The King’s Fork High School football team’s season came to an end on Nov. 29 with a 13-7 regional semifinal loss to No. 4 Heritage High School, but the No. 9 Bulldogs’ defense almost brought about a different result.

Junior linebacker Kane Miskel led the effort, which held the Hurricanes to a single late touchdown, when the team had been averaging 31.3 points per game. His eight total tackles and a forced fumble led to his win as the Duke Automotive-Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week.

“I feel like I did my part on the defensive side of the ball,” he said.

Miskel was second on the team during the regular season with 42 total tackles, but he raised his profile at the end of the year. King’s Fork head coach Joe Jones took notice of Miskel’s production throughout the post-season, including two interceptions against No. 8 Tabb High School in the first round.

“He seemed to save his best for the playoffs, and that’s when you want to peak,” Jones said. “He got better as we went along, and the best thing about it is he’s coming back next year, along with several of the starters that we have on defense.”

He said the team will count on Miskel to be one of its leaders in the off-season.

Miskel said he is comfortable with that role. Meanwhile, the loss to Heritage will stick with him as he prepares for his senior year.

“It’s going to keep a bitter taste in my mouth until I get on the field again,” he said.

Miskel recalled what spurred his interested in playing football.

“I almost always had the dream of playing for big colleges,” he said.

His older brother, Kameron Goudy, gave him the tools that could bring that dream to life. “He taught me how to play,” Miskel said.

Goudy said when he was 9 and Miskel was 4 or 5, he would take his little brother out and play catch with him.

By the time Miskel was 13 or so, Goudy said, “I always used to take him to the park with me,” where they would play football with a group.

At first, he picked his little brother to be on his team, then later made him switch. Goudy was short, but had speed, and he trained Miskel to defend it.

Miskel played his first organized football in sixth grade for the Suffolk Titans Pop Warner team, before transitioning to King’s Fork’s middle school team.

He was a big part of the junior varsity team last year, and Goudy expressed great pride in seeing what Miskel is accomplishing now for the varsity squad.

“He’s a great kid, man,” he said. “I love my little brother.”

Miskel ran outdoor track last year and will participate with the indoor track team this year, but football is his clear favorite.

“I just like the feeling of game days,” he said. “It just gives me that edge,” the desire to play more, to keep working and learning.

Miskel has not chosen a specific college he would like to play for, but he knows the location — his native Florida. He was born in Pensacola before moving to Virginia around the age of 4.

Miskel cited his mother and his family as his motivation to play his best when he passes under the lights on Friday night, but he led by saying this: “My little brothers, they motivate me.”

Perhaps following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Miskel looks at 11-year-old Kahari Rodgers and 9-year-old Kavase Towns and strives to be a good model they can follow.