Moving mountains

Without the pads, you might have trouble picking the Mountaineers’ offensive line out of a group of students roaming the halls of Madison County High School.

But come Friday night, their opponents sure know who they are.

The line has led the way for the Mountaineers high-octane running attack, pounding their way to a 5-0 start on the season.

“That’s where you win games – up front with your linemen, with your offensive line and defensive line,” Madison County coach Stuart Dean said. “They’re the ones that win it. They don’t get any glory but there the ones you count on to get the job done.”

The Mountaineers in the trenches might be making plenty noise on the field, but off the field is a different story.

“They’re a good group,” Dean said. “They’re kind of a quiet group, they don’t say a whole lot but they’re going to get after it. I wouldn’t say there’s one real leader of them they just all five work together and do their job.”

They also don’t have the customary size football fans are used to. The seven linemen that get the most work on the field average a weight of 209 pounds and just over 5-11 in height.

“They lift weights all the time so I know their always getting bigger and stronger,” Quarterback Dustin Kirby said. “Not the biggest out there but they work hard so that’ll end up paying off for them.”

On the field, though, that soft-spoken, undersized group of high school students transfers into an offensive line that has produced a running game with 1,075 yards and 20 touchdowns through five games this season, an average of 215 yards and four touchdowns per game.

“The big thing is they play so well together as a team,” Dean said. “It’s not just about one person to them. From day one that group right there has really wanted to do what we ask and has been so coachable – it really makes it a lot of fun to work with those guys.”

The running back combination of Logan Terrell, Devon Boone, Jerod Williams and Ralph Yates has averaged 6.6 yards a carry on the season.

“That’s a real good feeling,” Terrell said. “When the holes are open, you’ve got a lot of room to run. I give hats off to them.”

In the passing game, Kirby has had one less thing to think about when he drops back.

“Notice that I have a better read on whatever side I’m going to come back to,” Kirby said. “Because I’m not as flinchy – I trust that they’re going to protect me for that extra second that I need.”

New to protecting and opening lanes for the backfield, senior Quinton Walker is spending his first season on the offensive line after tours on the defensive side of the ball.

“Played all over until we found a home for him,” Dean said.

But the 5-11, 171-pound right tackle has the team mentality that most linemen have, as if he were playing there all along.

“I don’t really think of myself as doing great,” Walker said. “I try and do my best, practice hard so I can make my running backs look good.”

His coach has been pleased with the move.

“He’s done a great job,” Dean said. “The way Quinton gets off the ball – being quick and playing to the whistle – is a great asset of what he does on the field.”

Walker and the rest of the line haven’t had any trouble coming together as a team.

“Were like a big family,” Walker said. “Logan (Terrell) likes to say were like a big family. We’ve got very good chemistry, we like to hang out a lot.

Terrell knows his chemistry with the line has been important to his success as well.

“It all starts with them,” Terrell said. “So when you’ve got the chemistry with them you really don’t have anything to worry about.”

That chemistry can make things easier on the field when all five players act as one.

“We just know that we have each other’s backs,” said senior left tackle Greg Lillard, who measures 6-2, 152 pounds. “We’re there for each other.”

No matter how much credit or statistics people can throw at them, it doesn’t matter to the line.

“Those up front guys – they don’t care about stats or anything,” Terrell said. “They just want to help the team and want to find a way to help us get a win.”

For the remainder of the season, there is only one statistic that does matter.

“Were trying to win big,” Walker said. “That’s what all teams are looking for.”