PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Nothing is going to get through them. No, sir. Not on their watch.
(Pictured above, Port Allegany offensive line coach Brian Neal wears multiple District 9 Class A championship medals, surrounded by some of the Gators’ offensive linemen/submitted photo)
It’s their job and it’s often a thankless one. If their names aren’t known, it’s a good thing. It means they are doing something right — protecting the quarterback, blowing up huge holes for the running back, generally dominating the dudes in front of them.
They are hardly noticed — just generic big bodies in bulky shoulder pads, scuffed helmets and thick tape around their wrists and fingers.
The “skill” guys get the ink. They get the applause. They are the ones piling up the yards and the receptions and the touchdowns. Not the offensive linemen, even though without them, none of those star-making stats would happen.
But in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania — known for it’s tree-lined streets in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains — there’s another tree line that is finally getting its just due.
The Gators’ rugged, experienced and mauling offensive line of right tackle Braylon Button, right guard Miska Young, center Levi Wilfong, right guard Carson Neely and left tackle Juuso Young is turning heads and flattening foes.
“They’ve all gotten stronger, leaner, faster,” said Port Allegany head football coach Justin Bienkowski. “They didn’t rest on what they accomplished. They were always looking forward and they worked their tail off.”
The Gators had their “Big Three” last season in quarterback Drew Evens, bruising fullback Blaine Moses and slashing slot Noah Archer. The trio was electrifying and helped Port Allegany to a 12-2 record, a District 9 Class A championship and a run to the PIAA semifinals.
In front of them, clearing the way, was the quintet without a nickname.
The “Big Three” are gone, lost to graduation, leaving behind quite a legacy.
The five guys up front want to leave one behind, too.
“We’re just trying to live up to our full potential this year,” Miska Young said. “Us five up front, we’re gonna do our thing.”
That thing will be protecting a new QB and clearing the way for a new group of skill guys.
Sophomore Nick Wilfong — Levi’s younger brother — will take over for Evens at quarterback. Sophomore Aiden Bliss will be the fullback replacing Moses and Tristan Kiser will be the slot, assuming the role of Archer in the Port attack.
(Four of the five members of Port Allegany’s dominating offensive line are here, from left: Juuso Young, Miska Young, Braylon Button and Carson Neely. Missing is center Levi Wilfon/submitted photo)
Payton Stiles is also back. He was also productive as a slot last season.
“Don’t get me wrong. Blaine, Noah, Drew — we can’t replace those guys,” Neely said. “But we’ll try. We’re definitely gonna be doing everything in our power to make sure that we can succeed like we did last year.”
“Let’s be honest about the Big Three — I love them like little brothers and I always had a great relationship with those three and they are going to be around our program to some degree — but their time is over,” Bienkowski added. “Now we have three 10th-graders trying to make their mark.”
That may be a little easier behind that intimidating offensive line made up of three seniors, Miska Young, Button and Nick Wilfong; and two juniors, Neely and Juuso Young.
They have the physical gifts any coach worth his weight in whistles is looking for. But they also possess the intelligence and the work ethic that is required to become great.
“Their character probably stands out above all else,” said Port Allegany offensive line coach Brian Neal. “Talk about making it fun for a coach. You can never give them enough.”
The line takes pride in their work.
They also take it seriously.
They’ve played together since the junior high and are as close off the field as they are on it. They also play other sports — Miska and Juuso Young and Neely are wrestlers; Levi Wilfong and Button play basketball.
Even in the offseason, the five find time to gather on a football field and work on their communication.
“We’ve always hammered home do the work in the offseason, whether it is in the weight room or getting out on the field,” Miska Young said. “I know during the spring, with the line, we try to get together at least once a week and just run some scenarios. We already get our mind spinning on getting ready for football season because we all love it. It’s just a lot of fun.”
The line also points to another factor for their success.
Neal.
The coach has been able to draw the best out of the quintet.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without him,” Miska Young said. “I know after we won that championship last year, we all got a picture with him and he was wearing all our medals. It’s one of my favorite pictures.”
Bienkowski often finds himself watching in awe as Neal works with the offensive line.
“He’s a big teddy bear and as strong as an ox,” Bienkowski said of Neal. “He’s not a big rah rah guy, but when he talks, those five guys listen.”
“He’s an extreme attention-to-detail guy, which fits our staff really well. He doesn’t leave a stone unturned. He’s a teacher on the field and it’s awesome to watch. He is the reason why those five guys have had the success they’ve had. I welcome anybody to come listen to our offensive line communicate during practice, about whatever call they’re doing for whatever play is called. They do everything the right way, checking off every box to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to do.”
Despite the prowess of that offensive line, there are still a fair share of naysayers outside of the Port Allegany locker room.
They see the departure of those “Big Three,” and wonder how the Gators can hope to compete again for a league and D9 title without them.
To that, the answer is those no-nickname, big guys up front.
“Hungry. We definitely want more. We’re not satisfied at all,” Neely said. “That’s all white noise. We tend not to listen to it. We’re just trying to stick to us.”
And they might be just good enough, finally getting their due.
“They deserve every bit of it,” Bienkowski said. “They’re not going to be 100% efficient on blocks — no one is nowadays. We know what they’re gonna do seven, eight times out of 10 and if we can just make sure our youth catches up to our line, we like our chances. It definitely starts with our o-line. They are special kids.”
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