AUBURN - You won't find any statistics for them or read their names in the newspaper, usually. They are literally the biggest piece of the Auburn football team puzzle and they rarely come in contact with the ball.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Auburn's offensive line prepares to snap the ball during practice on Wednesday. The five front men have been a big reason the Maroons have been able to gain so much yardage on offense this season.
Auburn's offensive line prepares to snap the ball during practice on Wednesday. The five front men have been a big reason the Maroons have been able to gain so much yardage on offense this season.
Eric Miller, Pat Patterson, Colin Parry, Ryan Hutchings and Nick Lepak make up the Maroons unshakable offensive line and are a big reason why standout running back Quendel Ellison is having the best season of his career (220 carries, 1,785 yards, 21 touchdowns). Not that any of them would take credit for it.
“We don't usually get a lot of the glory, but it's nice to know that Quendel appreciates us when we help him get all those yards,” Parry said. “The first thing he does in the locker room is congratulate us and tell us that he couldn't do it without us, but he's such a great running back, so I'm sure he probably could.”
The line has also done a remarkable job protecting quarterback Darnell Murphy, who rarely gets sacked and usually has plenty of time to make reads down the field. But since the Maroons are primarily a running team, the line is credited with helping provide the gaudy numbers that Murphy and Ellison have a tendency to put up on theground. Some parts of the 1,300-plus pound line find pushing open holes for the standout senior entertaining, while others are in awe.
“It's really an honor,” Lepak said. “(Ellison) has accomplished so much throughout the years and it's really fun watching him play.”
The close-knit group has been playing together for several years, going back to modified football. They are so close in fact, that they don't even have to make calls on the line before a play anymore said Hutchings, the 6-1, 272-pound right guard. On the left side of the line, the tackle gives their similar hairstyles as an example of the fun they have together.
“Everyone on the line, we all click together and we have great chemistry,” Miller said. “Most of us on the offensive line have the mohawks, we all talk to each other off the field, it's just fun playing with them.”
Physically, the intense and burly five couldn't be any more eclectic, despite the narrow strip of hair on four of their heads - Parry prefers to keep his brown locks long. At center, Parry is the smallest at 5-11, 208 pounds, but his intensity more than makes up for his lack of size.
Tackles Miller and Lepak are tall at 6-2 and 6-5, respectively, but the 350-pound Lepak outweighs the senior right tackle by nearly 150 pounds. Patterson's 5-10, 268-pound frame is another solid reason Murphy's blind side is usually secure.
The Maroons coach said the group is among the hardest working on the team, which is part of the reason Lepak and Hutchings join Murphy and Ellison as team captains.
“In the offseason, those guys have been working on their O-line fundamentals since March,” Auburn coach Dave Moskov said. “Almost every day all spring and summer, so once you get to the season, there is such great cohesion with that unit.”
That cohesion is a big reason the offensive line had its best game of the season in the 42-14 Section III, Class AA win over Rome Free Academy Saturday.
“We played great all year, but together as a team that was the best all-around game we've had all year,” Parry said. “Us in particular, we just had no mistakes, which killed us a lot this year. We just played flawless (against RFA).”
The monstrous junior said the offensive line didn't do anything different against the Black Knights, but instead just stuck to the same things they usually do: grab and drive the opponent.
“It was mostly the same things that we had been doing all year,” Lepak said. “We just came into the game confident and we were able to drop a 42-point bombshell on them.”
Life down in the trenches may not be glamorous, but that's just fine with this group. They love the battle and the opportunity to release any hostility on their opponents.
“We take care of what we have to do; (not getting attention) doesn't bug us,” Patterson said.
“Normally, you can't just go around and hit someone, but around here on the field, it's fine, there's no other feeling like it. We take out our aggressions out there and we have a good time doing it.”
One of the co-captains said the linemen get all the credit they need - from teammates and coaches.
“We don't need it. The coaches and (Quendel), the whole team lets us know what we do every day,” Hutchings said. “It never goes through my mind otherwise. I don't think it goes through any of our minds.”
Right now, the only thing going through their minds is the defense of Union Endicott for Saturday's contest, a game for which they are not lacking inspiration.
“We're motivated,” Lepak said. “We've been the underdog for every game we've play and if anything, it only motivates us to another degree. It's been a dream come true to not being in the playoffs to winning the section and hopefully go on further.”
For Auburn's first ever New York State tournament game, the game plan is simple for the crucial guys up front.
“We need to stay on our keys and smack them in the face,” Lepak said.
“We don't usually get a lot of the glory, but it's nice to know that Quendel appreciates us when we help him get all those yards,” Parry said. “The first thing he does in the locker room is congratulate us and tell us that he couldn't do it without us, but he's such a great running back, so I'm sure he probably could.”
The line has also done a remarkable job protecting quarterback Darnell Murphy, who rarely gets sacked and usually has plenty of time to make reads down the field. But since the Maroons are primarily a running team, the line is credited with helping provide the gaudy numbers that Murphy and Ellison have a tendency to put up on theground. Some parts of the 1,300-plus pound line find pushing open holes for the standout senior entertaining, while others are in awe.
“It's really an honor,” Lepak said. “(Ellison) has accomplished so much throughout the years and it's really fun watching him play.”
The close-knit group has been playing together for several years, going back to modified football. They are so close in fact, that they don't even have to make calls on the line before a play anymore said Hutchings, the 6-1, 272-pound right guard. On the left side of the line, the tackle gives their similar hairstyles as an example of the fun they have together.
“Everyone on the line, we all click together and we have great chemistry,” Miller said. “Most of us on the offensive line have the mohawks, we all talk to each other off the field, it's just fun playing with them.”
Physically, the intense and burly five couldn't be any more eclectic, despite the narrow strip of hair on four of their heads - Parry prefers to keep his brown locks long. At center, Parry is the smallest at 5-11, 208 pounds, but his intensity more than makes up for his lack of size.
Tackles Miller and Lepak are tall at 6-2 and 6-5, respectively, but the 350-pound Lepak outweighs the senior right tackle by nearly 150 pounds. Patterson's 5-10, 268-pound frame is another solid reason Murphy's blind side is usually secure.
The Maroons coach said the group is among the hardest working on the team, which is part of the reason Lepak and Hutchings join Murphy and Ellison as team captains.
“In the offseason, those guys have been working on their O-line fundamentals since March,” Auburn coach Dave Moskov said. “Almost every day all spring and summer, so once you get to the season, there is such great cohesion with that unit.”
That cohesion is a big reason the offensive line had its best game of the season in the 42-14 Section III, Class AA win over Rome Free Academy Saturday.
“We played great all year, but together as a team that was the best all-around game we've had all year,” Parry said. “Us in particular, we just had no mistakes, which killed us a lot this year. We just played flawless (against RFA).”
The monstrous junior said the offensive line didn't do anything different against the Black Knights, but instead just stuck to the same things they usually do: grab and drive the opponent.
“It was mostly the same things that we had been doing all year,” Lepak said. “We just came into the game confident and we were able to drop a 42-point bombshell on them.”
Life down in the trenches may not be glamorous, but that's just fine with this group. They love the battle and the opportunity to release any hostility on their opponents.
“We take care of what we have to do; (not getting attention) doesn't bug us,” Patterson said.
“Normally, you can't just go around and hit someone, but around here on the field, it's fine, there's no other feeling like it. We take out our aggressions out there and we have a good time doing it.”
One of the co-captains said the linemen get all the credit they need - from teammates and coaches.
“We don't need it. The coaches and (Quendel), the whole team lets us know what we do every day,” Hutchings said. “It never goes through my mind otherwise. I don't think it goes through any of our minds.”
Right now, the only thing going through their minds is the defense of Union Endicott for Saturday's contest, a game for which they are not lacking inspiration.
“We're motivated,” Lepak said. “We've been the underdog for every game we've play and if anything, it only motivates us to another degree. It's been a dream come true to not being in the playoffs to winning the section and hopefully go on further.”
For Auburn's first ever New York State tournament game, the game plan is simple for the crucial guys up front.
“We need to stay on our keys and smack them in the face,” Lepak said.
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
student wrote on Nov 10, 2006 1:54 PM:
old maroon wrote on Nov 9, 2006 10:29 AM: