It’s a painful way to live every Friday night. It’s unglorified, unpopular, yet so crucial.

Every week, they get pushed. They get pulled. They get socked, clocked and knocked to the ground. Whether they’re the clear-cut winner each time out or not, they will be abused.

What motivates the unsung hero of high school football, the lineman? What feeds him the desire to line up against 200-plus pound bullies 40 times a game only to lock horns with him and never once touch the football?

Perhaps that question is too complex. This year’s high school football special section revolves around the basics of football, and throughout these pages, you can find little tidbits, facts and rules that might make you better informed about the game you’re going to see this fall.

While we’re focusing on the simple facts of football, it seems appropriate to let everyone in on a little secret about this popular spectator sport.

The lineman can make or break a football game.

Believe it.

After every Friday night, when a local running back breaks free for 200 yards, he’ll credit his offensive line. And he should.

And after every Friday night, when a defense is celebrating the zero that remained on the opponent side of the scoreboard, the defensive linemen — whether they know it or not — are the ones who kept it there.

It’s so easy to keep your eyes glued on the football. There are many talented skilled players to watch this year, from Free State’s Jamie Resseguie to Mill Valley’s David Woods to De Soto’s Leif Goleman to perhaps the top two in the area — Lawrence High’s Jeff Colter and Ian Handshy.

Back to basics

From now until November, they will all score a ton, break free for big gains and compile enough highlights to warrant a lifetime of gloating.

But not so fast. Rewind the tape and take a glance at that hole Ottawa’s Vashon Perryman ran through. It was made by Caleb Blakesley, the top college prospect in the entire state.

Too many of us jump right to the fun parts when becoming a football fan. We want to love those who score. We want to admire those who pick off passes, those who make the bone-crushing hits in the secondary, those who return kickoffs for the dramatic touchdown.

They’re worthy of our praise. But if you’re new to the game and checking this section for tips on the sport of football, allow me to start you off right here.

Watch the big guys. See Free State’s Philip Weinmaster keep the nose guard at bay. See Lawrence High’s Aaron Kie open that hole for Colter to dance through. Watch Blakesley combine athleticism with awe-striking size to do an amazing job both on offensive line and defensive line.

The lineman’s job description forces him to lay low when the glory is passed around. The ball-carriers do their best to dish it out. Colter, Handshy, Resseguie, Goleman …they’ll all credit their line at some point this year.

Instead of dismissing it as typical running-back talk, believe it.