The pace. The throws. The runs. The catches. The sheer speed of Canadian High School football is mind-numbing for those who have to defend it, and the way that the offense lights up a Friday night scoreboard like a 1970’s pinball machine has been well-documented. What is often overlooked is the offensive line.

None of the above exists without those front five, and nothing happens until that middle lineman, aptly named the center, snaps the ball.

Hayden Merket, now in his 18th year at Canadian, is the offensive line coach, and shared his thoughts about the qualities and intangibles embodied in a great lineman, and the cohesiveness that creates a distinguished offensive line.

“Our offensive linemen have to be pretty versatile and skilled,” Merket begins. “They have to be able to run block, as well as pass protect.”

“Our screen protection is very diverse and very specific on multiple accounts,” he said. “Specific to where the linemen go and specific to what they do when they get there and doing it all while reacting in space to how the play is developing.”

The Wildcat linemen for the offense are versatile athletically, but always thinking and anticipating. “Being agile, being able to run, playing hard but under control—those are all great qualities to have,” Merket said.

He believes this year’s senior class—18 on the roster—is special, particularly on the offensive line. “I just can’t ever remember a time when we had five seniors at once all starting on the offensive line,” he said, but that is exactly what the Wildcats will have this season.

It all begins at the center position with two-year starter Rhet Pennington, who Merket said is a great team leader and dynamic athlete, capable of playing just about any position on the field. “We are fortunate enough to have someone athletic enough to win state in the discus and advance to area in the 100-meter run, and still be able to play on the offensive line,” Merket said. “He is a very diverse athlete.”

Saul Escamilla and Colton Risley are also returning starters. “Those three are really tough kids that everyone on the team looks up to and knows they can count on,” he said. “It gives us a lot of confidence knowing we have those kinds of guys returning.”

Travis Nunley, who contributed last year at right guard, and Osvaldo Sanchez fill out the starting line at right tackle this year. “All these guys come from a class that is super competitive,” Merket said. “They’ve been super successful their whole lives. They play with a lot of confidence and trust each other. I am looking forward to seeing how far they can go.”

This group of linemen is not blessed with bulk, Merket admitted. It is more about what these are capable of doing that makes them a great fit for Canadian’s style of offense.

“Over the past few years, we haven’t had a lot of size” he said. “We like to take advantage of the speed that our linemen have. We pride ourselves on being strong around the edge and being a good screen team. That’s what our guys do best.”

“I think our skill players value what the offensive line brings to the table for us,” Merket said. “This is a selfless bunch of kids, and anytime a player receives high praise or accolades, they always deflect the compliments and achievements to other players. That is something that is just at the core of our program—unselfishness, team first. That is what our program is all about.”

“As a group,” he concluded, “the entire senior class that we have this year is about as close-knit a group as any I can remember ever coming through Canadian.”