Lowell’s Bryan Schantz embraces his role as an offensive guard.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior enters his third season starting at the position. But Schantz has traveled quite a path to reach that point.
He played fullback and linebacker as a freshman, and continued to practice at those positions during the summer before his sophomore season.
But early on, the picture began to change. The Red Devils’ offensive line started slowly, and a spark was needed.
“They threw me at offensive guard as a joke, to make the offensive line angry and upset,” Schantz said. “It started as a joke, but it turned into something crazy.”
Schantz took to the spot. He was undersized at 160 pounds and occasionally got discouraged, but he persevered and earned a starting job within two weeks.
“We started clicking,” Schantz said. “I learned I had to play for my teammates — that’s the biggest part. I’m grateful for it.”
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Coach Keith Kilmer listed a number of smaller players over the years who have suited up on the line: A cornerback doubling as a guard in 2003, moving a fullback to center in both 2004 and 2005, and a safety also playing center in 2008.
“Everybody thinks we have these large linemen at Lowell,” Kilmer said. “But it just comes down to kids who accept their role. (Schantz’s) sophomore year, he was excited to do it — he got a chance to be on the field Friday nights.
“Last year, we had some issues — he fought us. He really didn’t accept it until Week 3 or Week 4. We were, like, ‘Listen, this is where we need you.’ The light bulb switched on in his head and he became a leader of that offensive line, an emotional leader. That’s the type of kid we rely on to be successful around here.”
Kilmer praised Schantz for making a “huge” sacrifice, putting his personal goals on the “back burner” for the betterment of the team.
“He’s a kid who dreamed of playing college football, but it’s going to be hard for him as a guard,” Kilmer said of Schantz. “But with the success he’s had, he’ll find a place to play in college as a linebacker. He’ll just have to kind of start over. But he’s our offensive line leader.”
Schantz is one of only three returning full-time starters on offense along with senior quarterback Ethan Igras, who’s entering his third season at the helm, and senior tailback Tyler Wildman.
The Red Devils also have only three starters returning on defense in linemen Blake Jansky, Chandler Austgen and Michael Langen, all seniors.
They have to turn the page after an accomplished class of 2018, highlighted by current Indiana freshman Jordan Jusevitch, led Lowell to the state championship game with a 14-1 record.
“We could come out of the gates and tear it up or we might have a slow start,” Kilmer said. “But our goal is to be firing on all cylinders in Week 8, Week 9, Week 10. We’ll get there. There’s just going to be some bumps along the road we didn’t have to go through last year.”
With Lowell’s youth, Kilmer has had to approach this season differently.
“We’re writing basic stuff up on the board again,” he said. “We’re starting right back from scratch. But we’ll figure out what we’re good at, and kids are kids — somebody always steps up. Everyone’s excited.”
Count Schantz as part of that group.
“A lot of people, a lot of underclassmen, have to step up,” he said. “It’s a big change, it was pretty chaotic at first, but it’s been pretty smooth lately. We’re coming together as a team and we’ve kept progressing.”