SPRINGFIELD — In sixth and seventh grade, Lucas Sparks didn’t play football.

“I don’t really remember why,” Sparks said.

As an eighth grader, Sparks returned to the field. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Shawnee High School defensive tackle’s been terrorizing opposing skill players ever since.

Sparks was named the 2011 News-Sun All-Area Football Defensive Player of the Year. The award is based on regular season performance only.

Sparks, the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division Defensive Player of the Year, finished the season with 79.5 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

“He’s virtually unblockable on defense,” said Shawnee coach Rick Meeks. “He plays left tackle for us, too. He’s one of the best lineman that we’ve had at Shawnee and that I’ve seen in a long time with his strength and athleticism. You won’t find anyone more deserving.”

Sparks gave credit to his teammates and Shawnee defensive coordinator Devin Spitzer for helping put him in a position to succeed.

“Most of it is just reading keys,” Sparks said. “Coach Spitzer is one of the best coaches around by far. You’ve got to rely on the other people on the defense, too, because when they do their job, it makes it easier for me to do my job.”

The Braves’ run defense was one of the best in the state, allowing just 87.7 yards per game in their run to the Division III state championship game.

“It’s a team effort,” Sparks said. “That’s the only reason why we’re able to (stop the run),” Sparks said.

Sparks’ most impressive performance came in Week 10 when the Braves beat Tippecanoe 49-7. They held the CBC’s leading rusher, Tippecanoe’s Andrew Hall, to just 26 yards, while Sparks had 10.5 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks.

“We just went out and smashed them,” Sparks said.

Sparks doesn’t know where he’ll play next season, but hopes to play somewhere.

“Somebody’s going to get themselves a really good player,” Meeks said.