It’s not a flashy position, but it’s a crucial one.
Thirteen Wildcats have been working on the offensive and defensive lines this summer, preparing to work as a unit this football season.
Clay Weldy, Cassville football coach, said each of the following have a chance to touch some grass on Friday nights: Isaac Luney, Ethan Sizemore, Isaac Pickett, Gunner Knight, Tristan Antonio, Jayce Magula, Harley Madison, Ricky Norris, Jeremiah Hall, Wesley Garner, Michael Phillips, Chase Reazin and Trevor Brooks.
“We hope to get 8-10 players we feel good about, and some years we have that and some years we don’t,” he said. “Having so many this year gives us more options. We’re rotating about 8-9 in the varsity group this summer.”
Returning starters in the trenches include the junior trio of Luney, Sizemore and Knight, all of whom started on the offensive line last season. Pickett, a senior, was the only defensive line starter who is back.
“Pickett has had a really good summer on the offensive line, and I am proud of him because he’s undersized and didn’t really want to play on the line, but he knows it will help the team if he plays there.”
Overall, Weldy said size is less an issue than it was last season.
“We’re a little bigger in places but we’re not huge up front,” he said. “We’ve been smaller the last couple years, and even other teams have been larger than normal in places. We’re not tiny, but we’re not massive.
“All our returning starters got stronger because they are older, and we had some big jumps in the weight room.”
Weldy said offensively, the keys for Cassville are to stay healthy and work together.
“Offensive line is one of the most unique positions because there’s five of you, and you have to work in a cohesive unit, working together in rhythm. If we can stay healthy, that consis- tency and not moving guys around will also help us get better through the year.”
Cassville football at its best is physical and relies on the run game, and Weldy said this year’s group is a reflection of the program.
“The way our program is built, the offensive line is the most important group offensively,” he said. “This group is the epitome of our physical football. If the line does good, we usually do good. The skill guys may get their pictures and names in the paper for scoring, but that does not happen without the offensive line.”
Some of the linemen will play both ways, as Weldy said the Wildcats typically have a set five on offense and an 7- or 8-man rotation on defense.
“In a four-man defensive line, we’ll rotate guys in to keep them fresh,” Weldy said. “We’ll see what these kids can do. I am hoping the young guys step up and get some snaps, because that will keep us as fresh as possible, especially if our opponent is playing guys both ways, too.”
Defensive linemen have three priorities: play low and physical, push the offensive line backward and keep linemen off the linebackers.
“Everything starts up front offensively and defensively,” Weldy said. “We have to establish the line of scrimmage. This position group is the bedrock of the program, so it’s important we play well on both sides of the ball.”
Publisher’s Note: This story is the third in a five-part series running July 24 through Aug. 21 breaking down the 2024 Cassville football team by position groups.
