Alma O-line takes pride in helping offense score big
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
The path to the goal line doesn’t necessarily start with quarterback Jackson Daily and running backs Carlos Gonzalez, and Israel Towns-Robinson running roughshod over opposing defenders.
For the Alma Airedales, it starts with those up front with the offensive line — the unsung heroes of Friday Night Lights.
Zach Millsap, the team’s center is almost apologetic when it comes to Alma’s 2023 offensive exploits. Yet Millsap — who moved to right tackle two weeks ago to make it easier on Jayden Parker — and his teammates have paved the way for 23 rushing touchdowns.
In fact, through six games, the Airedales are averaging almost 280 yards (279.6) rushing per game. Last season, the team averaged just 186 yards per game.
“We believe that even though we haven’t done as good as we should have, I feel like we can get better, and we will continue to get better,” Millsap said. “J.D., our quarterback, and our running backs give us praise, and that’s all we really need. As long as they hit the right hole, we’re good.”
“We’ve got a big one Friday,” Alma offensive line coach Eric Marsh said. “Every game from here on out is going to be a playoff game; every game is going to be a playoff atmosphere. We just have to get the kids’ minds right.”
The Airedales (5-1, 3-0) face Harrison (3-3, 1-2) in a pivotal game for both schools. A win would keep Alma on pace with Shiloh Christian.
Millsap has anchored an offensive line that includes two juniors and two first-year sophomores. The Airedales have made it work.
“We’re really piecing it together with injuries,” Marsh said. “We’re dealing with adversities and just trying to see who can get better faster. We’ve mixed and matched a lot of things. Luckily, we have guys that have some flexibility. We’ve still got a long way to go to accomplish the goals we want to. We’ve put up some good numbers.”
It helps, too, when those running through certain gaps are making the right read and adjustments, too.
“It definitely helps them out and makes everything go easier,” Daily said. “We’ve been playing as a group and knowing where to go.”
Daily joined the group during the summer, filling it perfectly at left tackle — the ‘blindside’ tackle for his brother, Jackson.
Joey Lynn stepped in at left guard three games ago following an injury. Parker, a junior, starts at right tackle and senior Richard Taylor, a first-year starter, starts at left guard.
“I played guard last year, but I didn’t really get to play much because Zane Hulbert was in there,” Taylor said. “I like the way they (coaches) trust me to get in there every week and play. It means so much. Coach Marsh teaches us to keep our intensity up and to keep pushing every week. Just winning a game isn’t the final product; we want to make the playoffs.”
Alma overcame a slow start last week against Pea Ridge by scoring three second-half touchdowns.
“It’s not just going to be automatic, and we saw that against Pea Ridge,” Marsh said. “We have to be able to adjust, and we did that the other night with three straight second-half (scoring) drives. We’ve done a good job of protecting Jackson, and a lot of that goes to Jackson and to coach (Chris) Smith. We don’t sit in the pocket very long.”
“Each week, we just continue to try to get better,” Taylor said. “We take a lot of pride in running the ball.”