Not the only Shead in the family
MANSFIELD - The Cayuga offensive line was getting a little tired of hearing about Albany's size up front.
The Cayuga front did not want to hear about how Albany was the more physical team and Saturday, the Cayuga offensive line did something about all that talk.
Advertisement
"We were sick about hearing so much talk," senior offensive lineman Tramon Shead said. "I am proud of the way our guys stated on their blocks and played more physical than Albany."
All week, the talk on message boards and among fans across the state was how Albany had size on its defensive line, including Associated Press Class A All-State first-team defensive lineman Jonathan Hargrave and honorable mention selection Yahsh Hawkins.
"The talk we heard helped fuel us," junior Coleman Shafer said.
The offensive line of Melvin Shead, Tramon Shead, Tyler Clendening, Kawika Tua'Kalau and Shafer dominated the Albany defensive line and made Hargrave and Hawkins non factors.
"Our offensive line has been under rated all year," Cayuga head coach Tommy Allison. "Those five guys are the backbone of the team."
Behind the offensive line, Cayuga rushed for 399 yards on 46 carries. Also, behind the line, the Wildcats only had one play for negative yardage.
The offensive line took over the game in the fourth quarter, helping Cayuga put away Albany. In the final two drives, the Cayuga coaching staff went to the goal line offense, putting the game on the back of the offensive line and the running game.
The Wildcats' responded by rushing 24 times for 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns while taking 12-minutes, 5 seconds off the clock.
"When we got to the fourth quarter, I looked at our linemen and asked if they were tired," senior running back Traylon Shead said. "They all said they were not tired and that is when I knew we were not going to lose."
[rl]