Offensive linemen are accustomed to not being in the spotlight and can sometimes be mistaken for being shy. For the Lindendwood offensive line, shy would be the last word to describe this unit. The group of
Dan Jones,
Mike Errante,
Jeff Hynes,
Billy Clark and
Jerry Martin is simply put, a bunch of characters.
“Goofy, fun loving guys,” claims team-leading rusher
Denodus O’Bryant.
“Half of them are like Billy Bob from the movie Varsity Blues,” adds quarterback
Philip Staback.
Despite their easy going nature and joking personalities, you have to take this group serious on the field. The five linemen have paved the way for one of the top offenses in NAIA history. Lindenwood is scoring more than 55 points per game, which is tops in the nation.
The offense is averaging more than 200-yards per game on the ground, but these five are not just road-graders. This unit has surrendered only 14.5 sacks all season.
Billy Clark filled in at center early this year.
Their relationship with Staback would be described as protective.
“With Phil, its like being a parent and having a daughter, no one touches him, no one messes with him,” says Clark, a senior from West Palm Beach, Fla.
Each year since implementing the spread attack, the offensive line has ranked as one of the best in the nation.
“The o-line is really what built our offense to where it is now,” asserts Coach Patrick Ross. “They don't get any glory, but without the offensive line, we wouldn't be able to do what we're doing right now.”
The Lindenwood offensive line is not typical of most units. Only one weighs more than 300 pounds, but all five would be considered undersized by football standards.
“All of them are very athletic,” said offensive line coach, John Haines. “A very good group to work with mentally. They are all in tune with one another, very
Jeff Hynes (69) was is a first-team all-HAAC selection at center.
bright on adjustments. We do a lot of memorizations.”
Prior to each snap, Hynes, the starting center, will call out the blocking assignment and could potentially change it up to three times before the snap, based on a defense’s alignment. The other four are responsible for talking with him at the line of scrimmage to help make the right adjustment.
Once Hynes believes the offense is set, he yells “Go,” and the others follow suit. The attitude among the five is that they are responsible for throwing the first punch.
“It starts with us and ends with us,” points out Errante, a Parkway Central graduate.
Dan Jones was a honorable mention all-HAAC selection this year.
In the semifinal win against Carroll, the starting five wanted to make that clear to the Saints.
“No one wore sleeves, we wanted to send a message to everyone that the weather would not affect us,” said Clark.
The message was received. The Saints were holding teams to less than 84 yards rushing per game. The offensive line help gash the Carroll defense for 188 yards and three touchdowns.
In Lindenwood’s opening round contest against Langston, who was holding teams to the same average, the line cleared the way for Lion running backs to rush for 155 yards and another three scores.
In three playoff games, the unit has surrendered just two sacks to opposing defenses. Consequently, these five feel they are more than prepared for Sioux Falls stingy defense.
“Athleticism, they haven’t seen a line as athletic as us before,” say Hynes, last year’s recipient of the Rimington Award for the nation’s top center and a McCluer North graduate.
“We are physical, but we also have speed,” added Martin, a senior from Martinez, Calif. “We all
Jerry Martin (63) was a second-team all-HAAC selection this year.
understand our assignments and trust each other.”
These five see the field the most, but backup lineman
Chance Iott,
Matt Atley and
Kyle Schaper have all played a big role at some point this season. Atley started the first three games of the season while Hynes recovered from an injury, and Iott started in place of an injured Jones against Ottawa in the second round of the playoffs. Schaper has played the most of the three.
Though all business on the field, the starting five are far from that off the field.
“I wouldn’t say one is the clown, but everybody has their own character,” remarks Jones, a junior from Wentzville.
“Little goofy, little weird, they probably ended up making fun of each other in their interview,” added Coach Haines.
Mike Errante (62) was a second-team all-HAAC conferece selection this year.
In the team’s final practice before leaving for Rome, Clark and Martin bursted out in song and poked fun of the seniors for being emotional in their final practice at Lindenwood.
Jones is responsible for “screaming and yelling and saying things that need to be said” before each kickoff and then these five will go to work.
Prior to the start of the season, the line set a goal of being the top offensive line in the nation. With a win on Saturday, there would be no argument.