Trev Biery popped out of the Marion High School locker room Tuesday with a walking boot on his right foot and a wry smile on his face.

"Oh, it's not really serious," he said quickly. "I just have a little mid-foot sprain. I'll be good for Friday."

The eighth-ranked Indians (6-1, 4-0) host Clear Creek Amana (4-3, 2-2) Friday in another key Class 3A District 6 ballgame.

Biery got hurt during the fourth quarter of last Friday's 24-14 victory over the Solon Spartans.

"I was kind of at the bottom of the pile and just got it twisted up," he explained. "I went back in the locker room and they taped it back up. I came back in the game, so it wasn't severe."

Biery stars for the Indians as a brusing tailback and linebacker. Coach Tony Perkins said there was a noticeable difference when Biery left the game Friday.

"He went out the other night with that foot injury and we really deflated a little bit," said Perkins. "When he walked back on the field, they got right back after it. He's an emotional leader for this team."

Biery is a 6-foot, 220-pound senior with power and deceptive speed. He's rushed for 890 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven games and is averaging 8.1 yards per carry. He's also third on the team in tackles with 46, including three sacks.

His 14 touchdowns are tied for the third-most in Class 3A.

"It's even more than the numbers," said Perkins. "It's the emotional uplift he brings and just being back there.

"He's a quiet leader. He doesn't get in anybody's face. When they see him go hard, they're going to go hard."

Perkins expected Biery to have a good season, but he's exceeded expectations in some respects.

"I didn't anticipate him getting that many yards after contact, and being as quick as he is," the coach said. "We knew he was going to be a bruiser in there, but he's gotten so many yards after contact.

"He'll get hit one or two yards through the line and just run through it. And that's been impressive."

Biery has been happy with his performances, but quickly passed the credit to his teammates.

"It's great," he said, "but I couldn't have done it without everyone else. The team is doing great."

Ironically, Marion's only loss this season has been a key to the team's success. The Indians were smothered by top-ranked Decorah, 35-0, in the second game of the season after they had jumped to fourth in the state rankings.

That loss inspired them.

"We learned how much harder we have to work and what we have to do to be the best and beat the best," said Biery. "It's always in the back of our mind."

Perkins saw a noticeable change in his club after the loss to Decorah.

"The biggest thing they learned was, you can't sit back and think you're really good," he said. "We came out there and we thought we were pretty good and they smacked us in the mouth and we took a step back."

Perkins liked the way his team responded in practice the next week.

"They just went hard, all the time," he said. "We really harped on them about being physical, we really harped on them about their intensity. They've taken it to a new level and it's been really nice to see."

The Indians clipped Solon in a showdown for the division lead last week, showing the hard work is paying off.

"That was a big win, especially since it was the first meeting with them," said Biery. "It was a big game, but we're looking forward to the next game and the playoffs."

Marion would like another shot at Decorah in the playoffs. "It would be nice to get a rematch and beat them," he said.

Biery did not practice Monday or Tuesday, but planned to get back on the field Wednesday. He spent part of Tuesday afternoon in the trainer's room with a bag of ice on his right foot.

"It's still a little sore," he confessed.

He plans to inflict a little pain on someone else Friday night with some more good, clean, tough football for the Indians.