The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Offensive line powers prolific Kenston offense
Bombers average 40 points per game, are one victory from state title game
The life of an offensive lineman is usually one of anonymity.
Generally speaking, the only time an offensive lineman is noticed is if something goes wrong, such as a holding penalty on a long touchdown run or an illegal motion penalty before the ball is snapped.
Most people don’t notice linemen otherwise.
Jack Porter and Jon Tomcufcik make sure that’s not the case with the state-qualifying Kenston Bombers.
Every Saturday morning for the past 13 weeks, Kenston’s star running back (Porter)
and star quarterback (Tomcufcik) have treated the fiveman starting offensive line to donuts and McDonald’s at the morning film sessions.
It’s been an expensive proposition to this point, but for a team that averages 40 points and 428 yards of offense per game, it’s money well spent, according to the team’s biggest two playmakers.
“Every Saturday during film, I bring the doughnuts and he brings the McGriddles,” Tomcufcik said, nodding toward Porter.
“Yeah, they like the McGriddles and hash browns,” Porter said with a grin. “They deserve it. They bust their butts for us.”
Kenston (12-1) will play Columbus Eastmoor (121) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23 at New Philadelphia’s Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium. A win in that game would put the Bombers in the state championship game for the first time since 1995.
If the Bombers are able to do that, their offensive line will be a major reason why.
The line, from left to right, consists of junior tackle George Sell (6-foot4, 265 pounds), junior guard Jeremiah Jones (6-3, 235), senior center Brandon Schroeder (5-11, 195), junior guard Justin Schroeder (60, 235) and senior tackle Alex Robarge (6-4, 315).
Through 13 games, Kenston has piled up 5,569 yards. The Bombers are stunningly unpredictable in that 2,917 yards have come on the ground, while 2,652 yards have come through the passing game.
Not only has Porter run for 2,116 yards and 27 touchdowns, but Tomcufcik has thrown for 2,652 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Tomcufcik has thrown only four interceptions and has been sacked twice through 13 games.
The line has made sure few — if anyone — touches the team’s marquee playmakers.
“I think we do a great job, and I think our team does a great job following behind us,” said center Schroeder.
“I don’t even think about it,” Sell said of the ability for himself and the line to be so efficient. “I just have a job to do every play.”
Some teams have a line that excels in run blocking.
Some teams have a line that is better at pass protection.
The numbers suggest the Kenston line is well-versed
in doing both.
“That’s huge,” said Kenston coach Jeff Grubich. “A lot of the time you’ll find kids who are really good at pass blocking but can’t runblock worth a darn. We’ve got a group that is good at both. That’s a credit to our coaches.”
Being able to run-block and pass-block equally as well is more intricate than one might think. A big key is for a lineman to not tip off what he is going to do based on his stance, or even by how much weight he put on his hand.
“You can’t put too much weight on your fingers,” Brandon Schroeder said. “You’ve got to have the same stance every time.”
“You can’t whiteknuckle,” said Sell, pointing out that if your weight is forward to the point that your knuckles are white, the defense will know it’s a running play.”
The task ahead of the Bombers in the state semifinal against Columbus Eastmoor is the tallest to date for the team. A big, fast and physical front four awaits Kenston’s offensive
line, with athletic linebackers who shoot gaps.
Schroeder says he and the other linemen need to be ready for every look.
“We’ve seen a ton of blitzing defenses, and a ton of defenses that sit there and do don’t do much,” he said. “Week by week, we have to figure out what they’re going to do best and stop it.” So far it has worked. The 12-1 record and the offensive productivity (428 yards per game, 40 points per game and only two sacks) suggest they’ve done that so far.
“It’s been amazing,” Schroeder said. “We want to keep it going.”
And maybe — just maybe — the Bombers can get the program’s first state championship.
If it happens, Porter and Tomcufcik said they have no plans for doughnuts and McGriddles for their boys in the trenches.
“Steak dinner,” Tomcufcik said. “Definitely a steak dinner.”
Who says no one notices linemen?
At Kenston, they’re a priority.