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Blue Devils are up front about keys to winning
By Curtis Pulliam
Berlin Center
Offensive lineman Hunter Powell has an easy solution to last week’s slow start.
“We have to come out and tear people’s faces off,” Powell said.
Powell and the rest of the Western Reserve offensive line will get the chance to do that on Saturday against the Lucas Cubs at Orrville Red Rider Stadium.
“I feel like it’s one of most important assets,” said senior lineman Matt Mace. “We never get any of the recognition, but we just go out and do it because we want to do it. I feel we are the most important part of the team in that respect.”
Quarterback John Clegg believes the Blue Devils have to start fast.
“The whole team needs to be fired up and ready to go,” Clegg said. “Because if you don’t this time of year, you go home.”
The Blue Devils (10-1) defeated the Toronto Red Knights 27-17 after being down at halftime.
“We just came together last week,” Clegg said. “We just decided it was on us and not Toronto.”
“It was a tough game, they were a good team,” said Blue Devils head coach Andy Hake. “We got hit in the mouth and we responded.
“We needed that. We did not need some team that was going to let us do what we wanted.”
Hake knows his team has a challenge against the Cubs (7-4).
“They are a very physical team,” Hake said. “We are going to have to play very intense at the line of scrimmage because that’s where they try to beat you.”
Powell won’t let that happen.
“We have to move those kids,” he said. “They are not really what they are so we have to move them and score points.”
The Blue Devils will be without senior running back Evan Nesbitt. who tore his meniscus.
“He’s a great player, but we have other tough guys who are going to have to step up,” Hake said.
Running back Jack Cappabianca ran for a 54-yard touchdown in place of Nesbitt.
“We have backs, but it’s the line,” Hake said. “Our line blocks hard. Our big guys have to play ball. We have to be very fierce up front.
“We want to run the ball like everybody else,” Hake said. “We are going to run the ball no matter what.”
Clegg, who rushed for 117 yards, also helped the Blue Devils absorb the loss of Nesbitt.
“Our line is huge,” Clegg said. “It’s awesome to know that they’ve started since 1950, it feels like.”
Powell (6-foot-4, 352 pounds) and Mace (6-3, 315) are both seniors. They don’t care who they are blocking for.
“It’s all or nothing for me right now,” Powell said. “There is no tomorrow or next year.”
“We want to inflict pain on people,” Mace said. “We just love forcing our will upon people and they can’t do anything about it. It’s just what we love to do.”
Mace has no worries about the line on Saturday.
“We’re pretty confident,” Mace said. “We just have to come out as a team and focus. We can’t overlook this team at all because they are a playoff team just like we are.”
Hake feels his team is ready.
“Our job is to prepare them,” Hake said. “They got to do it and I think they are going to do it.”