Six weeks into the football season, the Alexander Bulldogs' offensive line has emerged as one of the best in the city, driven by discipline, leadership, and size.
There's a saying, "Big dogs gotta eat." While it's not grammatically correct, it has become more of a lifestyle than just a saying, especially in sports, where it applies to the offensive line.
Some of the game’s biggest players battle in the trenches, play after play. Often overlooked, the offensive line is seen as "not difficult," with players perceived as just a group of big boys. Casual sports fans might think offensive linemen aren't as active or essential as other players, since they don't score points or make highlight-reel plays. However, knowledgeable fans know offensive linemen are crucial. The notion that they "don't do much" is far from true — offensive linemen are among the most hardworking and technical players in football.
The offensive line plays a crucial role in determining the success of both the running and passing games. Its primary job is to protect the quarterback and create running lanes for the running backs. A strong, well-coordinated offensive line can dominate a game by controlling the line of scrimmage, giving the offense time to execute plays. Great offensive lines often operate with a blend of size, strength, technique and communication. They’re the unsung heroes, rarely receiving the same level of recognition.
The Bulldogs hold themselves to a high standard in good, clean, disciplined play, beginning with the line, which they call the "Frontline Force."
Luis Garcia, Brian Mata, Victor Pescador, Aaron Carranza, William Omenski and Fabian Dillaha, all seniors, have seen plenty of play on the field not only this season but over the past few years. When they play successfully, the entire team does as well. This was exactly the case against Del Rio, winning 48-14.
The offensive line enabled their quarterback, Julius Vaughn, to throw for 171 yards and three touchdowns. They also created gaps for the running backs to gain 257 yards and score three touchdowns. It was nearly a perfect game regarding penalties, with only one called.
"We do get punished for penalties, including bear crawls and down-and-backs. Every five yards is just us crawling on all fours. Holding is even worse," Dillaha said.
Head coach Edwin Garcia demands great play for 48 minutes each week. He observes his athletes' attention spans daily, but the work done on the practice field and in the weight room must translate to the field during the game.
Garcia has witnessed each lineman grow into their full potential, as they are all seniors who have progressed through every step of the game together, side by side.
"We really are a tight-knit group, not only playing together here at Alexander but also growing up playing together in middle school. It's easy to call these boys my brothers, the ones I can rely on for the rest of my life," Mata said.
The "Front Line Force" is very tightly knit, and it has shown this season due to the adversity they have faced over just six weeks.
The Bulldogs lost their top receiver, Ivan Pina, for the season. Then, in the first game, quarterback Jeremy Gabrillo was injured and sidelined for the season. Another injury struck quarterback Karlo Tenorio, forcing him to sit out. Running backs Joe Fernandez and Gael Rubio have also been in and out.
Those players can make or break an offense and determine a win or a loss. Despite these challenges, the offensive line did not waver. None of the players found the change difficult.
"It has always been the 'sixth man up' mentality. You do the job you're supposed to, and you'll be successful. Since we started experiencing injuries with our teammates, the message has been to rely on us, the senior offensive line. Yard by yard, play by play, we focus on what we can do and push through it," Carranza said.
"There are never any modifications for us as a line when we create gaps for our running backs," Pescador added. "All of our running backs play similarly; they might have different personalities, but they consistently get the job done."
Regarding personalities, these linemen readily admit they are super silly and goofy off the field, but when it comes to playing on the field, they must be at their best at all times.
To achieve this, they use a form of tough love. While not all talk is positive, they don't consider it negative; it's simply a way to motivate and hold each other accountable.
"We're goofy but hard on each other. Some days, we can't stand each other, but we talk a lot. We're open-minded and positive on the field, yet we give tough love like brothers," Omenski said. "We'll never play a perfect game, and we understand that from our film analysis. We think, learn and adapt as we look at mistakes to get ready for the next game."
When the line comes together, they often execute pancake blocks. Sometimes, a pancake block is unnecessary, but the boys view it as fun — an opportunity to be themselves, hit hard and get an adrenaline rush by laying their bodies on the line.
A pancake block refers to a type of block where an offensive lineman completely dominates a defender, knocking them flat onto their back or driving them into the ground. This is seen as a highly effective block because it eliminates the defender from the play, often allowing the ball carrier to gain significant yardage. The term "pancake" comes from the imagery of the defender being flattened, as if they've been squashed like a pancake.
To execute a pancake block, the lineman needs to have perfect leverage, proper hand placement and enough force to overpower the defender. It typically occurs in run-blocking schemes where the offensive lineman is driving forward.
"You're forcing another man by their own will to the turf. Impose your will and it just feels powerful," Garcia said. "We don't get highlight reels or create a stat line, so pancake it is."
These linemen also have a strong relationship with their position coach Ricky Villarreal who played for the Bulldogs back in 2010-12. He himself was a member of the Frontline Force. Coach Garcia has seen immense growth on the line and is ready to see more pancakes and great play for the rest of the season. He trusts Villarreal to pour his heart and soul into the line.
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