They don’t throw tight spirals, break free from would-be tacklers or make diving catches, and they’re not likely to leap into the air and snag an interception.

Williams

As a result, the big boys on the offensive and defensive lines don’t usually get much credit for a football team’s success.

That’s just fine with Springlake-Earth left tackle Steven Williams, who understands why playmakers such as quarterback Blake Betz, running back Anthony Carrasco and middle linebacker Devin Johnson have garnered most of the attention during the Wolverines’ run to the regional semifinals.

“Honestly, I don’t really care,” Williams said. “We’re winning, so that’s good with me. If they get the credit, that’s good for them, too.”

Gonzales

But as far as Springlake-Earth head coach Stan Caffey is concerned, his charges in the trenches might be the most responsible for the team’s first march to the third round of the playoffs since 2002. A versatile offensive line has paved the way for one of the area’s most balanced attacks, and a deep defensive line has helped the Wolverines force 32 turnovers and limit their opponents to just eight points per game this season.

And most of the linemen play on only one side of the ball, which is a luxury not afforded to most Class 1A teams.

“I think that’s the key to our season,” said Caffey, a former lineman himself. “We have only 28 players, but all of them contribute. Everybody can play.

“For the most part this year, our offensive linemen are different than our defensive linemen. So we’re able to have five offensive linemen come off the field and catch their breath when the defense is out there, and four defensive linemen that can come off the field and rest. That’s big for us.”

In the case of the offensive line, continuity has been crucial. The same five players have started every game this season, and Williams said the group has been playing together since junior high.

The Wolverines (11-1) have allowed only four sacks all season as a result, and they’ve gained more than 1,900 yards through the air and 1,800 yards on the ground.

“If you keep them all together and keep them all healthy, man, it’s a huge advantage,” Caffey said. “By this time of year, they’ve seen just about everything. If somebody throws a different defense at us in the middle of the game, we’re able to make adjustments because those same five guys have gotten experience.”

The group also has a nice mix of size, strength and speed. Colby Conner (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) and Jace Furr (5-foot-11, 276 pounds) are big bodies at the guard spots, Williams and right tackle Joel Vallez are quick enough to contain rushers on the edge, and Caffey said heady center Will Geissler holds everything together.

“It’s kind of balanced,” Williams said. “We have some pretty strong guys and also have a couple of fast guys. We just do our job, drive them as hard as we can and keep them in front of us and stop the rush.”

The Wolverines’ defensive line is even more multi-faceted, with a regular rotation of seven players who possess a variety of skills. The usual starting lineup includes Nick Gonzales and Chris Salazar at the tackle spots and Ben Gresham and Daniel Sanchez at the ends, and Springlake-Earth inserts Conner and Furr to create a six-man front against run-oriented offenses.

Defensive end Damion Toscano, who forced a fumble against Seagraves last week while filling in for an injured Gresham, also is a key contributor.

“By having so many good defensive linemen, we’re able to kind of rotate them in and out and stay fresh,” Caffey said. “That helps a lot.”

So does the defensive line’s knack for making game-changing plays. The group has accounted for all but one of the Wolverines’ seven sacks this season, and it’s forced nine fumbles.

“We’ve got very athletic guys on the line,” said Gonzales, a senior who has caused a team-high five fumbles. “The right side is mainly speed and strength, and on the left side we’ve got size, strength, all kinds of stuff.”

Gonzales said the group has been equally adept at defending the run and the pass, but it figures to get a hefty dose of the ground game against today’s opponent, defending state-champion Stratford (9-2). The Elks’ running attack has accounted for 3,178 yards this season, with Bryce Cummings rushing for 1,355 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Gonzales said the Wolverines are up for the challenge, though, especially after what they did against Seagraves’ power running game. The Eagles had been averaging more than 360 rushing per game coming in, but Springlake-Earth limited them to 286 yards and only one score on 53 carries.

“We’re very confident,” Gonzales said. “We faced a tough run team last week and did pretty well, and Stratford’s the same way. They like to run off tackle a lot, so we’re just going to fly to the football and shut them down.”

To comment on this story:

adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com l 766-8733

courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735

CLASS 1A

Division II Region I Semifinal

Springlake-Earth vs. Stratford

2 p.m., Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, Canyon

Radio: KKYN 1090 AM (Plainview)

Records: Springlake-Earth 11-1, Stratford 9-2

Springlake-Earth vs. Stratford

beat Seagraves 33-14 Last week beat Clarendon 28-20

318.9 Total offense 385.9

222.1 Total defense 202.0

29.9 Points scored 34.5

8.0 Points allowed 13.8

QB Blake Betz Player to watch RB Bryce Cummings

(1,956 passing yards, 21 TDs) (1,355 rushing yards, 17 TDs)