a middle school program to feed from , so all its athletes come from other schools , such as the various ORES schools , such as Tenkiller , Briggs , Lowrey , Peggs , Grand View , Shady Grove , Norwood , and Woodall , as well as Cherokee Immersion School , and others .
“ Tilon Rattlinggourd is solid at center ,” Hendricks said . “ He ’ s a big strong kid , and he anchors the line . He was good as a freshman , then we didn ’ t play his sophomore year , of course , and last year he had a torn meniscus , and we didn ’ t get him back until the last four games of the season .
“ We didn ’ t want to upset anything we had going for those games , so we played him at guard ,” he said , “ but this year , he ’ s back where he belongs , at center .”
As for what the strength of the offensive line will be , Hendricks said “… they ’ re still developing the camaraderie , those relationships , but we can see that . They ’ ve started making each other accountable .
“ Their real strength is their ability to want to be good ,” he said . “ They ’ re here every day , they ’ re working in the weight room , doing the little things we ask of them .
“ It ’ s their willingness to learn , and to want to learn that ’ s their strength ,” he said .
The Indians don ’ t play a true tight end , a sixth down lineman , per se . “ We play a hybrid , an H-back ,” Hendricks said . “ He might be down , he might be split , we mix it up .”
Most people reading this know the football positions , but just in case , here ’ s a brief breakdown of the offensive linemen , the “ grunts .”
The guy in the middle is the center , the one who snaps the ball to the quarterback . Very few good plays happen following a bad snap from center .
On his right is the right guard , and on his left is the left guard . The guards ’ primary function is to guard against inside blitzes , and to open holes up the middle for the running backs .
Next to the guards are the right and left tackles , respectively . Their priorities include protecting the quarterback on passing plays , and helping the guards block the defensive linemen away from the running lanes .
Setting the Indians ’ O-line , from left , at left tackle is sophomore Dayson Pritchett , left guard is sophomore Logan Rill , senior Rattlinggourd is at center , right guard is senior Gunner Harkreader , and right tackle is Jayden Marquez . The average weight for the five is 267 ½ pounds .
Rattlinggourd , 6 ’ 2 ”, 320 lbs ., who came from Woodall , said it all starts with him . “ A bad snap messes up everything ,” he said . “ You can ’ t play without the snap .
“ I feel my role as a senior is getting these younger kids ready to be seniors like my seniors taught me ,” he said . “ These other linemen are a fun group . They ’ ll play hard for you .
“ Sometimes I have to throw them around some , and put them in line ,” he laughed . That statement also brought laughs from the other four , as well as some razzing .
Harkreader , the other senior , stands 6-2 , and tips the scales at 311 . He came to Sequoyah from Cherokee Immersion School , and is the right guard .
“ My job as a senior is to lead these guys , and teach them how to be good linemen ,” Harkreader said .
He also said when others get their names in the paper , and he ’ s in dirt , bleeding , he ’ s fine with it . “ I know the reason they scored was because of me ,” he stated confidently .
“ If I don ’ t do my job , they can ’ t do theirs . “ It all starts on the line ,” he added . “ If your line ain ’ t good , your team ain ’ t good .” In conclusion , Harkreader said Rattlinggourd was the vocal leader of the O-line , while he leads more by example .
Next to Harkreader is sophomore right tackle Jayden Marquez , a 6-1 , 230 pound former Briggs student who loves to get down and dirty .
“ We do all the hard work so all the pretty boys can get all the celebrations ,” Marquez said . “ It ’ s all a team thing , and the quarterback appreciates what we do .
“ Working next to the seniors , they help me out a lot ,” he said . “ They tell me what I do wrong , and I fix it . I ’ m gonna miss them next year .
“ Personally , I ’ m going to be a hard worker , do the best I can do , and be an example for the freshmen ,” he said in conclusion .
On the other side of Rattlinggourd , at left guard , is sophomore Logan Rill , a 5-11 , 200-pounder from Westville .
“ I love the line ,” Rill said . “ I like to get to the linebackers , and to the safeties , too , if I can . “ I like running over the little guys ,” he said . Rounding out the offensive line is sophomore left tackle Dayson Pritchett . A Cherokee Immersion School product , Pritchett stands 5-10 , and weighs in at 275 , and loves getting dirty .
“ I love hitting people , being in the trenches , and getting physical ,” Pritchett said . “ We ’ re the most physical .
“ Being part of these five guys is like being family ,” he said , “ getting ragged on , and encouraging each other to be better .“
Gridiron Preview Fall 2022 • 19