Offensive line will be key for Lawrence / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, September 5, 2008

September 5, 2008

Offense:

QB-Clint Pinnick, 5-8, 160, Sr. RB-Clifton Sims, 5-5, 175, Sr. RB-Jake Green, 6-0, 162, Sr. WR-Aaron Rea, 6-0, 179, Sr. WR-Sam Willoughby, 6-1, 168, Sr. TE-Chebon Dawes, 6-2, 280, Sr. C-Ryan Giblin, 5-9, 196, Sr. G-Penny Khaithianthong, 5-7, 187, Sr. G-Ben Muiller, 6-2, 206, Jr. T-Chris Nieto, 6-3, 225, Sr. T-Stephen Mason, 6-4, 268, Sr.

Defense:

E-Taylor Coleman, 6-1, 187, Jr. DT-Nieto. NG-Khaithianthong. DT-Dawes. E-Rea. LB-Sims. LB-Darren Sorem, 5-9, 158, So. CB-Pinnick. CB-Chris Gaston, 6-0, 163, So. SS-Murphy Ray, 6-0, 162, So. FS-Green.

Special Teams:

P-Dawes.

K-Spencer Scott.

Most who make the trip to Shawnee Mission North District Stadium to watch Lawrence High play its football season opener against Shawnee Mission North today at 7 p.m. will watch the football.

They'll watch Clifton Sims tuck it under his arm and keep his legs churning until the Indians can bunch enough tacklers to bring him down.

They'll watch Aaron Rea use his speed and length to become a target for quarterback Clint Pinnick.

Meanwhile, LHS coach Dirk Wedd will watch the guys entrusted with giving the playmakers the time and space to make things happen. He'll be watching the offensive linemen.

The Lions are coming off of an injury-filled 3-6 season.

"We have some big question marks, especially on the offensive line," Wedd said. "That will probably be one of the things we have to get good at, owning the line of scrimmage, not allowing them to penetrate. If our running game can get going, the passing game will come. It will be tougher for us to win if we don't get our running game going."

Center Ryan Giblin, guards Penny Khaithianthong and Ben Muiller, tackles Chris Nieto and Stephen Mason and tight end Chebon Dawes played well enough in practice to earn starting assignments.

The defensive linemen, including junior end Taylor Coleman, also will play key roles in tonight's game based on the challenges Shawnee Mission North presents.

The Indians (1-8 last season) return four starting offensive linemen and dual-threat quarterback Arthur Rucker, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior.

"He has great speed and threw for more than 800 yards last year," Wedd said. "They run the spread so we'll see if we can match up speed-wise with them."

As always, more than measurables such as speed and size will determine the outcome.

"What I'm looking for," Wedd said, "I want to see if the seniors will step up and be as good a leaders as I think and I want to see how tough we really are in a game situation. Furthermore, I'd really like to see how we respond when we get punched in the mouth. If we come back fighting, we've got a chance, and I think we can be a pretty good football team."