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Jesuit offensive line dominates
The state's longest-running block party shows no signs of slowing down.
For nearly three months, the Jesuit offensive line has been playing like a runaway bulldozer, flattening opponents and clearing a path to Saturday's OSAA Class 4A football championship game against Lincoln at Autzen Stadium.
The Crusaders (12-1) have won 12 in a row and have averaged 45 points in their last 10 games, all of them blowouts.
Running backs Paul Weatheroy and Keo Camat and quarterback Austin Pearce have scored 42 of Jesuit's 51 rushing touchdowns this season, but most agree the offensive linemen deserve as much credit as the ballcarriers for the team's impressive run.
"My impression is they are really big, pretty athletic and they all need to graduate this year," Beaverton coach Bob Boyer said of the linemen.
That, of course, is wishful thinking. Opponents have not seen the last of this group because Jesuit's offensive line consists entirely of juniors -- tackles Nick Lewis (6 feet 2, 270 pounds) and Mike Remmers (6-5, 221), guards Aaron Campbell (6-0, 234) and Michael Lamb (6-3, 225), center Adam Kleffner (6-3, 296) and tight end Sean Williams (6-3, 210).
"This group of kids has the potential to be really dominating," Jesuit coach Ken Potter said.
Behind the line's blocking, Jesuit has run roughshod over four highly regarded teams in the playoffs. The Crusaders have averaged 328 yards rushing, more than their season average of 302 yards, in victories over Roseburg, 42-14; Lakeridge, 45-20; third-ranked Barlow, 41-19; and No. 1 Tualatin, 42-0.
Facing previously unbeaten teams the last two weeks, Jesuit rolled up 454 total yards against Barlow and 424 against Tualatin.
"They were definitely quality opponents, some of the tougher ones we've seen all year," Kleffner said of Barlow and Tualatin. "They came to play. The score may not have reflected that, but those were two of the best defensive lines we've gone against."
Kleffner was the only returning starter on the offensive line for Jesuit, which lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Sprague last season. He said the inexperience showed in a 28-20, season-opening loss at Southridge on Sept. 9.
"The competition steps up and the pressure goes up," Kleffner said. "It takes time getting used to that. Southridge was a tough atmosphere to play in; a pretty loud crowd. But that was a while ago. We've made great strides."
All the linemen said the turning point came in the second half against host Beaverton on Sept. 23, Jesuit's third game. After trailing by seven at halftime, the Crusaders rallied for a 21-14 win behind a punishing ground attack that ate up yardage and the clock.
Beaverton had the ball for just 3 minutes, 24 seconds of the second half, running eight plays, and star quarterback Kevin Riley did not complete a pass after halftime.
"I won't ever forget it," Lamb said. "It was the start of the whole run. It gave us the confidence."
Remmers recalled that Jesuit kept running the same play, "23 blast," with Camat getting most of the carries after Weatheroy had left the game with a sprained shoulder.
"We were running right through them," Remmers said. "They couldn't stop us."
After the game, Potter said: "I think we may have just figured out our identity. We figured out we can run the ball."
Dave Lamb, Michael's father and a former Jesuit offensive lineman, said the Beaverton game was when the line "started blocking as a unit and running other teams down."
"It's been fun watching them come together as a bunch of juniors," said the elder Lamb, who helped Jesuit win the Metro League title as a senior in 1971. "Every week they're progressing, getting a little smarter and sharper. It has been quite impressive."
Campbell, who plays right guard, has come the farthest of any of the linemen this year. A former fullback/linebacker, he was asked to switch positions in preseason practice, only a few weeks before the opener.
"Coach (Potter) said he needed an offensive guard," Campbell said. "I just said, 'Whatever is best for the team, I'll do it.' It just went from there."
Campbell said it was a big adjustment moving to the line.
"It's more consistently physical," he said. "Every single play, you know you're either going to hit someone right in front of you, or three feet in front of you. It's really tough. There's a lot more technique involved than I thought."
By creating a little space, the line knows it can launch a big play. In 598 carries, Jesuit has 121 runs of 10 yards or longer this season. The Crusaders are averaging 6.58 yards per rush, led by Weatheroy with 1,494 yards and Camat with 857.
"We know if we give them a seam, they can cut back; they're tremendous at doing that," Kleffner said of the running backs.
The prospect of Jesuit losing only four senior starters and returning its line intact is enough to have coaches concerned about next season.
"I'm retiring," Beaverton's Boyer deadpanned. "I'll have to send (Potter) some goodies and tell him to take it easy on us."
Oregon Derby Camp Success shows up on the Field
Benson High School: Class of 2009
and this:
Dear Dirk and Brian;
Thanks for all of your Support with Taylor and the Derby Camp this Summer. I like your passion for the greatest game on earth. Taylor made second team all Metro! Derby and the crew made a Huge difference and contribution to his success! Thank you soo Much.
Mark and Taylor Turnbull
Centruy High Class of 2006
Hopefully you can Join us for the Camps in 2006
Best of Luck to you all...
Coach Knudsen
Oregon Derby Camp Success being felt on the Field!
Benson High School: Class of 2009
and this:
Dear Dirk and Brian;
Thanks for all of your Support with Taylor and the Derby Camp this Summer. I like your passion for the greatest game on earth. Taylor made second team all Metro! Derby and the crew made a Huge difference and contribution to his success! Thank you soo Much.
Mark and Taylor Turnbull
Centruy High Class of 2006
Hopefully you can Join us for the Camps in 2006
Best of Luck to you all...
Coach Knudsen
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