Munster senior RB Blake Siurek ends high school career on high note

MUNSTER, Ind. — Blake Siruek, senior running for the Munster High School football team, led the charge during the 2021 season. His performance on the field was instrumental in earning the Mustangs’ first win in a sectional game since 2016.

Siruek, who was incredibly reliable for the Mustangs during the 2021 season, had a major impact on the field, with outstanding individual performances in the ground game.

In a 21-16 victory over the Hammond Morton football team, Siruek carried the ball 20 times, producing 83 rushing yards and a touchdown.

In a dominant team performance in the East Chicago Central Cardinals, the senior running back also scored a rushing touchdown. Munster won the game in a blowout, with a final score of 44-8.

Munster played their first game in the 5A sectionals tournament against Hammond Central, with Siruek exploding for 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns. They won 23-0 and advanced to the second round of the sectionals for the first time in five years.

Siruek would finish the season with 799 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He also had four receptions to go with 28 receiving yards.

Siruek’s unlikely success in the Mustang’s offensive scheme also comes in a year where he transitioned to running back after playing middle linebacker. In fact, Munster converted to a triple-option offense to accommodate Sireuk’s skillset, which ultimately proved to pay off immensely.

Why did it pay off? In recent years, the Mustangs’ passing offense underperformed significantly. During the 2019 season, Munster as a team threw for a combined 26 interceptions to only three passing touchdowns.

Injecting Siruek into the offense ultimately helped right the ship, with Munster scoring 21 offensive touchdowns in 2021 compared to merely five touchdowns in 2020.

This season represents a major step forward for the Mustangs, having won three games or more in a year for the first time since 2017. Siruek, who played in all 11 games, was a key contributor in every win this season.

Although the Mustangs finished the season 0-5 in conference play, they were competitive and put the pressure on several tough opponents, including a 10-4 Lowell Red Devils football team that played in the Class 4A Regional Championship game against New Prairie.

Sireuk’s contributions to the offense will hopefully prove to be a catalyst for a Munster football team that is on the cusp of discovering their identity.

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