On one hand, the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the growth and production of West Jefferson's offensive line.
The Roughriders (12-1) are averaging 38.1 points and 402.3 yards per game entering Friday's Division VI, Region 23 final against Sugarcreek Garaway at Zanesville. Of the seven times they have scored 42 or more points, five were against teams that finished with at least seven wins.
But for senior right guard Bob Blanchard, the numbers only go so far.
He's witnessed the line's constant growth and adjustments — both in terms of personnel and technique — and is adamant there is more room for improvement, however long the season lasts as West Jefferson pursues its first state championship since 1982.
Friday's winner plays Kirtland or Mogadore in a state semifinal Nov. 24.
"Those points and yards are important, but there's so much room for growth," Blanchard said. "We have grown a lot, with a lot of position changes. We've had to move people around to see who fits where the best. It was kind of a competition between each other to see who should go where."
In-game performance and occasional injuries meant shuffling for a group tasked with protecting perhaps central Ohio's top underclassman quarterback in sophomore Austin Buescher. In his first full season running the Roughriders' spread offense, Buescher has thrown for 3,725 yards with 38 touchdowns and five interceptions and run for 320 yards and three scores.
"Our goal is to keep (Buescher) clean, to make sure he doesn't take shots he shouldn't be taking," offensive line coach Nick Houk said.
The left side and middle of the line features three returning starters in left tackle Braxton Stone (6-foot-2, 190 pounds), left guard Joseph Kean (6-2, 250) and center Braydon Hundley (5-10, 230). All are seniors, and although each started last year, they were in different spots.
Hundley was left guard, Stone was right tackle and Kean rotated between every position except center.
Blanchard (6-1, 225) and junior tackle Alex Baldwin (6-1, 205) man the right side, with junior Luke Boyd rotating between center and both guard spots as needed.
"It's a big adjustment from looking at one half of the line to the whole thing," Hundley said. "Our center from two years ago, Canyon Schneider, I went to him and coach Houk if I had any questions. They were huge mentors to me when I needed them. They're why I'm where I am today."
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West Jefferson, which went 5-7 a year ago and started 9-0 this season to earn the second seed in its region, seeks its third regional championship in five years against top-seeded Garaway (13-0). The Roughriders were ranked as high as second in the state during the regular season.
"You cannot win football games unless you are good up front on both sides of the ball," coach Shawn Buescher said. "They have to play at a high level. If you're in (a regional final), obviously you've played very well up front.
"The quarterback has to trust them to make calls and execute the technique, and he does. He knows he'll be protected and able to go through his progressions and reads."
Boyd said the line's growth came down to physicality, technique and a rigorous offseason in the weight room.
"It sounds simple," Boyd said. "But all of that makes a big difference in the long run."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA football playoffs: Veteran line drives high-powered West Jeff
