Xavier senior Wes Gardner is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Gardner has been a valuable member of the Xavier football team this season on defense, offense and special teams as a defensive back, running back, receiver and punt return specialist.

Gardner has 30 tackles and three interceptions for Xavier's defense, which has collected eight shutouts in 12 games. He has caught 12 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns, and he's carried the ball 14 times for 54 yards and one TD.

Gardner leads Class 4A as a punter returner with 25 for 466 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a 79-yard punt return against Kennedy in the Class 4A quarterfinals Friday night and also scored on a 4-yard run from scrimmage.

Xavier (11-1) plays Bettendorf (10-2) in the Class 4A semifinals Friday at 4:06 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Here is our Question-&-Answer session with Wes Gardner:

MSR: What is your favorite individual highlight in sports?

WES: Any tackle on special teams.

MSR: What is your favorite team highlight in sports?

WES: The whole state championship game against Ankeny (in 2012).

MSR: Who has had the biggest influence on your sports career?

WES: All my Xavier coaches and my coaches on my Royals basketball team - Randy Scholer, Tim Hill, Tim Sagers.

MSR: What are your future goals in sports?

WES: I'd like to play college football.

MSR: What are your favorite classes in school?

WES: Science classes and economics with Coach Schulte.

MSR: What has been your favorite community project?

WES: Community Service Day with classmates junior year.