Friday nights are where everyone sees the finished product.

The tackles. The throws. The sacks. The scrambling quarterback extending a play when it looks like nothing is there.

But when Rancho Buena Vista football coach Ariel Savage was asked to select four Longhorns for North Valley Flare to get to know a little better, what emerged wasn't simply a collection of highlights.

It was a glimpse at what happens when the stands are empty.

Savage selected Madsen Smith, Henry Allen, Van Piercy and Cohen Chapin — four players filling very different roles for RBV. We asked each the same five questions, including what fans don't notice about their game, which teammate makes them better and even which NFL coach they'd most like to play for.

Their answers kept coming back to something remarkably similar: preparation, leadership and each other.

Madsen Smith: Doing the Jobs People Don't See

At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, No. 44 Madsen Smith makes his presence known as a two-way player at DE/TE and linebacker.

Savage says opposing offenses have had trouble containing Smith, at times using running backs and offensive tackles to double-team him. The coach believes Smith's midseason defensive performance should put him in consideration for Defensive Player of the Year.

Yet when asked what part of his game he takes pride in that fans might not notice, Smith didn't mention defense at all.

He talked about long snapping.

“I've been the long snapper on every team I've played on and have gotten pretty good over the years,” Smith said.

His answers also showed how much attention he pays to the craft of his position. If he could borrow one ability from an NFL player, Smith chose Nik Bonitto's speed off the ball, pointing to the pass rusher's quickness as something that could take his own game to another level.

And if Smith could choose an NFL head coach?

Andy Reid — not simply because of his success, but because Smith considers him one of football's most creative minds.

But perhaps Smith's most revealing answer came when we asked which Longhorn has made him better.

His answer was Cohen Chapin.

Smith called Chapin a strong offensive tackle and described the daily battles between the two in practice: one playing defensive end, the other trying to stop him.

Smith also hopes his teammates see that he puts in the same work whether coaches are watching or not.

As it turns out, Chapin had something to say about that, too.

Cohen Chapin: Iron Sharpens Iron

Senior No. 62 Cohen Chapin plays OT/DL, but Savage's description of him starts somewhere else.

Leadership.

Savage calls Chapin one of RBV's most respected players, pointing to his leadership, physicality and playmaking on the offensive line. He also praised Chapin's understanding of the unit, saying the senior knows the responsibilities of every offensive lineman on a given play.

Chapin said one of the things he takes the greatest pride in is the leadership role he has developed and “the chemistry I've been able to build with my brothers.”

Then came our question about the teammate who makes him better.

His answer?

Madsen Smith.

Chapin hopes his teammates see him as a leader they can look up to and come to when they need help.

Chapin described Smith as “the best of the best” at defensive end and said the two are always getting work in against one another.

That's a pretty good picture of what competition between teammates is supposed to look like.

Chapin also chose Andy Reid as the NFL coach he'd most like to play for, pointing to the way Reid runs his offense. And when given the chance to steal one NFL player's skill, he went in a slightly different direction.

He'd take the size of Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson.

Why?

“Cause that would make me dominant.”

Fair enough.

Henry Allen: The Quarterback of the Defense

Senior linebacker No. 10 Henry Allen stands 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, but his role in the RBV defense extends well beyond making tackles.

Savage calls Allen the “quarterback and signal caller” of the Longhorn defense, praising his natural ability to dissect opposing offenses and stop the run.

Allen's own answer to what spectators may overlook lined up almost perfectly with his coach's assessment.

“One thing I take pride in is, I read the offense very well and making sure my guys have their right assignments,” Allen said.

When asked which teammate makes him better, Allen chose Jacob Weston, saying Weston pushes him to his “absolute best” in practice and challenges him while Allen is blitzing or covering the hole.

Allen hopes his teammates see something beyond the linebacker, too: a fun, energetic and caring person who is also a leader.

His NFL choices followed that same theme. Allen selected Sean Payton as the current head coach he'd like to play for, and chose Talanoa Hufanga when asked which NFL player's ability he'd like to add to his own game — pointing specifically to Hufanga's speed, energy and leadership on the field.

Van Piercy: Seeing the Play Before It Develops

Junior quarterback No. 4 Van Piercy is already a two-time RBV captain.

At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Savage describes Piercy as a dual-threat quarterback with a big arm and powerful running ability — a combination that allows him to extend plays and create matchup problems for opposing defenses.

But Piercy says one of the most important parts of his game happens before anyone sees the result.

“Something about my game that people don't typically notice is how I process the defense every play,” Piercy said, including how defenders line up against particular RBV formations.

If he could add one NFL skill to his game, Piercy wouldn't mind becoming even more dangerous on the move. He chose Josh Allen's scrambling ability so he could extend more plays and create additional opportunities with his legs.

Piercy selected Klint Kubiak as the NFL head coach he'd most like to play for, calling him an “offensive genius.”

And like the three Longhorns before him, Piercy used one of his answers to recognize somebody else.

He named Isaiah Simmons as a teammate who has made him better, specifically noting Simmons' improvement from last season and his ability to make difficult catches across the middle.

Piercy said he hopes his teammates see him as someone worth following by example — on the field and in the classroom.

Four Players, One Answer We Didn't Ask For

We never asked these four players to describe the culture of RBV football.

In a way, they did anyway.

Smith talked about Chapin.

Chapin talked about Smith.

Allen talked about Weston.

Piercy talked about Simmons.

They talked about studying formations, knowing assignments, competing in practice, leadership, chemistry and doing things on a football field that most people in the stands will never notice.

Friday nights will still be about touchdowns, tackles and the final score.

But these four Longhorns offered a reminder that much of what produces those moments happens long before the stadium lights come on.

And sometimes the player standing across from you in practice — making your job considerably harder — is one of the biggest reasons you're getting better.

North Valley Flare thanks RBV Head Coach Ariel Savage and Madsen Smith, Henry Allen, Van Piercy and Cohen Chapin for participating in this player spotlight.