Road graders: Watauga offensive line moves defenses around
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

When Watauga running back Eric Breitenstein gained 316 yards and scored six touchdowns in the Pioneers’ 52-36 victory over Central Cabarrus, plenty of people took notice.

It’s hard to overlook Breitenstein, a senior who is headed to the Shrine Bowl this year. He has put together his second 2,000-yard rushing season and on a third-and-whatever, he’s likely to get the ball.

However, few notice the folks up front who open the running lanes for Breitenstein. The Watauga offensive line has been a big part of Breitenstein’s success.

Just ask Breitensein. He will tell you that without the guys up front doing their jobs, there’s little chance he can do his.

“Really, over the last two years they have been great,” Breitenstein said. “This year, they are just as good or better. They’ve just been amazing. You can’t ask for a better line or a better group of guys.”

Watauga’s offensive line had to be rebuilt after last season when four linemen from the 2006 season graduated. Right guard Casey Augustine and tight end Jake Wallace were the returning starters off that team that went 12-3 and into the fourth round of the state 4-A playoffs.

The rest of the line came from different sources. The Pioneers caught a break when center Mike Farris transferred in from Charlotte Waddell. A senior, Farris gave the Watauga line some badly needed experience.

Jared Pitts came up from the jayvee team to take over at left tackle. Nate Jackson did the same at right tackle, while left guard Trey Dunnigan did not play last year, started this season at tight end, but was moved to guard midway through the year.

It’s a group that has gelled at just the right time. The Pioneers have won five straight games heading into their showdown with No. 4-seeded Purnell Swett this Friday night.

The Pioneers will need to bring their best game against Swett, which has a big defensive line. Watauga put up 409 total yards against Central Cabarrus Friday night.

“Oh, man, Eric ran so hard tonight,” Dunnigan said. “We blocked pretty good for him, but he did a lot of work on his own. He made a statement tonight that he’s the best in the state, in my opinion.”

Usually offensive linemen remain unknown until they either get called for holding or jump offsides. Lots of times, the running back will enjoy the glory of a big game, while the offensive line will simply walk off the field having the knowledge that they had a part in that big game.

Pitts said it’s all right with him if he doesn’t get the accolades that go to quarterbacks or running backs.
“I don’t care if I get credit,” Pitts said. “As long as I get to play the game, I don’t care.”

Dunnigan said things really started to jell for the Pioneers’ offensive line after their 28-12 loss to East Burke. Watauga has not lost since then and is averaging 34.6 points per game in its last five.

“We jelled and started playing really well together,” Dunnigan said. “We’ve scored a ton of points since that game.”

Dunnigan said there’s another benefit for dominating the line of scrimmage.

“It keeps us warm,” he said.

The Pioneers are not particularly big, but they’re not small, either. Jackson was listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds at the beginning of the season. Augustine is 6-2, 265 and Farris is 6-2, 260. Wallace is 6-2, 205 and Dunnigan, who began the season at tight end, is 6-4, 225.

They don’t necessarily need to block defensive linemen off the ball since much of their running game is based on zone blocking. It doesn’t hurt that Breitenstein doesn’t need much of running lane to be effective.

“He’ll be the first one to tell you that, too,” Wallace said. “We all go every play 100 percent for him. We love what he gets and what he’s doing and we know that it’s a lot of us and a lot of him.”