Senior-led and hungry for success: Sikeston offensive line ready to pave the way to victory

SIKESTON — It all starts at the line of scrimmage, where the fate of Sikeston's offense hangs in the balance.

The upcoming season is on the horizon, and the spotlight shines brightly on the unsung heroes of the gridiron—the offensive line. Led up front by five seasoned seniors, Hayden Hess, Andon Christian, DeMarious Williams, Vic Mora and Carter Goodman, this cohesive unit has the power to transform last season's shortcomings into a pillar of strength, propelling Sikeston toward a resurrection.

“It’s the first time in 20 years I’ve had something like this happen,” said Sikeston offensive line coach Chad King. “I’ve never had five seniors. This older group is great because I get top-notch effort from them every day. They are extremely coachable, and they are working on making adjustments after every snap. They’re probably one of the most coachable and hard-working groups I have ever had and they are really enjoyable to be around.”

King speaks highly of his offensive line, describing them as mobile, agile and volatile.

Despite the occasional mistakes or missed blocks, he emphasizes their commitment and effort on every play and his confidence that they will give their all, regardless of the challenging conditions they may face.

Additionally, he notes the team’s physical development, with the offensive line becoming stronger and bigger. He believes that it is now their time to step up and lead the offense, showcasing their skills and abilities to shine on the field.

After all, King’s extensive athletic and coaching background lends credibility to his assessment of the offensive line.

A veteran coach for the Bulldogs, King recently celebrated his 20th anniversary with the team. Before his coaching career, he was a standout football player at Southeast Missouri State, where he served as a team captain during his senior season.

As a former offensive lineman himself, King brings experience and a deep understanding of the game to his coaching role.

“It’s about muscle memory,” he said. “I read somewhere it takes a million reps to make something into a habit.”

When asked about playing for King, Williams spoke highly of his experience, stating, "Playing for Coach King has been a game-changer for me. His extensive knowledge and coaching expertise have not only made me a better football player but also a better person. I hang on to every word he says because I know he truly understands the game."

Another player, Christian, echoed similar sentiments, expressing his gratitude for being coached by someone with King's level of experience. "Having the opportunity to play under a coach with Coach King's wealth of experience is incredible,” he said. “He has passed down invaluable knowledge to us and instilled in us the importance of giving our all in every practice. It's a blessing to be guided by someone who has been in the game for so long."

These testimonials from Williams and Christian highlight the profound impact that King has had on their development as football players. Both players emphasize his expertise, dedication, and ability to inspire them to perform at their best.

Being part of the offensive line is a source of immense pride and motivation for Williams, who finds great satisfaction in knowing that his performance directly contributes to the success of his teammates.

"What motivates me to excel the most is knowing that if I perform well and do my job, it sets my teammates up to score and helps them with better film to show to colleges that are interested in them,” he said.

Williams understands the impact his efforts have on the overall success of the team and sees it as a driving force to push himself to excel.

Christian recognizes the unique experiences and challenges that come with being part of the offensive line. While skill positions often receive more recognition, he appreciates the hard work and dedication required of offensive linemen. He highlights the special bond that has formed among the members of the offensive line over their four years together, emphasizing the camaraderie and unity that drives their collective efforts. Mentally, Christian acknowledges one of the biggest challenges faced by offensive linemen—the pressure of not making a mistake that could derail the play.

He explains, "One of the biggest challenges mentally on the offensive line is knowing that if you miss a block, everything can go wrong."

To overcome this challenge, Christian adopts a "next play mentality," recognizing the importance of staying focused and moving on from any mistakes. He understands that dwelling on a bad play can lead to further setbacks, and instead, he chooses to maintain a resilient mindset.

Hess, an All-SEMO Conference selection last season, also shared his perspective on the role of the offensive line.

“I feel great being part of the offensive line,” he said. “It is, in my opinion, the most important position on the field because we are the front line for our guys in the backfield. What motivates me to excel is that I love this sport and I’d love to continue playing in college.”

The bond among offensive linemen is something Hess values deeply.

“The bond is unmatched,” he said. “It’s like a brotherhood and more of a family than anything, and that plays a big role in our success on the field. Being able to trust the guy to your right and left to do his job.”

Approaching his role with pride and purpose, Hess sees himself as a protector on the field.

Hess addressed the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding offensive linemen.

“Some conceptions or stereotypes about offensive linemen that some have is that we’re just big, out of shape and slow,” he said. “Which is false. We’re pretty fast on our feet and in good shape.”

Hess reflected on his personal growth, and lessons learned throughout his football journey and expressed a desire for recognition and appreciation for the role offensive linemen play.

"As a senior offensive lineman, I have evolved from a freshman who didn't even know how to pull to being able to better understand how to be elite in blocking, pulling, and pass setting," Hess said. "Some lessons I've learned along the way that have shaped how I play is that it doesn't matter how big you are, it matters who has more fight in them to win every rep.

“I would like to say one thing, recognizing and appreciating what we do as linemen would mean the most," he continued. "We work hard every day in practice so that we can give our guys in the backfield a better chance to make a big gain and help push the team to a win. I would like to be remembered as the lineman who would give his all for the team no matter what."

King marveled at the distinct culture thriving within his team.

"While every team possesses its own team culture, there exists another culture that resides within our team—the linemen culture," King said.

He underscored the significance of the offensive line functioning as a seamlessly united force, with each member contributing their part.

"These five individuals must function as a single unit. A slight misstep from any one of them can quickly derail an entire play," King said. Throughout their four years together, these linemen had dedicated themselves to honing their skills, investing countless hours and unwavering effort into their development.

King hoped that they had not only acquired invaluable skills on the football field but also imbibed core values capable of guiding them through life's challenges.

"When things get tough, they can put their heads down and grind, like they learned to do out here in July when it was 110 degrees outside," King said.

He believes that the lessons learned through their football journey will serve as a foundation for resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

While King cares about the team's records, he emphasizes that the most important aspect is who these young men will become once their playing days are over.

"I care about records, but that's secondary,” he said. “The important thing is who are these kids going to be when they are done playing.”

King acknowledges that coaching the offensive line is a challenging task, but it is also the most rewarding.

"It's the hardest job, but it's the best one," he concluded.

The season ahead holds the promise of not just victories on the field but also the development of resilient, determined individuals ready to tackle the challenges life presents.