When it came to changing field position last season, very few were better in Class 1A District 6 than Highland Huskies junior Chase Rath. Rath’s longest punt of 65 yards was second farthest in the district, and his 41.6 yards per punt average was only bested by a pair of athletes from the state champion Iowa City Regina Regals.

Rath is a special teams weapon first-year head football coach Joe Donovan loves having, “It’s a coaches dream to have somebody who can pin a team down inside their own 20 yard line.” Donovan said, “It’s really nice to know that Chase (Rath) has a nice leg. We are trying to get some directional things down, but I look for a great year out of Chase (Rath).”

Donovan is hoping to use Rath less frequently this season. He led the district with 41 punts, nine more than any other punter, and his 1707 net punt yardage topped the group by nearly 500 yards.

Highland opens their 2015 season on Friday, August 28, hosting the Danville Bears.