AN ODE TO AREA LINEMEN (2022-10-03)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Here’s one to the guys on the line, the boys in the trenches.

It’s their job to make their teammates look good. They’re the man behind the curtain, the wind beneath their wings, and the shoulders of Atlas. 

They risk taking it on the chin every play to make life easier for their teammates. They don’t get the interviews after the game, and they’re usually praised as a group - “Good job O-line” - but when they hear their name called, it’s not usually a good thing - “you missed a block.” 

It’s a little bit easier to find praise on the defensive side of the ball - sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles give them a chance to shine, and also get their names in the state books - but they’re still the set up men for others. The more blockers it takes to stop a defensive lineman, the better opportunities a linebacker has at making the tackle.

So here’s a look at some of those unheralded gridiron warriors from around the area.

Troy’s been known for their strong offensive line play for the better part of a decade, going back to their District IV title in 2013.

The rich got richer when Jed Feldmeier joined their ranks this season. 

Feldmeier moved in from Indiana, and has made an impact on both sides of the ball. He’s helped the Trojans rushing attack accumulate over 1700 yards so far this season, while getting 28 tackles on the defensive side of things.

“I love it,” Feldmeier said about being on the Trojans. “I think our line’s just physical, our backs are doing an amazing job running, finishing plays like that.”

His biggest adjustment might be to the weather.

“It’s a little colder,” he said.

But he’s found himself in a good spot with the Trojans.

“I love teams that praise their linemen,” said Feldmeier. “That’s how football should be played.”

Just south of Troy in Canton the Warriors have been running the ball just as well, despite seeing turnover on their o-line from the year before.

Rian Eberly is one of those who have stepped in to fill a role, and Canton hasn’t skipped a beat.

“I feel like we’re probably better, or just as good this year,” Eberly said about their offensive line.

Canton is also doing a lot of different things this year offensively - they have a different offensive system for each quarterback - and that puts a lot of pressure on the linemen to adjust.

“We just try to learn the playbook really well,” remarked Eberly. “It’s definitely hard to remember all that old stuff, and then they jump a bunch of new stuff on your, but we run a lot of the stuff over and over again, so you get used to it.”

The results speak for themselves, as Canton off to a 6-0 start the season.

“It definitely puts a lot of pressure on you,” said Eberly. “You’ve just got to man up and get pushing.”

In Towanda they’ve had a couple tough seasons, but have seen a glimmer of light this year. They’re 2-4, and in their two wins they’ve been able to run the ball for over 250 yards, and doing that with just two seniors on the offensive line.

“We’ve got to get that kid out of the way,” Audy Vanderpool said about their goal whenever they line up. “So Riley (Vanderpool) can run for 300 yards every game; just to get us yards, and get us the win.”

That’s something they’ve been focusing on this year, opening more holes for Riley.

Riley ran for over 200 yards in their season opening win, and in almost every photo of him there’s a lineman three yards in front leading the way.

“That felt amazing,” remarked Jared Gunther.

They credit their workout regiment for their improvement.

“We’re really focusing on our footwork and our physicality this year,” said Gunther.

They’re hoping to end their playoff drought this season.

“That’d be amazing to make that my senior year,” Gunther said.

But they’re also playing for their offensive coordinator, coach Ryan Larcom, who hasn’t been with the team the past few weeks due to health problems.

“It keeps everyone more motivated, to play for something,” Audy said. “He’s a big help for us, and now he’s not here. We’ve got to play with it. We’ll play without him, but it’s kind of tough, but it’s going to keep us going.”

They also want to show the younger kids how important offensive line play is.

“(They) don’t really understand, yet, but once you get older, and you play in there, and you see everyone get big runs, it’s very motivating to do better next play, and just keep everyone going,” Audy remarked.

In Wyalusing they’ve revamped their offense around the run, led by lone senior Ken Warfle. He’s been a lineman since seventh grade, and has taken over a leadership role this year.

“I coach them, tell them what they’re doing wrong, and try to not yell at them,” said Warfle. “Try to get them to learn.”

Last year they threw the ball more, so it’s been a learning curve for everyone on the line in the new system.

“You have to make bigger blocks,” said Warfle. “You’re more important. Try to block everyone, and go follow the ball, and pick up more blocks.”

While most think of linemen as tall and wide, some aren’t quite built that way.

Junior back Dante Hatton is about a head shorter than most linemen, but he’s learning how to turn that into an advantage.

“You’ve got to maintain leverage,” said Hatton. “You’ve just got to keep your composure, you’ve got to be able to handle the big guys, and be able to move them around to where you need to go. You’ve just got to stay low, you’ve got to keep driving the feet. You can’t stop your feet, when you stop your feet, you’re dead.”

Despite his small size Hatton has taken this new offense as a challenge to show what he can do.

“It’s more of a driving game now,” he said. “You’ve got to be conditioned. You outlast these big guys you can push them anywhere you want.”

He also feels the new offense is more like Wyalusing football.

“I think it has its ups and downs,” he said. “We pound it hard. Its smash mouth football, it’s what I like.”

So, the next time you see a lineman give them a pat on the back. 

They don’t carry the ball, they just carry the team.