The similarity between Hinsdale South’s offensive line from last year’s Class 6A state quarterfinalist and this year’s conference championship team begins and ends with center Chris Oehmen.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior is the lone returning starter on the Hornets’ offensive line. Not only are the other four linemen new, but so is offensive line coach Kraig Conyer, who was the sophomore head coach a year ago.
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Through all the changes, Oehmen remains the steady influence as the snapper in the shotgun.
“Chris has been especially helpful,” senior right tackle Seth Biedrzycki said. “A lot of us were playing our first varsity games under the lights. He helped us prepare and gave us good advice. Part of it was these little speeches he would give.”
Oehmen, like his predecessor Matt Welgos, is a smaller sized center in coach Mike Barry’s high-powered offense. The Hornets just have not been able to find mammoth-sized offensive linemen. For example, last year’s right tackle, Malik Gordon, was a former wide receiver.
This season, Oehmen has helped protect quarterback Sean McCormack in Hinsdale South’s spread offense and open holes for leading rusher Marcus Curry.
The Hornets rolled 49-7 over Morton in Darien on Friday, Oct. 23, to clinch the West Suburban Gold title and qualify for the Class 6A playoffs.
“This season has been amazing,” Oehmen said. “I love all the leadership (on the line). It has not just been me, but our captain of the week was (left tackle) Chris James.”
Hinsdale South has two permanent captains in Robert Hall and McCormack. The other two game captains are chosen by players and coaches. Oehmen, who was selected a captain for games against Romeoville and Leyden, said three of the five offensive linemen have been captains this season.
Hinsdale South’s other first-year starting offensive linemen are senior left guard Victor Porten and junior right guard Zachary Zarubin
James said watching Oehmen prepare for the season-opening, 42-14 victory at Romeoville Aug. 28 was just the sort of example the newcomers needed to follow.
“You look at (Chris) and you see how hard he worked for that first game. You can seen he knows how to handle the pressure,” James said.
When former offensive line coach Pete Naughton took the same position at York before the season, Oehmen said the coaching style changed from in-your-face to more calm.
“Conyer expects us to do great things,” Oehmen said. “He’s not going to raise (his voice). He says he has confidence in us.”
Oehmen is the younger brother of former Hinsdale South second baseman Joe Oehmen, who graduated in 2014. While. Joe Oehmen never played football, Chris was a baseball catcher until his sophomore football coaches encouraged him to stick to one sport.
“I love football. I love the rush you get,” Chris Oehmen said. “I went into the weight room that offseason and it all kind of kicked in. I was glad I made that decision.”
No stopping Johnson
Senior Ravon Johnson scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to help lead Hinsdale South to its first West Suburban Gold title since 2005.
Hinsdale South clinched the outright championship when Leyden beat Willowbrook 16-7. The Hornets qualified for the playoffs for the third time in four years.
Johnson’s second TD reception in the opening quarter with 26.8 seconds remaining tied the school record of 10 touchdown receptions in a single season.
Johnson (three receptions, 51 yards) had a 4-yard scoring reception to end the first drive of the game and then scored on a 40-yard interception return to end Morton’s first drive.
“That was the first ball that came my way,” Johnson said. “I was just ready to break for the ball and it fell into my hands.”
McCormack (7-for-12, 159 yards) threw four touchdowns passes for the second consecutive week.
Hall (three receptions, 67 yards) caught a pair of touchdowns on receptions of 27 yards in the second quarter and 15 yards in the third quarter.
First round Class 6A playoffs
Matchup: 13th-seeded Hinsdale South (6-3) at fourth-seeded Thornton (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday
How they got there: Hinsdale South won the West Suburban Gold championship while Thornton was the runner-up in the Southwest Suburban Red and earned an at-large berth.
Hinsdale South stat leaders:
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RB-DB: Sr. Robert Hall, 25 Att, 271 Yds, 4 TD; 46 Rec, 652 Yds, 8 TD; 44 tackles
QB: Sr. Sean McCormack, 129-199 (65 percent), 2,153 Yds, 23 TD, 7 Int.
RB: Sr. Marcus Curry, 131 Att, 702 Yds, 11 TD
WR: Sr. Ravon Johnson, 29 Rec, 606 Yds, 10 TD
Telling number: 6 — The Hornets have reached the state quarterfinals six times, but have never made back-to-back appearances. Hinsdale South reached the quarterfinals last season, losing to St. Francis 41-14.
Behind the numbers: In Class 6A, only Montini has played against fewer playoff opponents than Hinsdale South during the regular season. Montini played one playoff team. Hinsdale South’s two opponents to make the playoffs were Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central, both losses for the Hornets.
Under the radar player to watch: Sophomore Destin Talbert has made an impact on both sides of the ball. In Week 9 against Morton, the reserve running back scored on a 52-yard carry. He has a team-leading two interceptions at defensive back, although he is only a part-time player there.
Sound bite: “We want to prove people wrong and keep the ball rolling. Everybody expected us in the playoffs. Last year, we didn’t know what to expect. Everybody on the team is ready for it. We know how to prepare.” — Hall
Twitter @geomwilcox