‘Bakery Boys’ are big for Carlisle

Pancakes the Indian offensive linemen are dishing out aren’t for eating.

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By John Bombatch Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 2:37 AM Friday, November 13, 2009

CARLISLE — They’re about as diverse a group of offensive linemen as you’ll ever see. Even Carlisle High School football coach Bill Jewell provides rather unique descriptions for his starting five.

“I’ve got one guy who’s rowdy all the time; another guy whom I love one moment and want to choke the next; two others who are really smart; and then I’ve got two guys I like to think of as my earth-movers,” Jewell said with a smile.

Last week, officials in the North College Hill press box were in awe of the Indian linemen’s size. “They’re as big as Moeller,” one Trojan official said.

Almost. A quick look at the Moeller roster has its 11 offensive linemen averaging 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds. Carlisle’s starting five averages 6-2, 258.

Senior Thomas “T.C.” Cooper (6-1, 245) moved from defense to center and anchors the line. His position never changes. Jewell said the other four roles and positions on the line change according to the play that’s called.

Senior Dylan Parsons (6-2, 215) mans the left tackle position and fellow senior Tyler Jewell, (6-3, 300) who happens to be Coach Jewell’s “little” brother, starts at right guard. Seth Everhart, a junior (6-5, 290), is the starting right tackle and sophomore Joe Downey (6-1, 240) is the youngster of the bunch at left guard.

“I don’t know of another Division IV team that has our size on the O-line,” Bill Jewell said.

“They’ve been amazing this season,” quarterback Jake Gibson said. “We couldn’t do what we’ve done this year without them. And it happened because guys like T.C. (Cooper) stepped up for us and were willing to change positions to make it work. He’s been a good leader for the rest of the guys to follow.”

The linemen decided upon a nickname as recently as Wednesday, but even the moniker, and how they arrived at it, should tell you something about this bunch.

“We like The Bakery Boys,” Tyler Jewell said. Gibson was standing nearby and asked why they chose that name, Jewell said, “Because we like pancakes.” That drew chuckles from everyone within earshot.

Pancake is another name for a block where an offensive lineman flattens his defensive opponent. They were made popular by former Heisman Trophy finalist while at Ohio State and current Chicago Bears lineman Orlando Pace.

The Bakery Boys helped the Indians roll over North College Hill in the Division IV regional quarterfinals last week. They hope to do the same Saturday, Nov. 14, when they go up against the defending D-IV state champion Alter Knights in a regional semifinal at Monroe.

They said there’s no real secret to their success.

“We just work really well together as a team,” Everhart said. “We all just go after the lineman first, linebackers second.”

“We just want more pancakes,” laughed Jewell.

“... and to win, of course,” added Parsons.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.