Article On Celina

[Marty]

Middle men: Celina D-line counted on to slow Snyder RB

By Bill Spinks

Herald Democrat

CELINA — The farther along Celina advances in the state playoffs, the more challenging it gets for its defense.

The Bobcats have been rarely tested so far, but will have to contend with Snyder star running back Will Clay on Saturday in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals. That job will fall largely upon Celina’s interior linemen.

“They’re going to play a big part in this football game,” said Celina coach Butch Ford. “They don’t get a lot of recognition, but if we’re successful defensively, it’s because they’ve done a great job.”

Seniors Troy Franklin, Leland Booher, Daniel Antwiler and Daniel Dushman have formed a very solid backbone for a steady defense that has allowed on average only 77.5 yards per game on the ground, and has let only four opponents top 100 yards all year.

Franklin, a 6-foot-5, 255-pounder who has verbally committed to North Texas, is a three-year starter.

“He kind of surprised us when he was a sophomore,” Ford said. “We were looking for a defensive tackle and he kept performing, so we moved him in, and the next thing, he’s playing there. He looks more like an offensive lineman, but he gets the job done.”

Franklin, who also comes in on offense occasionally to play a blocking tight end, is the steadiest performer among the interior linemen.

“Troy’s the most fired-up player out there,” said Booher, one of his line mates. “It helps when you’ve got a big ol’ boy like that with a lot of motivation.”

Franklin said his job is simple: Penetrate the line, make tackles, and not miss assignments.

“We’re very on-key when the game starts,” he said, “and we never mess up on any tackles.”

Franklin will be joined at UNT next fall by his older brother Tyler, a member of Celina’s 2005 state championship team who was forced to give up a college football career because of a bout with bone cancer which was diagnosed less than a week after he had signed with Texas A&M-Commerce.

Troy said Tyler, now a student at Oklahoma State, will transfer to UNT and become a student assistant with the Mean Green’s strength and conditioning program.

The other three tackles work more anonymously, but are no less effective in helping shut down the opposition’s run. Ford said Antwiler embodies the philosophy of his team’s defensive scheme.

“Daniel’s a real quiet kid and not very big, but he’s very good at what he does,” Ford said. “He gets after it and plays really hard. He’s one of those guys who make sacrifices so others can make plays.”

Antwiler, a two-year starter, said the job this week will be no different: plugging holes and getting into the Snyder backfield.

“None of us are real selfish players,” Antwiler said. “We don’t try to go get the tackles. If that requires not getting the tackles, we don’t get it. The more linemen blocking us, the less that are blocking the linebackers.”

Booher last year played some at defensive end and backed up all-state player Jamie Blatnick, who is now a freshman at Oklahoma State. This year, Booher, Antwiler and Dushman rotate at the tackle position opposite Franklin.

“It’s fun going all this way,” Booher said. “It’s real exciting, especially on the defensive line. We just have that fire, that want-to.”

Booher, who again is rotating between tackle and end this season, is known as a bit of a cut-up on the team, but backs it up with solid performance.

“He’s an effort player,” Ford said of Booher. “He may do things a little bit off the wall and oddballish, but he makes plays. You don’t have to wonder about whether he’s trying hard or not; he always does.”

The fourth member of the corps, Dushman, also drew praise from Ford.

“Daniel’s really steady,” Ford said. “He’ll do anything you ask him to do, anyday, anytime, and never bat an eye and never question you. He’ll just go do what you ask him to do. You can’t beat that.”

Clay, a 6-2, 205-pound senior, is 38 yards short of 3,000 on the year and has topped 200 yards in each of the Tigers’ four playoff games. He had 298 yards and four touchdowns against Argyle, then followed that up last week with a 246-yard, three-TD performance in a 36-21 win over Vernon.

“The reason he’s got all those yards is they’ve got an excellent offensive line,” Ford said, “but he’s very good, too.”

In order to slow down Snyder’s star, Ford said, the Bobcats’ tackles will have to continue to fulfill their job requirements — and do it flawlessly.

“We’re going to have to have penetration up front and we’ll have to wrap up,” Ford said. “That’s asking a lot, because he’s a load. He’s a big kid and he can run.”

Celina’s interior stalwarts are looking forward to the key matchup.

“I think it’s a good thing that he’s a good running back because we haven’t faced any good running backs yet,” Franklin said. “A lot of people are talking about how our defensive line was so-so. (If) we can shut down a running back that rushes for 3,000 yards, that would say something in Class 3A.”

[Mean Green 93-98]

Interesting news--hadn't heard that about Tyler.

[Dodge2007]

Big Troy, your uniform is waiting for you over at the villlage. Come on over this spring and lets get rolling. You and Tune can bring the infectious Celina winning mind set that many of the younger recruits are bringing with them. We need the state title boys to keep on coming. A winning mind set is contagious.

Edited December 13, 2007 by Dodge2007

[runt96]

Team mate Leland Booher? where's he going? (One letter away from another Booger)

[OldTimer]

I've heard that Troy now weights in about 285 now...

[NT03]

I think Troy can come in and compete right away for a starting spot. I hope in the years to come he and Jordan Scoggins wreck shop on the line

Good news to hear about his brother