Published: October 31, 2009 09:20 pm      

Williams Point After: Dominating up front

Progress of o-line is a positive sign even in defeat

The phrase “playing with the big boys” is applicable to your Corsicana Tigers in two ways.

Way No. 1 is in regards to the big boys and the big schools in 16-4A. The Tigers defeated number 3 ranked Waco Midway earlier in the season and that loss remains the only blemish on the Panthers record heading into week 10.

The Tigers also out rushed, had more passing yards and gave the 4th ranked Waxahachie Indians all that they could handle before falling 21-14 at Lumpkins Stadium Friday night. Running backs Cody Evans and Johnatahan Anderson shredded the Indian defense.

Way No. 2 is in regards to the big boys up front that do the dirty work night in and night out, practice in and practice out: The Tigers offensive line.

Ryan Arnett, Ben Caton, Justin McCullum, Garrett Morehead, Bryant Jackson and Dominique Miller have been a key reason the Tigers remain in the playoff hunt.

Like every offensive line on every football team, the guys doing the work in the trenches pave the way for the skill players. The average fan may not notice, but those skill players do.

“Cody and Johnathan thank us after every game,” said offensive lineman Ben Caton. “But we know what our job is and we accept that challenge.”

Rarely is quarterback Cameron Cutrer sacked and rarely are Evans and Anderson thrown for losses. Against those “big boys” from Waxahachie the duo combined for 208-yards on 35 carries that’s 5.9 yards per carry. The Tigers will be happy with those numbers against any opponent.

Offensive line coach Smith has set the expectations high for the Tiger line, and the big boys up front have delivered.

“With a new coaching staff at the beginning of the year, you can’t help but wonder what they are all about,” Arnett said. “After the first game, Coach Castles told us to keep the faith. We have done that and now we are one win away from being in the playoffs.”

On the season, the Evans has rushed for over 1100 yards and averages six yards an attempt and Cutrer has passed for close to 1200 yards. A legendary Tiger coach once said "so go the hogs, so go the Tigers" a philosophy that Smith agrees with.

"The kids have really done a good job," Smith said. "We expect a lot out of them, and they have really bought into what we are teaching them."

That offensive line accomplishing their goal is a big piece of the puzzle for accomplishing the big goal. The post season. If Smith's Tiger Line can win their battle, Castles' Tiger Team has a much better chance of winning their war.

Coming into the season, if you were told the Tigers would be playing their final game at Tiger Stadium with a chance to get into the playoffs, you would have said that Castles had been successful through his first nine games in Corsicana. That opportunity exists Friday night and a big reason why is those 'big boys' up front.

"Coach Smith pushes us and makes us better, and we now expect success," Caton said. "We are going to do our job. No doubt about it."