Although the football skills of Marshall Brownfield can be described as fluid, tenacious or hard-nosed, one word in particular describes Brownfield as a person: Leader.

Brownfield was a leader for the Flagstaff football team this season both on and off the field -- a positive example in the classroom as well as the weight room.

He has become the mold for the kind of football player Flagstaff and head coach Ed Campos are striving to create, and that is why he is the Daily Sun's Football Athlete of the Year.

"He's a perfect example of the standard that we set in order to make the entire program more successful," Campos said, "not only in terms of winning, but in terms of showing up every day.

"He learns, and I believe he gets better each practice, and there's never been any doubt in his mind or doubt in his performance. Marshall sets the example, and then it becomes contagious."

"I (try to be) not only a leader but a good role model," Brownfield said. "So I try not to do anything bad on or off (the field), and of course I play to my full potential."

But Brownfield said that sometimes being a leader by example is not enough, and that sometimes the role requires that he be a little more vocal.

"I give speeches," Brownfield said. "I'll get in your face and I'll yell at you a little bit -- but it's with good intentions."

Brownfield has been a starter for the Eagles since his sophomore season -- a season in which Flagstaff was not a very good team, going 0-10. The Eagles weren't much better in Brownfield's junior season either, winning only two games. But this year, with an influx of talented juniors joining the team, Flagstaff went 8-2 and finished just outside of the state playoffs.

Brownfield played a big part in the Eagles' turnaround as he led the team in rushing with 402 yards and six touchdowns while averaging nearly 7 1/2 yards per carry. He also had 10 receptions for 206 yards and a touchdown and tied teammate Montana Membery for the team lead in scoring with 48 points.

Defensively, Brownfield was among the team leaders with 63 tackles and four sacks. He also returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown and recovered two fumbles.

But Brownfield is quick to point out that the Eagles' success this season was the result of a total team effort.

"It was just a lot of players not playing for themselves, (but) all kind of playing for one purpose." Brownfield said. "It wasn't that they were playing for stats; it was that they were playing to do their job. If somebody needed a block a block was made. You didn't have to be carrying the ball to make a play or to do your job."

Brownfield is also quick to credit Campos for creating high standards, not only for the performance, but for the conduct of all his players.

"(Coach Campos) not only expects you to play great, but he expects you to be a great person," Brownfield said. "He doesn't put up with anything that would disgrace him or disgrace the team. He coaches you to try and bring out the best in you."

Brownfield said his best memories of his high school playing career are games he played at the Walkup Skydome "having everybody come out, especially for the Coconino game."

"You just have a crowd of people watching you, rooting for you, wanting to see you do something big," he said.

Brownfield said he would like to continue playing football in college and is currently talking to "a couple of coaches" about doing just that.

"It's still about the education," Brownfield said. "Football would be a way to get a higher education, so I want to go to a good school, and that's kind of the challenge."

Jeff Bear can be reached at jbear@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.