FOOTBALL: Spring-Ford’s O-line a big reason for success

Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Spring-Ford quarterback Hank Coyne, here throwing against Pennridge last weekend, has had plenty of time in the pocket his season, thanks to a tight-knit offensive line in front of him.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

When Spring-Ford opened camp back in August, head coach Chad Brubaker had, or at least thought he had, an offense that could present quite a puzzle for opposing defenses this season.
Few could argue, because quarterback Hank Coyne, fullback Yousef Lundi and tailback Jarred Jones — who accounted for just under 3,700 yards and had a hand in a combined 42 touchdowns a year ago — were all back. So was tight end R.J. Sheldon. So were linemen Justin Meals and Mike Gilmore.
After two days of practices, though, a couple of potential starting linemen opted to leave the team.
Suddenly, Brubaker had a puzzle of his own to resolve.
“I think we knew Meals and Gilmore would be our tackles, but we weren’t too sure who our interior three would be,” Brubaker recalled Tuesday afternoon.
Finding a center and two guards — the guts of an offensive line — isn’t quite as easy as it may sound. But Brubaker not only found three, but three who were just the right fit … or more than good enough to help lead the Rams to where they are now.
And that’s in Friday night’s District 1-Class AAAA final against Coatesville at Downingtown West High School.

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