IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT
BY: ALLEN GREGORY, December 9, 2005, Bristol Herald Courier
RICHLANDS – Derek McKnight thought he lived in a region which craved prep football. Then his family moved to Tazewell County.
"I’ll never forget watching my first varsity football game in Richlands," McKnight said. "I attended a large high school in Gaffney, S.C., but had never experienced anything like what I saw here."
McKnight is now a large part of the Blue Tornado experience. In fact, the junior helped the Richlands offense set a variety of school records this season with his consistent blocking at left tackle.
"You always hear about small town football fever. Well, that’s Richlands," McKnight said. "All that support from our fans just makes us play even harder."
McKnight is the lone junior among a line corps which averages around 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds.
The left side of the RHS line is especially imposing, with McKnight working alongside Division I prospect Garrett Arms.
"It’s a pleasure being on the same line as a guy like Garrett," McKnight said. "We’re a close-knit bunch, and we take pride in what our offense is able to accomplish."
Richlands head coach Greg Mance knows the value of a strong line. Mance actually doubles as the offensive and defensive line coach for the Blues.
"Our guys take lots of pride in keeping pressure off the quarterback and opening running lanes for our tailback," Mance said. "I come right out and tell my linemen that the game depends on them, and they play that way."
According to Arms, the RHS line is fueled by an potent blend of pride and desire.
"As soon as Christmas break is over, we start preparing for the next season with weightlifting and agility drills," Arms said. "We work right through the summer.
"Most of us haven’t been on a summer vacation in three or four years. We lift at the school four days a week, and go to different camps."
The results are in the record and ever-expanding trophy case.
"We’re 13-0, so we must be doing something right," Arms said.
The production of the RHS line has been a key factor in the success of dynamic tailback Caleb Jennings. The fearless 5-5, 150-pound junior has accounted for 1,116 yards and 102 points despite missing nearly half the regular season with an injury.
"Caleb is a tough little kid," Arms said. "He would have even played with that broken leg if the doctor would have allowed it."
Jennings, a master of radical cuts, only needs a small seam to generate a big play. Often, he appears to hide under his large linemen before emerging out of a pile.
"It’s hard to block for Caleb sometimes with all the cuts and moves he makes," Arms said."His kind of intensity and spirt inspires us all.
"With a kid that size, you would think Caleb takes his share of licks. But Caleb delivers his share of hits, too."
Southwest Virginia football has long been associated with hitting. The Blues have lead the hit parade in recent years.
"We’re just a bunch of guys that love to hit, that’s really what we are," Arms said. "We have full-contact practices three days a week, then we all bring it on Friday.
"That physical approach has been a key for us, especially now that we are facing teams that rely more on finesse and speed."
Saturday’s opponent in the Group AA Division 3 state championship game at Liberty University is traditional baseball power Turner Ashby. The Knights (11-2) relied on a complicated Double-Wing offense to win just the second regional football title in the school’s 50-year history.
Mance said his line corps faces each challenge in the same manner.
"I watch tape every week with our linemen, and they take the game very serious," Mance said. "They will compliment each other, but they can also be demanding."
Arms is content to leave the headlines to Jennings and record-setting quarterback Justin McCracken. The Richlands line corps doesn’t even have an official nickname.
"We just call ourselves "The Fat Boys" the "Real Men" or even "The Hawgs," Arms said.
McKnight earned his spot on the line the hard way.
"I weighed only 205 pounds at the end of the last season, then I went to work in the weight room," said McKnight, who has a 3.8 grade point average. "Since I didn’t start as a sophomore and all the rest of our linemen are seniors, I’ve had to step my game up a lot."
Now, McKnight and company have a chance to play in the biggest game of all, the State Championship.
Email: berry1974@adelphia.net
