Meade linemen taking it to the Maxx

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There’s no way you can mention Meade’s 2010 Class 2-1A state championship without mentioning the Buffaloes’ offensive and defensive lines.

Last year’s offensive line of Weston Kroth (6-0, 260), Dylan Bolton (6-1, 195) and Manny Castillo (6-1, 245), Blake Wornkey (6-2, 270) and Adam Gleason (6-3, 215) and tight ends Taylor Wiens (6-1, 180) and Randy Friesen (6-9, 220) set the tone for the Buffaloes. Blocking back Adam Pfanenstiel (5-11, 220) also played a key role.

In fact, the O-line was named Kpreps.com’s Class 2-1A Players of the Year in 2010 as it helped Meade score 43.5 points per game and rush for an average of 336 yards last season.

Meade controlled the line of scrimmage in the state championship game against St. Mary’s Colgan, having possession of the ball for more than three fourths of the game (36:35). That control meant that the Buffaloes were able to run 76 offensive plays, while limiting the Panthers to 32. In the first half, Meade has the ball for 21:50 of the first 24 minutes.

A big reason Meade beat Colgan 20-14 was that it was able to keep the Panthers’ explosive offense off the field. Colgan had scored at least 30 points in 10 of its previous 12 games last season.

In the first week this season, the Buffaloes rushed for 232 yards as they upset the Canadian (Texas) Wildcats 24-18 and handed them their first regular season loss since Sept. 25, 2009.

“Our best defense has become our offense,” Meade coach Scott Moshier said.

When the Meade defense is on the field, the D-line kept running games in check and limited opponents to less than 20 points in 11 of 13 games last season.

Meade contained Canadian to 151 yards rushing in Week 1. The win against one of Texas’ best small schools is even more impressive when you realize it was Canadian’s second game of the season and practices and scrimmage rules are much different in the Longhorn state.

“Our motto is, ‘Do What We Do,’” Moshier said. “One of the things we’re going to do is be very physical up front.”

Obviously most of the credit for that goes directly to the hard work of the hosses up front.

But credit also goes to a piece of weight room equipment specifically designed to improve the strength, speed and explosiveness of linemen.

Meade purchased a Maxx sled a few seasons ago, and the payoff has been extraordinary.

“That has been the best tool we could have purchased,” Moshier said. “We bought that three or four years ago when we were returning only one offensive lineman. The kids continued to work on that. After time, we saw results. We try to wear the heck out of that thing.”

The machine allows players to start the exercise in their football stance then explode into a tackling dummy when the buzzer goes off. A display panel judges the speed and power of the player’s contact with the dummy, which is life like to give players a feel of where they will place their hands in a game. Once a player hits the dummy, increased resistance is given from the machine just like it would be if it were an opposing lineman.

While the bench press and squat will always remain staples for increasing core strength. This equipment allows training of the exact muscles that will be used for football.

Speed and explosion are the keys.

“We care about the time first,” Moshier said. “If we can punch the guy in front of us before they punch us, we feel we have a distinct advantage.

“It’s more of a defensive sled, but it still helps us to get off the ball offensively.”

Meade is without two 1,000-yard ball carriers from last season in Kellan Hernandez and Jade Friesen, but they remain confident with most of their blockers coming back. Pfanenstiel, Bolton, Castillo, Kroth and Randy Friesen all return.

“We feel good,” Moshier said. “We have three starters returning up front who have started since they were sophomores. “

The No. 1 ranked team in Class 2-1A will try to keep its 13-game winning streak alive this Friday at Lakin (0-1).

“I’m really happy that the kids are still hungry,” Moshier said.