Scottsdale Prep senior Clark Benham’s love for football is not a result of the violence or physicality of the sport but instead his appreciation for the game comes from his interactions with his “brothers.”

“Part of being a team and something about that how it takes all 11 players to work together made me really want to be a football player,” Benham said. “Football is more than a team, it’s a family.”

Benham has played every position for the Spartans in his four years at Scottsdale Prep while becoming the embodiment of selflessness.

The senior has 48 total tackles to go along with seven sacks on the defensive side of the ball this season. Offensively, Benham is Scottsdale Prep’s starting center.

“He’s a great example to the younger guys of what sacrifice and teamwork means,” coach David Primavera said. “On the practice field, he always gives 100 percent.”

At five-foot-eight, 160 pounds, Benham was mainly a baseball player while growing up. But Benham quickly became tired of the sport and viewed baseball as more of an individual endeavor than a team sport.

It was the team dynamic in football that got Benham to gravitate toward the sport as an incoming freshman.

Before high school, Benham had only played flag football.

“Everything about football is so memorable,” Benham said. “Everything I learned in my freshman year I still think about now.”

The senior leadership during Benham’s freshman year is what has shaped him into the player he is today. Seniors Seaghn McBride and Dante Saville were the two role models Benham has tried to emulate to this group of younger Spartans now as a senior.

“When you’re in football you have a set of leaders and those are your team captains,” Benham said. “Following those people changes everything because they have more experience than you and you just have to know that following them is the right thing to do.”

 

With experience at every position on the field, Benham says running back is his favorite spot. Quarterback was quite the opposite experience.

“(Playing quarterback) was a lot of pressure,” Benham said. “Before every game there was absolutely terrifying pressure because there was so much to think about. The whole team is relying on you to succeed and any mistakes that you make reflects on the whole team.”

The pressure of being under-center was not for Benham but the Spartans Mr. Everything did not complain.

Nor did he complain about not playing running back.

“Last year, he went from playing quarterback to running back to center and never complained once,” Primavera said. “I know he wants to play running back but he does whatever the team asks from him.”

The senior is as team oriented as they come.

“I am really glad how (Benham) has taken (playing on the offensive line) seriously,” senior running back Simeon Walther said. “In the locker room and on the field, he helps guys get locked in.”