Unsung heroes: Central's offensive line fills big role for the Tigers

In a high-powered offense like the Central football team has, sometimes players who provide an impact go unnoticed.

That seemed to be the case for the Tigers' offensive line which had big shoes to fill when the season began three months ago.

Now, Central's front five are regarded by their teammates as a force that helps makes the offense so successful.

Central will play in its first-ever state championship against Class 4 perennial power and four-time defending state champion Webb City on Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Webb City is the same team that knocked the Tigers out in the semifinals last season.

The Tigers not only lost to the Cardinals, but they lost all five of their starting linemen to graduation.

"The finale last year was depressing, which is similar to this year because you lose so many good kids. It's always sad," Central coach Nathan Norman said his departing senior line. "As a coach you think, 'How in the world am I going to replace those guys?' We knew we had the bodies and the talent, but you just never really know how they're going to respond. Hats off to this group. Man, they have really, really improved since mid-year and they've really stepped up. In all honesty, as a team we've gotten better, but this group could all be given the most improved player award."

Central had to replace many important players entering the 2014 season, including running back Mikey Jones, who broke the school record for rushing yards, and quarterback Dennis Vinson, but Norman said none were more important than replacing his front line.

Central's fourth-year coach filled those roles with seniors Max Abbott and Jaylen Flye-Sadler and juniors Vince Long, Jacob Holter and Casey Vaughn. He refers to the five players, who average 273 pounds, as the "beef squad."

Sadler said they have come a long way since they began playing together on the JV level in 2012 and was surprised to see that they picked up right where the Tigers left off last year.

"To be honest, I didn't think we would be where we are today," Sadler said. "But we stepped up to the plate and we hit it out of the park -- it's that simple. We made it farther than them and we beat teams that they didn't beat. We just feel like we're a lot better than we were last year."

Tackles Sadler, listed as 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, and Long played a few downs when the Tigers were up big late in games last year, but starting at the varsity level was still a faster and completely new experience for the linemen.

"For me, I think I'd have to say it was nerve-wracking," center Abbott said about his first start on varsity. "But even within that first varsity experience, I really started to see us coming together as a group and starting to function. These guys are some of my best friends now, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that this is a dream come true that we didn't think was possible at first."

Abbott, the lightest of the group at 240 pounds, said chemistry was never a problem for the linemen and they make it a goal to hang out outside of football every chance they get. Norman said he noticed it over the summer and it became a determining factor in their daily improvement.

"The thing they always had was that they liked each other, and that's been there from the beginning," Norman said. "That's huge for us because that peer pressure in that group really helps. That's a bigger impact than a coach can have, and they really responded to each other and didn't want to let one another down."

The chemistry has always been there, but things like footwork and technique weren't. Sadler said his coaches and former linemen are what have led to the team's success, noting former Central center Scottie Thomas had an impact on his development.

"Technique-wise I learned a lot from Scottie and a lot of the other guys that were so good at their position when I was backing them up," Sadler said. "I learned good footwork, and he motivated me a lot. I wouldn't be the player I am right now if it wasn't for him and the guys on the line last year."

Abbott said his biggest take away from last year's team was never to give up regardless of record or who the Tigers were playing. Central started the season with a 1-4 record, but quickly turned its season around and went on an eight game winning streak.

"Those guys last year, they really taught us never to give up," Abbott said. "You know, they had that 1-4 start and then they wound up going to the semifinals. The biggest thing I learned from them was just to not give up. If they had been OK with 1-4 they would have never gone to the semifinals last year, and I think that would have had a big effect on us this year. They always seemed like one big family to me just them as a unit, and we try to take that mindset and the foundation that they laid out for us and just keep growing and improving on it every day."

That mindset came out in full force for the line after Central suffered its first loss to Ladue in the fifth week of the season. They never got down on themselves and the rest of the Central team followed suit.

Ladue outscored Central 26-0 in the second half for a 32-22 win.

"I think our biggest growing pain was overcoming a loss to Ladue," Abbott said. "I think in everybody's minds it was going to be an undefeated season, nobody was going to stop us. We did learn from that and I think I would credit our two losses to getting us to where we are now because we didn't give up after either of those."

The five linemen know they won't get to score touchdowns or show up on the stat sheet, but they're happy to block for offensive weapons like senior Braion Owens, who leads the Tigers in rushing with 1,429 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Abbott said Owens is one of the most humble players on the Tigers' roster.

"It's a pleasure to block for Braion. Braion is probably one of the least selfish football players I've ever met," Abbott said. "Even if we're having an off night, he's not one to yell at you and blame it all on you. He expects a lot out of us, but at the same time we don't want to disappoint him because it's like having that brother that you don't want to let down. We do a lot for him, but he respects that and gives us some of the glory when he gets in the end zone."

The line prides itself on run and pass blocking. Vaughn said the Tigers can always rely on them to open holes and provide time for passes.

"I think all the running backs, receivers and quarterbacks can rely on us because we always have their backs," Vaughn said. "Even when it gets tough, we want to be the guys that can open up holes and provide that passage that Braion can break through, or that time so [quarterback] Peyton [Montgomery] can throw one to Al [Young]. We like dong those things because most of the time it leads to points and a win. We work together in practice and off the field as a family, and we play that way, too."

One of the hardest things for an offensive line to do is adjust to a new quarterback.

The Tigers faced that problem at first when Montgomery transferred from Chaffee at the beginning of the season, but for Abbott the transition got smoother as the season went on.

"He just has a way of making you feel like you're doing what you're supposed to," Abbott said. "I didn't even want to play center, but when [coach] put me there it felt natural. Peyton is a natural talent on the field and he has a natural way of leading. To have him as your quarterback makes it a whole lot easier to play this position."

In his only season with the Tigers, Montgomery said he wouldn't have been able to make throws down field or scramble in and out of the pocket as frequently as he does without his linemen.

"Everybody looks at the skill positions as being the dominating force for our offense, but I give all the credit to them," Montgomery said. "When they give me time, it's usually a touchdown pass to Al because he has time to get open. They're really underrated and probably one of the best and most kept secrets of our offense. I'd call them five of the best players in the state, and I whole-heartedly believe that and they deserve that honor."

The Tigers' offensive line had big shoes to fill and setbacks to overcome, but they've always been eager to improve. Now entering their final week together on the football field, Central only has one more feat to overcome.

"Everyone can rely on us, we've always got someone's back and that stays true this weekend," Abbott said. "I think personality-wise we're not stubborn, we were never OK with where we were. I think our biggest asset is that we're never not hungry to improve. We're always hungry to improve and get better and we're hungry to win the dome."