Ellis line working together

11/7/2008

By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

The Ellis prep football team's offensive line doesn't focus on singular accomplishments.

"We like to see who can get the most pancakes, but we try to work as a unit," junior tackle Matt Erbert said. "It's not really about individual goals. It's what we can do as a team and getting wins."

That mantra has worked for a rising power in Class 2-1A. Ellis, ranked in the top 10 in 2-1A, has enjoyed the best three-season run in school history.

The Railroaders have gone at least two rounds deep in the playoffs the past three seasons and have compiled a 9-1 record in 2008 in what many longtime fans call the best team ever.

Ellis returns all of the key players from last year's squad, including senior quarterback/safety Chase King and linemen Erbert and senior Clay Barton.

"I think last year was a big step for us as a team," Erbert said. "We were a young team last year and I think our core is back and I think that is what a really helped us to have a good season."

On Saturday, Ellis will play at home against Brookville/Ell-Saline (10-0) for the regional championship at 6 p.m., a title that the Railers have won just once in school history, in 2006.

Ell-Saline is one four 2-1A teams without a loss. However, its strength of schedule is considered much weaker. Masseyratings.com ranks Ellis as having the No. 3 hardest schedule in 2-1A, while Ell-Saline is No. 29.

Ellis and Ell-Saline are the only two ranked teams in the bottom half of the bracket and Saturday's winner has a strong chance to make sub-state.

"I think the Mid-Continent League and the Northwest Kansas League are two very competitive conferences and we have seen the best of both," Erbert said. "I think that will give us a battle-tested edge over some teams in the playoffs."

The offensive line, considered by multiple coaches as the MCL's second-best behind Smith Center, has also helped.

Under second-year offensive line coach Craig Amrein, a former Dodge City Community College player and La Crosse assistant, the line has led an offense that's collected more than 320 yards of total offense per game.

The rushing attack has 2,310 total yards and 6.9 yards per carry. Ellis has averaged 27.2 points per game and won its last five contests.

"A lot has to do with playing together for one, but we have an excellent coach in Craig Amrein," Ellis coach Butch Hayes said. "He does a great job with those kids and he understands those blocking assignments. We have seen about every defensive front that you could see this year."

Ellis, which runs an I-formation offense, developed a veer blocking scheme under Amrein, a difference from past years.

"There is not really a whole lot of pulling, just man up and meet the guy ahead of you," Erbert said.

Amrein, labeled "intense" by Erbert, has led the summer workout program and has molded the line.

"Coach Amrein has really taught us a lot and made us some pretty good players," Erbert said.

Amrein has learned several lateral movement drills from La Crosse coach Ryan Cornelsen, drills that have helped turn the Leopards into a powerhouse.

"We are always working foot speed, speed itself, agility," Amrein said. "This summer, what we really put a focus on was explosion. In 2A, we are sitting in the middle of the pack as far as speed. We are not slow by any means, but in some games we are not the fastest team out there, and that is something that we need to focus on."

The five linemen all move well. Erbert is a 285-pound tackle, while Barton, junior Jacob Begler, sophomore Logan Mattheyer and sophomore Scott Fuller anchor the other four spots. Junior Dylan Pfeifer, the team's 1,300-yard back, labeled some of the holes "big enough to put a truck through them."

Erbert has rarely met a lineman his size, or who has the foot speed.

"He has great feet," Amrein said. "It's amazing how well he can move. He moves like he is about a 210-pounder, but yet he is 280. I like coaching him."

The offensive line's team goal has been 300 rushing yards per game, a benchmark it surpassed in the 42-28 bi-district win against Washington County. Ellis rolled up a 35-0 halftime lead and had 48 rushing attempts for 324 yards.

"The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage," Hayes said. "I thought the first half went about as good as we could have hoped for."

Erbert and Barton (a team captain) also are starters on the Railers' 3-5 defense that's permitted 12.6 points per game. The defense is rare for high school teams -- many squads run a 4-3 base defense to put more pressure on the quarterback and clog the holes.

"Those three down linemen have to be special and they have some good down linemen in order to do that," Washington County coach Phil Wilson said. "When they start stunting a little bit, it makes it really, really difficult."

And the line's play has helped form possibly the best team in Ellis football history -- and possibly a squad that could move several rounds deep in the playoffs.