Coming into his final season of playing football at Auburn Mountainview senior Joey Cassano had a little attitude.

“I basically came in with the mindset that no one could guard me, that no one could stop me from doing what I wanted on the field,” Cassano said.

Big words from a 5-foot, 10-inch, 185-pound wide receiver in just his third season at the position.

To Cassano, however, they were more than just words.

Through 10 games this year with the 3-7 Lions, Cassano walked the walk by piling up 80 receptions for 1,274 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Cassano first began playing football in the seventh grade at Rainier Middle School.

“I started as a quarterback and played there up until I was a freshman,” he said. “My sophomore year the coaches let me switch to wide receiver, which is what I’ve always wanted to play. I didn’t really think I was going to go anywhere playing quarterback. I wasn’t really tall enough to be a good quarterback.”

Graced with an abundance of athletic ability – he also plays second base for the reigning 3A state champion Lions baseball squad – Cassano said the learning curve switching to wideout wasn’t too difficult.

“I had already learned how to read the defense,” he said. “The route running was different and learning the footwork. But I put in the offseason work and wanted to prove everybody who said I couldn’t play wide receiver wrong.”

Cassano said he started the season under first-year coach Jared Gervais buried in the depth chart, behind standouts Devin Bryant, Ray Hardaway, Skyler White, Kekoa Nahaku and JJ Lacey.

It wasn’t long before he made his presence felt, however.

“I caught a touchdown in the third game,” he said.

Cassano said progress at his new position was aided by Gervais’ spread offense and the overall attitude of the team, which went 6-4 and earned the program’s first ever postseason berth in 2011.

“It was awesome, one of the greatest teams I’ve been a part of,” he said. “Gervais brought a young attitude. He was very enthusiastic with lots of energy and inspired you to work hard. He’s not the type of coach to stand there and yell at you.”

Cassano continued:

“We didn’t do great the first couple of games that year. When we played Sumner, we were still getting used to the spread,” he said. “But once we went to league play we figured it out.”

Cassano said his greatest moment on the field came after the Lions clinched their playoff berth that season.

“We got to celebrate with our fans when they stormed the field,” he said.

As a sophomore, Cassano notched 30 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns.

He also played punter and kicker for the team, covering six of seven field goals, including a 38-yarder.

As a junior in 2012, Cassano continued to refine his skills on the field, catching 58 passes for 565 yards and two TDs.

Coming into his senior year this season, Cassano took another step in his development, stepping into a leadership role as one of just nine seniors on the roster.

“It was definitely hard,” he said. “We had a really small senior class. Me and Ray Hardaway had to step up and provide leadership.”

That included helping take sophomore quarterback Gresch Jensen under their wings.

“Me and Ray worked with him on pass routes throughout the summer,” he said. “He’s definitely a really good quarterback.”

Although the Lions struggled in the win-loss column this season, Cassano said he was pleased with his efforts.

“I really expect to have the year I had because me and Gresch had a good chemistry,” he said.

Cassano finished his prep football career with 168 receptions for 2,194 yards and 20 TDs.

Now, Cassano is looking to defend the school’s baseball title before moving on to college, hopefully one that will let him play both football and baseball.

“I’ve talked to a few schools, small (Division) 3 or (Division) 2’s,” he said. “My goal is to go somewhere like the University of Montana, where I can play both sports.”

ALSO: Eight other Auburn Mountainview players were honored with all-SPSL 3A selections along with Cassano. Hardaway was selected to the first team defense for his play at defensive back and to the second offensive at running back. Jensen was chosen to the league’s first team offense at quarterback. Linebacker Jason Sele was chosen to the first team defense. Malachi Fowler, Trevor Jensen, Aeron Watson, Nate Bell and Ryan Lacey were all picked as honorable mentions.