River Hill assistant coach Tom Gruneberg makes it perfectly clear to his offensive linemen before every game.
“I tell them that if they want to be the best line we?ve ever had here, they have to win a state title because what else is there?” he said. “They?re undersized, inexperienced, but all they?ve done is win.”
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They certainly have. River Hill?s line has powered one of the most potent attacks in state public school history, as the undefeated Hawks have scored 509 points in 12 games entering tonight?s 2A semifinal against visiting Elkton of Cecil County (10-2) in Clarksville at 7.
“The thing is, people see all the big plays we make and nobody pays any attention to us,” guard Ryan Bounds said. “There?s no doubt about it: I don?t think anyone outside of our team knows how good we are.”
So here is the starting line, a unit teammates say is a major reason the Hawks have amassed 4,835 yards and 66 touchdowns: Austin Core, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound senior left tackle; Bounds, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior left guard; center Sea Hull, a 6-foot, 265-pound junior center, Patrick McCleaf, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound junior right guard and Max Choale a 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore right tackle.
“We?re the unsung heroes,” Hull said. “We knew coming into the season we were the biggest question mark, so we had a lot to prove.”
And so far, they have. The unit, which features just one returning starter ? Bounds ? from last year?s team that won its first 13 games before falling to Friendly in the 3A final, has grown into a cohesive group. Need proof? Just go to the SUBWAY located just a long touchdown run from the school ? that?s where you?ll find the group partaking in their pregame ritual.
“We pretty much each get the same sub every time,” Hull said. “We?ve really become close friends, and I think that?s helped us a lot because we don?t want to let each other down.”
River Hill will face its toughest test of the season tonight, as the Golden Elks have allowed just 20 points during their nine-game winning streak. River Hill averages 42.4 points per game and is threatening the state record of 602 points scored in a season, set by Hereford in 1997.
“At this point, if we don?t win the state title, the season will be a failure,” Bounds said. “We?ve worked too hard and come too far to come up short now.”
RIVER HILL (12-0) VS. ELKTON (10-2)
» Kickoff: Tonight, 7
» Where: River Hill High School (12101 Route 108 in Clarksville).
» To the winner: A berth in the state final against Eastern Tech or Clarksville at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 8 at 3:30 p.m.
» Directions: Take I-95 South and Exit Route 32 West. Take Exit No. 20 for Route 108/Clarksville. Make a right off the exit. School is on the right.
» Leading passers: River Hill: Luke Hostetler (26-of-51, 525 yards, 13 TDs). Elkton: Justin Driver (47-of-86, 667 yards, 4 TDs).
» Leading rushers: River Hill: Michael Campanaro (165 carries, 1,592 yards, 21 TDs); Zach Martin (153 carries, 1,203 yards, 13 TDs). Elkton: Travis Bullock (175 carries, 1,401 yards, 30 TDs); Marcus Fragier (59 carries, 851 yards, 8 TDs).
» Leading receivers: Campanaro (13 catches, 362 yards, 6 TDs); Martin (8 catches, 89 yards, 4 TDs). Elkton: Mike Yedinak (12 catches, 224 yards, 1 TD).
» Leading tacklers: River Hill: LB Martin (134); LB Leron Eaddy (82); LB Andrew Donoghue (66). Elkton: LB Brandon Robinson (87); LB Joe Momoh (49.5). ? Jon Gallo
