By Don Ketchum

Boone Baker seems like the adventurous type, with a bit of soldier of fortune approach figuring into the mix.

He wants to attend a trade school, focusing on electrical alignment. That means he wants to be involved in stringing and maintaining the large power lines that stretch across Arizona.

“I hear there’s pretty good money in it,’’ he said.

One would venture to guess that you have to be in decent shape to perform those tasks, and Baker has served his apprenticeship in athletics. He was a star running back and linebacker at Mogollon High in Heber and was a two-time state-champion wrestler and 171 and 195 pounds.

“Hard work pays off,’’ he said. “You get out of it what you put in.’’

One of the top accomplishments of Baker’s high school career was earning a spot on the Division V-VI team that will face a squad of Division IV players on Friday night (June 22) in the Arizona Football Coaches Association All-Star Game at Surprise Stadium. Kickoff is at 7.

While his teammates practiced on Wednesday (June 20), Boone was limited by a sore ankle.

He expects trainers “to tape it up pretty good and I’ll go out there and see what I can do.’’

Baker didn’t come all this way for nothing.

“I’m excited to play. It might be the last time I play in a competitive game like this,’’ he said.

It will involve a crash course in studying the offense and defense, particularly the latter. Since Mogollon played eight-man ball, Baker must learn the nuances of the full 11-man game.

“It is difficult. I am not used to it,’’ he said.

The Division V-VI boys need what Baker has to offer.

“I think they want me to run the ball,’’ he said.

And why not? He gained 1,468 yards and scored 21 touchdowns as a senior. He also caught 14 passes for 184 yards and averaged nearly 10 tackles a game at linebacker.

Asked which side of the ball he likes the best, Baker said, “It’s kind of a love-hate thing. I like scoring touchdowns on offense, but I really enjoy hitting people.’’

Either way, the people who stop by the convenience store where Baker works will be rooting for him.

“Everybody pretty much knows everybody,’’ he said of his home community on the Mogollon Rim.