But Copperas Cove’s undersized offensive linemen are the main reason the Bulldawgs (13-1) have advanced to the Class 5A Division II state semifinals to play Wylie (12-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
“They are not an intimidating group,” Cove coach Jack Welch said. “They are one of the most undersized lines we’ve had, but they are fierce when they move.”
Being an offensive lineman is one of the more thankless jobs on the team. When linemen do their jobs correctly, it’s rare that anyone notices. But when they fail, everyone notices.
Cove’s linemen have quietly opened the holes for running backs Brandin Byrd, Will Wright, Brelan Chancellor and Tommy McLeain as the Bulldawgs have rushed for 3,823 yards.
They’ve given enough pocket time for quarterbacks Cody Vaughn and Nick Greene to find Josh Boyce and Sherome Miller on open routes in a passing game that has 1,426 yards.
And when any of those players scores, the linemen walk quietly off the field as the rest of the team congratulates the star.
And yet, as thankless as their job might be, the linemen don’t care.
“It really doesn’t bother me,” senior center Percy Jonasson said. “Knowing my team is doing well, I kind of associate myself with that and it’s a victory for me at the same time.”
But as the Bulldawgs have averaged just under 40 points per game, the offensive guys doing all the scoring know how good they have it.
Wright, who has 1,053 yards rushing, has had enormous games the last two weeks, averaging 229 yards a game. After both games he was quick to praise his line.
“They are like Hercules,” he said after Cove’s 41-7 win over Klein Oak last week. Added Wright after the 55-48 victory against Houston Cypress Ridge two weeks ago: “I couldn’t have done it without my O-line. They gave me the blocks.”
And both times, when prodded about his own effort, all Wright could say is, “I’m just happy we won.”
But as the ultimate team players, the offensive linemen say the same about him and the rest of the backfield.
“It’s real easy to block for them,” Jonasson said. “As long as we stay on our block and get off the ball quick, they have great vision and will find the hole and make a good move.”
At 5-8 and a mere 200 pounds, Jonasson is the smallest player on the line, but he’s not much smaller than the biggest - fellow senior Richard King, who stands 6-1 and weighs about 260.
“They aren’t the biggest you will see,” offensive coordinator Tracy Welch said. “But they take it as a personal challenge each week. Every one of them are good kids and have been playing together a long time. In meeting time, in film time, in practice time, in everything we do, those kids are studying and working hard. To start on varsity is a personal pride.”
Along with Jonasson and King, senior tight end Josh Kasten also plays a big role on the offense and the line. His role is so crucial that Jack Welch has called him the best blocker of the bunch. In the 10-game regular season Kasten recorded 40 pancake blocks and 62 decleaters, grading out at 93 percent.
His slender 6-2 frame makes him a very deceptive threat.
“A lot of guys underestimate me,” Kasten said. “But by the end of the game a lot have complimented me to my coach.”
Kasten has played wide receiver and defensive end but has really enjoyed the role of tight end because he also gets to go out for passes. He caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Greene against Klein Oak.
“I enjoy blocking and receiving equally,” Kasten said. “I like to hear my name called, but blocking is fun, too - getting in there, getting nasty and pummeling the guy.”
One thing that’s made the group strong is the program itself. The Bulldawgs have a solid junior varsity team that works as the scout team in practice. The JV players and the varsity reserves give it their all in every practice because they are out to prove they’re worthy of a starting varsity role. And that keeps the current starters on top of their game.
“All of these guys work with the same intensity,” King said. “So we have to work hard every day.”
Strangely, the other thing that’s helped the line was going to a no-huddle offense three seasons ago that requires the team to check the play at the line of scrimmage.
“The hardest sell was the O-line,” Tracy Welch said. “They were afraid we were going to run them to death and wear them out. People think no-huddle means faster pace. Sometimes it is faster, sometimes it’s normal, but sometimes it’s slow. But as soon as the play is over we have a formation and the line can go take a knee, or rest their elbows on their leg until the snap.
“When we used to huddle 7-8 yards off the ball and sprint to the line and we run about 50 plays a game, that’s extra sprints. The kids will tell you they get more rest between plays now.”
Not that the current linemen would complain if they didn’t have the extra rest. It’s not their style.
Cove’s coaching staff has to figure out which running back has the hot hand (Byrd has 1,060 yards) and determine if Greene (19-of-45 passing, 247 yards) - who took over at QB after Vaughn was injured in the last game of the regular season - will start or if it’ll be Vaughn (70-for-149, 1,069 yards) if he’s healthy.
All the Bulldawgs’ linemen think about is blocking for whoever is back there.
“It’s up to the coaches to decide that,” Kasten said. “We just go out there and block our (butts) off for all the guys.”
mhood@temple-telegram.com
