TV's line small but mighty

HEGINS - Tri-Valley's Kyle Henninger is taking up engineering at Penn State next fall. Teammate Kent Morgan is looking to study biochemistry while Colton Miller has his eyes on business and Bryn Bowman either sports or business management.

It sounds more like an Academic Bowl team than the futures of four offensive linemen.

It's no wonder when Bulldogs' coach Mike Kogut describes the unique qualities that make up this season's Tri-Valley offensive line, their intelligence is always brought up.

"When you talk about our line, you have six or seven kids who legitimize what our team is all about," said Kogut, who played on the offensive line at Mount Carmel from 1989-92 and coached it for five years as a Red Tornadoes assistant. "Hard work, intelligence, taking pride in what they do.

"I think I put a lot of pressure (on them). I think, if you want to say, I ride them a little harder due to my expectations. I am a firm believer as the offensive line goes, the offense goes."

This season, Tri-Valley (9-4) has gone further than any Bulldogs' team since 2000, capturing a District 11 Class A championship over Pius X two weeks ago and earning a PIAA victory over District 1 winner St. Pius X last Saturday.

Tri-Valley's state playoff run continues Friday against District 4 champ Southern Columbia (9-4) at 7 p.m. at Schuylkill Haven's Rotary Field.

Thanks to the play of their offensive line, the Bulldogs have rolled up 969 yards of offense in their three postseason games. Along the way, the Bulldogs avenged an early-season loss to rival Williams Valley in the district semifinals, controlled the line of scrimmage against a bigger Pius X front four in the district championship game and helped Tri-Valley jump out to a 21-point lead in the opening round of the state playoffs.

Henninger (center), Morgan (guard/tackle), Miller (guard) and Bowman (tight end) are all seniors and three-year starters. If fact, the four have played football together for about 10 years.

The newcomers this season are guard/tackle Clayton Williard and guard Brad Miller, both juniors. Junior Zach Coleman has also provided depth at guard.

Being smart is important in Tri-Valley's multiple Pro-I set offense, where the blocking schemes sometimes change from week to week. Tri-Valley also audibles frequently and the linemen have a lot to do with it, especially Henninger.

"He totally understands fronts," Kogut said. "He will look and know exactly where the weak spot or a misalignment is and will relay that to our quarterback (Matt McGinley). Then we will check our play accordingly."

One goal the line wanted to accomplish this season has certainly came true during the playoffs.

"We wanted to be more physical," Henninger said.

Tri-Valley has rushed for 714 yards in the past three games, led by with tailback Wyatt Straub's 415. Fullback Brandon Auman has added 154 yards and McGinley 134.

"We like our line driving their line off the ball and kind of making a new line of scrimmage," Morgan said.

Tri-Valley's success up front comes despite the Bulldogs' line being a somewhat undersized group.

Williard (285 pounds) and Brad Miller (250) are the biggest of the group while Henninger, Morgan, Colton Miller and Coleman are each around 220 pounds and Bowman is at 185. To overcome the lack of size, at least half of every practice is spent working on technique, footwork and quickness.

Kogut believes Bowman has also been a big key to the line's success.

Last season, he was the Bulldogs' leading receiver with 29 catches for 486 yards. This season, he is third on the team in receiving yards at 493 and second in catches at 35. But during a more run-oriented approach during the playoffs, Bowman has just two grabs for 9 yards, with both coming in last Saturday's victory against St. Pius X.

"He's the best blocking tight end I've seen and he's not a big guy," Kogut said.

"I like hitting the key block and breaking the running back for a long play," Bowman said. "But then, I like catching the ball, too, and making plays. So it is pretty much even."

While racking up big numbers is a good measuring stick, the group knows there is only one way to measure the line's true success.

"Wins are what it is all about, no matter how good or bad," Morgan said. "A 'W' is a 'W.' "

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