H.S. Football: On the line or in the band, Firelands' Alejandro Flores shows off his skills

Alejandro Flores is easy to spot at the line of scrimmage. He's 6-foot and a team-high 285 pounds. He's impossible to miss in the marching band. Wearing his No. 77 Firelands football jersey, Flores dances at halftime near the 50-yard line while playing the mellophone — the marching band version of the French horn. Last week against Columbia, his white uniform was dirty after a busy first half — he started on the offensive and defensive lines — but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm. After the short set, including "Seven Nation Army," Flores handed off his instrument but high-stepped down the sideline with the rest of the band. "It's awesome," Flores said. "It's one of the things that if I had a choice between football and marching band in the future, I really wouldn't know what to pick because I do love band a lot and that is something I do want to pursue after high school. "I'd like to play in college. That'd be a dream." The junior would also be open to a post-Firelands football career "if someone wants to pay me." Flores and the Falcons (6-4) will play Friday night in the first round of the Division IV playoffs. They'll host Rossford (5-5). This is Flores' first experience in the postseason after the Falcons missed the last two seasons after going 4-6. "I am thrilled," Flores said. "It's great because we're the second team in school history to have a home playoff game. So coaches have been really focusing on building a legacy at this point, and it's amazing being a part of that team that if we do good, people will talk about five, 10 years later." His dual love for football and band is undeniable. He struggled when asked which he prefers. "It's like telling a parent to pick their favorite kid," he said. "I'd probably have to say football at the moment because that's what I spend more time on right now with two-hour practices every day. But during the winter it'll probably be closer to the band side because then we actually do stuff every day." His devotion to double duty is obvious during the preseason. He said he spent 13 hours a day at school. "Well, I wake up at around 7 a.m. smash quick breakfast," he said. "I go to school. I have band camp for five hours in the morning. I have about an hour and a half break, and I go to football for another five hours during the two-a-days, go home, take a shower and do it again the next day. "So, yeah, it's kind of a lot." Coach Ryan O'Rourke appreciates Flores doing both at a high level. "I know that he plays a crucial role in the band," O'Rourke said. "I encourage our kids to be well-rounded, have interests in other things. Really cool to see he can excel at both." Flores starts on the defensive line and is a backup across the offensive line. He opened the game on both sides in the regular-season finale vs. Columbia. "He's a key contributor who has a great level of speed to him for his size," O'Rourke said. "He's funny, keeps things in perspective but also incredibly competitive. Takes it personal when his QB is hit. He still gets on me about owing him a Wendy's Biggie Bag." Like football and band, Flores enjoys his roles on defense and offense. "I like defense a lot. It's fun to just pin my ears back and run," he said. "But also offense is fun too because, well, with a lesser break during halftime, it's a lot less energy-consuming than defense is." While his teammates are hydrating, resting their legs and listening to the coaches' adjustments at halftime, Flores is giving his all with the mellophone. He said he doesn't wear down for the second half. "Not really. The team usually gets a 17-minute break and even with marching, I still get 10 minutes either before or after the show," he said. "It's pretty nice." He started football in the seventh grade. He began playing instruments in the sixth grade and joined marching band as a freshman. He also plays trumpet with jazz band and French horn during concert season. He's a fan of jazz and heavy metal, another example of his ability to hold seemingly disparate interests. No. 77 is historically a lineman's number. It's also building a tradition in the Firelands band. Matt Ridenour-Rogers wore it and played in the band. He handed it off to Roberto Flores, Alejandro's older brother, who passed it down to Alejandro when he graduated. "It's kind of like a long history of people in band," he said. Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on X.