Image courtesy of BC Athletics
The BC running attack is now one of the best in the country for a few different reasons, but the main reason is the offensive line.
The unit has answered every question and then some this year, dominating most games up front and opening up huge holes for whichever running back has been healthy that particular week.
On Monday, I asked Christian Mahogany – arguably the biggest reason the O-line has been back to its old self – why the team believed in head coach Jeff Hafley’s message so strongly even after a 1-3 start.
“He sat in this very spot and said ‘as long as we clean it up, this is going to be a good football team and we’re going to win games.’ A lot of people probably didn’t listen in the media, wherever, but in here we believed. We cleaned it up and we’ve been winning games, so that’s been our goal. Coach Hafley has done a good job of getting us on that path.”
Mahogany also acknowledged that this team is having more fun right now than any he’s been on since becoming an Eagle.
“I just think we’re winning more games. We’re already at a point where the most games we’ve won is already at this point and we have three games to go. So, we know what we can do. We’ve just got to continue to put forth our best effort to continue to succeed and win these next three games.”
The big O-lineman also lit up a bit when asked whether or not all of the criticism last season towards the unit is still fueling this year’s group, even in late November.
Yes. Yes it is.
“Last year it was rough. You guys…people in the media kind of beat up on the unit. I don’t know if it was well deserved at some points, I wasn’t there every game. I watched mostly and I watched some good things, some things we had to fix,” said Mahogany. “I think you’re just seeing now what it is that we fixed and who we are as a unit. We’re a really good unit and helping us win football games right now.”
The last piece of the puzzle has been O-line coach Matt Applebaum. Applebaum was evicerated before he even began spring ball once it was announced he was re-hired. The guys loved the move and Coach Hafley trusted him. Now, you aren’t hearing a peep about the job he’s done, which is downright laughable.
“Coach App has been here, this is his third year now. He’s done a great job I think this is probably one of our best years under him,” Mahogany added. “We’re just going to continue to ascend under him. That’s what we want to do, not just for us, but for him and the coaches as well…we’re just playing at a very high level right now that some people might not understand, but we do. But we do. Just got to continue to do so.”