The offensive linemen for Elmwood Park — with the exception of the center — are slightly unconventional when they settle in before the snap.
Most high school linemen go into a three-point stance, bent over with their right or left hand on the ground. But the guards and tackles for the Tigers stand upright in a two-point stance before making their blocks.
When Elmwood Park faced Guerin on Friday, Oct. 2, the wrinkle worked as the Tigers scored six rushing touchdowns while rolling to a 41-19 Metro Suburban East victory in River Grove.
“Our offensive coordinator, coach (Gabriel) Ostrander, taught us the two-point stance,” senior guard Mark Rivera said. “It is more of a new thing. It gives us more power and I feel really comfortable. I trust my offensive coordinator and I believe in what he teaches me and I love doing it. We are quicker off the ball and we dominate our blocks.”
The Tigers’ running attack flourished behind that scheme. Behind linemen William Robbs, Angelo Lobrin, Dillon Shouse, Isaac Ruiz and Rivera, junior quarterback Xavier Vega rushed for 148 yards on 21 carries, including a 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
“Our offensive line did great,” Vega said. “They held their blocks; they played through the whistle and they made great holes for our running backs. They just led the team.
“Our offensive line was pushing hard, we saw big holes. We were running the same play and knew if we kept working hard , we were going to get the win.”
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Elmwood Park (2-4, 1-1) attempted just three passes since it was having so much success chewing up yardage on the ground. The Tigers rushed for 288 yards against Guerin (2-4, 0-2). Junior running back Rocco Molinelli gained 67 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns.
“You go into the game with if-then scenarios,” Elmwood Park coach John Freeman said. “Truthfully, we just kept being able to run the ball and get what we wanted. If you do not have to pass, you do not want to. It (running) shortens the game and gets us out sooner. If they are not stopping that, then we are not going to get to the pass.”
After earning its first conference victory, Elmwood Park will continue to run behind the linemen from their two-point stances.
“I have two great offensive line coaches (Ostrander and Dylan Mack),” Freeman said. “They came up with it to get out of our stances; we have some bigger, stronger kids.
“When we put them in that stance, we were getting to the angle better and sealing our guys. It has been a really good adjustment for us.”
Guerin notes
*Before Elmwood Park pulled away, Guerin tied the game at 13-13 in the second quarter on a 30-yard pass from Richie Zacharias to Keith Franklin.
*Franklin had a huge night, hauling in 11 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
Patrick Kelly is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.