Check the definition of a time-honored offensive lineman, and you’re likely to come up against phraseology as “sturdy,” “bulky,” “powerful,” “hard-nosed,” and “immovable.”

Now, conjure up an image of a said “O” lineman from the past few years since Coach Mike Vicars took over at Genoa, and you’re most likely to zoom in upon 6-0, 235 pound senior right guard Andrew Hayes.

For two years, Hayes has literally helped pave the way for a trifecta of 500-1,000-plus-yard rushers in Greg Hillabrand (1,257 through 10 games in ’09), Connor Wendt (613, ’09), and this year, sophomore Kyle Nutter (988 yards through eight games).

“Not seeing my name in the newspaper much, or hearing it called over the PA, it’s never really bothered me, because I’m out there playing football, you know? I’m having fun with my friends playing a game we grew up playing. And those are the things it’s all about for me,” offers Hayes.

Last season, Hayes garnered second-team All-SLL for his work on the right side of the line alongside tackle Luke Sutter during the breakout duo’s junior year.

“I think that all starts with the coaches, because our coaches have always been willing to do about anything for us,” reflects A.H. “I mean, every time we need them, they’re there. Every time they need to, they show us that they care for us as people, and not just football players. At Genoa, it’s not just about football, like it is with a lot of other places. Our coaches care about us off the field, too, which makes us want to play all the harder for them.

“It’s that, and the love this team has for each other, because we’re not just a team, but a family,” adds Hayes.

Hayes refers back to the crushing one-point playoff loss to Orrville at Ashland Community Stadium nearly a year ago, which served to reignite the then-260 pound lineman’s passion for football.

“Standing on that field after that loss, I felt like that couldn’t be the end,” Hayes said. “I felt like, all year long we’d worked so hard together to get where we were, how could that be the last time a lot of us were going to be on a football field together? That’s why the loss was so hard for me. I mean, nobody likes to lose, but the hardest thing is knowing it wasn’t going to be ‘us’ anymore after that game, because we were losing a lot of our family. We were going to have to start over the next year with a whole new group of guys. And as close as we were, it hurt.

“That’s why I took like three or four days after that loss, to just kind of be by myself, and deal with it,” he admits. “I took about a week off from football, and then I looked at my dad, and I said, ‘Next season starts Monday.’ And after that, I hit it hard. Over the winter, I lifted four days a week instead of two. I conditioned when we had conditioning days. I improved my bench from 225 to 285. My squat went up to 400 lbs. from 325. I lost like 10 pounds of fat, and gained muscle, which helped me become a more-balanced player, and helped my foot speed. I just never looked back. Because I remember that bus ride home after Orrville, and how quiet and emotional it was. And I knew I never wanted my team, or myself, to feel that terrible again.”

A year later, and Coach Vicars’ once-again 8-0 Genoa Comets are on the cusp of a fourth-straight SLL title. It’s on the strength of the smash-mouth “three-headed-monster” running game which has featured Nutter, junior Brandon Roberts, and senior blocking back Seth Dufendock, among others.

Together, they have combined for 2,551 yards and 35 touchdowns – and Coach Spiess’ Comet “D,” has garnered 341 tackles, 104 assists, 22 sacks, 15 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, and allowed only 55 points.

Nutter (14 rushing touchdowns so far this year), Roberts (229 yards, three TDs), role-playing backs Devin Sibby (214 yards, one TD) and Chris Cuevas (278 yards seven TDs), wide receiver Derek Allgier (299 yards receiving, six TDs), and junior signal-caller Josh Bryer (601 yards through the air, eight TDs, and only four picks, while going 37-of-68, and notching a 109.6-quarterback rating) can  thanks Hayes and Genoa’s blocking schemes.

As a run-stuffer, “Big” Hayes has recorded 21 tackles, eight assists, and five sacks to tie with Sibby for the team-lead in the last category.

Hayes has also answered a call on special teams as the team’s long-snapper. There, he helped all-star junior kicker Tyler Pickard boot 39-of-43 extra points, and nine out of 12 field goal attempts, with a career, Genoa record-setting long of 47 yards in Gibsonburg.

“You’ve got Matt Keaton at left tackle, and he’s probably one of the hardest hitters on the team, and he’s just mean. Then there’s Evan Wendt at left guard, and even though he’s only a junior, he’s come out there, and really got the job done. He works hard,” pipes up Hayes, dishing out props to his “O”-line mates.

“This team is about Kyle Nutter, who I love to death, because he just works so hard every day, and he deserves it,” adds Hayes. “It’s about (wide receiver) Garrett Scott, who you don’t hear about all the time, but who never gives up, and who had a great catch against Gibsonburg for a touchdown. It’s about Bryer, who is becoming a great leader and handles himself really well out there, because he trusts us. It’s about throwing runners for a loss with my other defensive linemen, Justin Upham, and Casey Wojciechowski. It’s about Sibby and David Cremean at the ends. It’s about Matt Murphy getting the chance to do some exciting stuff.”

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed