December 1, 2010
O-Line a source of strength
Lincoln right tackle Jeremiah Pequerro is the lone sophomore on the offensive line.
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By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – On the backs of the shirts given to Lincoln’s offensive linemen the message was simple - “Brotherhood. Loyalty, Commitment, Strength.”
But for the Lions’ quintet of Shavell Daniels, Dwayne Larkin, Jeremiah Pequerro, Jesse Taylor and Paris Williams, it’s more than just a slogan, it’s a reality. As Lincoln enters Saturday's NJSIAA North 2, Group I title game against New Providence, that bond has allowed what was once considered a weakness of the team to become a strength.
“(They’re the) strength of the team because of the character of those kids,” head coach Robert Hampton said. “That means a lot. I knew our line was going to be ok because of the cohesion.”
“A lot of us on the o-line were friends before the team,” said Taylor, a senior right guard. “We’ve been hanging with each other before. It’s like we’re always with each other even if we’re not practicing.”
Three of those linemen – Larkin, Taylor and Williams even spent Thanksgiving together. Whether it’s over food, playing video games or spending time at another’s apartment, the topic of conversation doesn’t drift far from the gridiron.
“When we’re together (off the field) all we do is talk about plays,” said Daniels, a senior left tackle. “We talk about how we’re going to beat this team. Before our first playoff game we were all together and we just spoke about how we didn’t want this to be our last game, we didn’t want to lose in the first round. We all just sat together, prayed, talked about our blocking schemes and how we’re going to play.”
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The one place they aren’t always talking is in on the field itself. According to Taylor there are some times they don’t even have to communicate with each other because they “know each others’ assignments and where we’re supposed to be.”
They might not always speak during games, but on the field they let their play do all the talking they need.
This group has helped pave the way for an explosive offense which has averaged more than 41 points per game and has scored 78 points in its two playoff victories.
Most of the success and attention of the offense has been directed for the lethal running trio of Ronald Butler, Deshawn Goodwin and Tyron Stevens. But the big runs and scores are also a product of the line in front of them.
“I always tell (my guys) they go as far as we go,” offensive line coach Mario Santana said. “We’ve got some great players in the backfield and all we’ve got to do is give them a little space and they make things happen. A lot comes from our hard work and staying together. We understand their names are going to be in the press more than us. But every time we see their names read between the lines and there’s the O-Line.”
“We really try to make big holes for them,” Taylor said. “We know if we make a little hole they can probably make it into a touchdown, but we try to do better than what people ask us to do.”
It’s a veteran offensive line as all except for Taylor are two-year starters. Four of them are seniors with Pequerro, a sophomore, being the youngster of the group.
Santana credits a strenuous offseason of work in the weight room for the line’s transformation into one of the area’s best units. They also went to Florham Park this summer to see the Jets’ offseason practices and learn from watching pro bowlers such as D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold.
Those lessons Lincoln’s offensive line observed on the Jets’ practice facility will now be taken to their home stadium in hopes of a state championship.
“I’ve never been to a (pro) football game,” Daniels said. “I always wanted to go to a football game there. I just want to feel the experience of being out there on that field.
“I always imagined that I’d probably be in the stands, going to a game. I never imagined being on the field in a state championship game.”
