41 yards per punt.

“We try to get him a rest here and there, but he's so valuable to everything we do the production dips a little bit on one side of the ball, if we give him a rest,” Knock said. “I talked to him (Wednesday) after practice and said it's go-time now. I need everything you got for as long as you can go because we're better when you're in there.”

A defining moment came last season in an overtime loss to Bettendorf. Despite some personal issues, he remained focused and scored four TDs with 12 tackles and blocked a field goal in that game.

“The (Bettendorf) coach told me he was a man among boys,” Knock said. “Coaches have called him a freak show. I’m glad he’s on my team.”

Fason said he wouldn’t want it any other way. His dedication to the game is apparent in his willingness to remain on the field so much and accepting any role – receiving, rushing and wanting to block for teammates and producing eight pancake blocks.

“You can tell you can tell it means the world to him because he doesn't take a rep off in practice,” Knock said. “And a lot of your talented kids can go half speed against the scout team and still look pretty good. He doesn't. And these poor kids take a beating. But he's setting a tone, an example, because he's playing the game the way it's meant to be played.

“He cares and he wants to be successful. He wants us to be successful. He’s the ultimate team guy.”

Teammates respect him and how he conducts himself. Knock said 80 of 87 players voted for him as one of five captains. Their support meant a lot to him and reenforces his desire to be a leader.

“I’m a very good transformational leader. I adapt to my surroundings really well,” Fason said. “The guys look up to me and respect me. They know we all respect each other. We all want to go to the same place. We all trust and believe in the program. We trust what we have set up.”

Fason received a preferred walk-on offer from the Hawkeyes. He admits he is motivated to show he can perform as well as any scholarship D-I athlete.

Knock, who played at Iowa State, said Fason’s work ethic and ability will allow him to thrive in college.

“He’s a special kid and I think he knows he means a lot to me,” Knock said. “You have those unique kids who come by every few years. He’s one I’m definitely going to miss. Not just because of his abilities on the field but because of the kid he is and the joy he brings to practice.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com