By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Hays High School football coach Ryan Cornelsen offers several compliments when he discusses running back/linebacker Casey Sedbrook and running back/strong safety Josh Balman, a pair of returning first-team all-conference players.

The two seniors, who Cornelsen calls "great high school football players," are considered HHS' leaders for a squad that returns five offensive and defensive starters from a 7-2 team that won the Western Athletic Conference title last year.

"They are the type of kids that I want in our program because I know each week what I am going to get out of them and I know how hard they are going to play," Cornelsen said.

Last year, Sedbrook, in his first year at HHS after transferring from WaKeeney-Trego, played through a fractured shin and collected 101 tackles, seven for loss, and had 312 yards rushing, eighth-most in the WAC.

"Casey has got good instincts," Cornelsen said. "He reacts to the ball well."

Balman rushed for 290 yards, ninth-best in the league, and caught two passes for TDs. Defensively, his play helped HHS pick off 12 passes, allow just four teams to run for 100 yards and permit 22.9 points per game, third-best in the WAC.

"He is an extremely good strong safety," Cornelsen said. "He will come up and hit you and then he can cover, too. He is one of the better ones I have coached in the secondary because he can do both well. He breaks on the ball well. He can anticipate what people are trying to do. He is exceptional in the secondary."

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Sedbrook is arguably the Indians' best male athlete after earning all-WAC honors in football and baseball and all-state in wrestling. Balman, listed at 5-10, 195 pounds, was on the 400-meter relay at the state track meet. However, football is his favorite.

"It's my main sport," Balman said. "I just love football. I get after it."

Steve Sedbrook, Casey's father, is a longtime friend of Cornelsen and a former Trego assistant. Two years ago, he switched coaching jobs and became an assistant under Cornelsen at HHS.

Casey Sedbrook had played middle linebacker for the Golden Eagles, but moved to weakside linebacker for the Indians. The different position allowed Sedbrook to sometimes run free and have a variety of roles.

"At (middle linebacker), you have got to take on more blocks and at (weakside linebacker), you can move a little more and make more plays," Sedbrook said. "It helps when you have a good D-line because then you can get off the ball and make a better read. With (middle linebacker Zach) Binder taking on two or three blocks every time, I would have one guy."

As a sophomore, Balman finished with 15 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Last year, he improved under Cornelsen, especially with his speed and his ability to make jumps on balls.

"He works with us more," Balman said. "Have to be quick out of your feet."

Offensively, Sedbrook and Balman are expected to carry the ball frequently in the Indians' run-oriented attack; Hays High is the lone WAC team that returns at least two players who rushed for at least 240 yards in 2009.

"They play with big hearts, both of them," senior Zack Gaughan said. "They play low. They play real fast and they are both strong. They are hard to bring down."

In addition, they helped junior Austin Unrein, the Indians' first-year starting quarterback develop.

After summer weights, they headed to the tennis courts and Sedbrook and Balman taught Unrein the playbook.

"They are great competitors and they are great running backs and fullbacks," Unrein said. "They are great people to be around every day. ... They are our leaders because they had great years last year."