With 43 receptions for 700 yards averaging 16.28 yards a catch, senior Tim Miller has his eyes set on a Valley championship. He seizes each opportunity to become more fundamentally sound in his sport.

Although Miller’s parents were not active in high school athletics, his grandpa, Bill Schmick, involved him in numerous sports such as baseball and soccer. He used to go out to the games or drive Miller to and from practices.

“My grandpa has been a big influence on my sports life,” Miller said. “Ever since I was little, he’d come out and help my team and I. He also took me out to practices or games and would always be there for me, never missing a game.”

While approaching a full year as an FC student, transferring from Yosemite High School proved one of the most difficult experiences Miller says.

“I came to FC because my parents wanted me to grow in my faith and stay out of trouble that my friends at Yosemite were getting into,” Miller said. “I didn’t want to come at all because I’d leave all my friends behind that I had grown up with all my life.”

Despite a negative attitude about coming to Fresno Christian, he says the switch here was well worth it and a great decision in his life.

“Now I’m really glad that I came here because I was a able to grow in my faith and be in a school where I could be open about my walk with Christ, and not be criticized for it,” Miller said. “I’ve also made good friends who lift me up and encourage me to be a better person.”

Fellow wide receiver and defensive back Andrew McCormick, ’10, sees Miller as a player with an incredible drive to persevere who also keeps an uplifting attitude.

“Tim never gets down on himself or any one else,” McCormick said. “He always keeps a positive attitude, never yells at people, always helping them. He’s also always getting better, always working hard, always trying to get better.”

One might think playing Division I or II or two football would be the most beneficial thing for a player. However, Miller contradicts this idea and finds Eagle football the best for him.

“At Yosemite we had a large weight room where we could get in more reps’ and we played D-I and II schools but FC has been good for me,” Miller said. “Since we only have 25 players on the roster, others and I have to play both offense, defense and special teams. With all these opportunities to play I’ve improved a lot already this year.”

According to offensive coordinator and campus pastor, Robert Foshee sees Miller as one of those “game-breaking” players, who also brings a contagious composure to the team .

“At athleticism, he’s probably the most athletic on the team,” Foshee said. “He can make a play out of almost anything. If you put the ball towards him he’s going to make a play with it; he’s going to do something special. Not only is he a great athlete but he’s also real calm and he rallies everyone around him.”

As the senior receiver on the team, Foshee says the freshman and sophomores enjoy being around Miller giving him the ability to raise up the next generation of receivers.

“It’s funny, you see Timmy at school or at practice and the freshmen and sophomores all around him. They want to hang out with him and be like him,” Foshee said. “He’s able to relate to all those kids and so he’s able to train them because he has a relationship with all those guys.”

Many kids like football because they get to go out and release all their anger through laying a guy out, but Miller finds a different enjoyment in playing.

“Sure it’s nice to get all the recognition in football at school and also being able to just go out and hit people but the brother hood of the game is amazing,” Miller said. “One of the main reasons why I play football is for the brotherhood of the team. Football is a sport that draws you close to one another and you make good friends.”

In past seasons Miller said he often got nervous before games but this season a new sense of calmness has overcome him.

“Especially during my first year of varsity as a junior I would get nervous a lot,” Miller said. “This year though I don’t seem to get nervous anymore and I’ve been confident in my playing abilities.”

Unable to express his faith at Yosemite, Miller thinks his success comes from Christ and how he has grown stronger in him.

“This year I put God into our season a whole lot more than any other time I’ve played sports,” Miller said. “When we bring God into the game we play a lot better and stronger with him by our side.”

At chapels or practice head coach, Bonner Cunnings reads through the Bible often explaining what the verses mean and how to apply them to one’s life. Miller found these times quite effective in enhancing his walk with God.

“Cunnings is a great spiritual mentor to the team who tells us how we need to live for God,” Miller said. “He tells us how we need to have a relationship with God and when we have that relationship we begin to follow him and have the want to serve him more and more.”

Miller says he not only tries to follow Christ on the field but also off the field as well.

“Your spiritual life off the field will help you on the field,” Miller said. “When you stay with God off the field you are even stronger on. And I don’t want to go mess up off the field because it will mess up my brothers out there on the field.”

The Eagles Creed, made by coach Daniel Yoder this summer, describes what a FC football player is, which Miller says builds up their strength on the field the most.

“We go out and try to play for God,” Miller said. “Out there on the field, when things are getting tough we’ll yell ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…’ [Philippians 4:13] and we’ll say parts of our Eagle’s creed which psyches us up.”

The Eagles will next play Orosi, Nov. 13. If the Eagles win they will go to playoffs.

For more information check out the Football sport shorts, 2009 and watch the slideshow for each game. For game footage, check out Eagle football on YouTube.