Family fuels Caves’ competitive fire

ALBURNETT – Laken Caves honed his competitive streak in a family that could turn the simplest activity into a contest.

He is one of four siblings who vie for bragging rights. Even parents get into the mix. Who is the fastest? Biggest? Strongest? Toughest? Anything and everything.

“We can make really anything a competition,” Caves said. “Who can eat the most food is a competition between me and my brother. It's fun.”

Caves has transferred that mentality to the football field, serving as a playmaker and leader for No. 8 Alburnett. The junior running back is one of Class 2A’s most productive running backs, helping the Pirates to the state quarterfinal Friday night at No. 3 Osage.

“I believe that coming from the competitive family has really shaped him into an outstanding competitor and has given him a great knowledge of how to compete,” Alburnett Coach Nick Wooldrik said. “He really studies the game and works to be the best at everything he does. His parents, brothers, and sister are all great athletes and he is one of the best I’ve been around.”

Caves is an all-around athlete for the Pirates. He plays basketball, track and baseball, earning third-team all-state honors by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association as a sophomore. Sports, and success, came naturally to him.

“That's kind of been a theme in our family,” Caves said. “We grow up living in a competitive world, so when the first time we step on that field it’s a different ballgame.”

The bar was set high for Caves, who older brother, Hunter, and older sister, Savannah, were all-state athletes for the Pirates. He has a younger brother, Daxle, following him. Their dad, Josh, also played football for the Pirates.

“I think it shapes and molds me because I always wanted to be bigger and better than my older brother,” Caves said. “Then, my dad would be like I could do that back in high school. He would show us his tapes. We'd see him running over people and whatever. So, we are like, well, I'll show you something. Just trying to get better than him, too.”

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Caves’ passion for football sprouted from watching his dad’s videos, huddling around the television with his brothers. He loved the sport from the start.

“That kind of just started off with a love for me, watching him going out there and do it,” Caves said. “Seeing how he reacted to things and I just kind of wanted to see him react to me.”

His family and Alburnett fans have had plenty to react to, especially this season. Caves leads 2A with 2,707 all-purpose yards. He also ranks second in rushing yards (1,774) and third in rushing touchdowns (22). He averages 8.6 yards per carry, toting it 207 times this season – both rank fourth in 2A.

Caves is Alburnett’s top receiver with 26 catches and 359 yards. He also averages 32.1 yards per kick return, taking one 92 yards for a score against 1A No. 3 Iowa City Regina, and averages 17 yards per punt return.

“Laken can do everything on the football field,” Wooldrik said. “He is great with the ball in his hands. He could be an all-state receiver if we played him there more. He is also a great defensive player. He’s a great tackler, can cover the best receiver and has a knack for finding the ball at safety.”

In the postseason opener against Crestwood, he scored TD runs of 36 and 34 yards for a 13-6 victory. Caves rushed for 267 yards and four TDs in the second-round win over Waukon. He added 33 receiving yards and was second on the Pirates with six tackles.

Running back is still his most coveted role.

“I love running the ball,” said Caves, who praised his offensive line. “My favorite thing is running in between the tackles, finding open holes. Occasionally making a guy miss, maybe hitting a guy, but I just love the feeling of just running inside and then booking it out into open space.”

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has worked tirelessly in the offseason, lifting, fine-tuning footwork and improving his technique. He noted that he uses a rope to tie a tire around his waist, using it for resistance to run sprints trying to get an advantage on opponents.

“His intangibles that stand out to me is first his work ethic,” Wooldrik said. “He will be in the weight room every day, maintaining his body. He has elite speed and quickness.

“And he is one of the toughest kids I’ve been around. He plays through more injuries than anyone would know. He never wants to miss a rep in practice and we have to tell him to go home from the practice field. He’s always looking to get better.”

Natural instincts take over during games, subscribing to advice from Alburnett assistant Clayton Rush.

“He mentioned this one time and it's kind of just stuck with me,” Caves said. “He said when in doubt be athletic. When I get the ball, I’m just trying to be athletic, make the first guy miss, read the blocks and, at the end of the day, put the ball in the end zone.”

Alburnett is making its second quarterfinal appearance and first since 2011. The Pirates are still in search for their first semifinal berth and trip to the UNI-Dome. Caves said the Pirates have embraced the chance to make school history.

“We have a motto at Alburnett,” Caves said. “It's E.A.T. - effort, attitude, and toughness. I think that we bring effort, attitude, and toughness to every game. We show that out on the field.

“Obviously, just getting to the Dome is all of our goals. We're excited to get there, hopefully.”

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