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Ranger linemen lead the way to postseasonBaytown Sun photo/Nicki EvansSterling offensive lineman Todd Sylvester, left, Curtis Jenkins. Reece Parrish, Fitiseula Partsch, Trent Padgett, Ian Irby, McCall Lucas, Hayden Jones, Brok Boyd, William Spears and Michael Gibson give coach Mike Washburn, center, a lot of blocking options.BY DAVE ROGERSdave.rogers@baytownsun.comConsistency and continuity are two things the Sterling coaches have preached to their football players throughout the program's winningest season this decade.Finally, three months into the 2008 season, the 6-3 Rangers have developed consistency on the offensive line.When they line up to play sixth-ranked Pearland in a Class 5A Division I bidistrict game at 7 p.m. today at Deer Park's Abshier Stadium, they will start the same five players up front for the third week in a row.“We’ve had different guys nicked up and we've juggled our lineup all year long” Sterling offensive coordinator Rich Lucero said. “But we’ve gotten by; we’ve still won.”The shuffling ceased three games ago when the Ranger coaches moved Todd Sylvester from tight end to left tackle and left tackle Ian Irby to center.“We’ve got it steady now,” said right tackle Michael Gibson, the only player to start all season in the same posi-“I’m really excited with the job coach Washburn has done with the offensive line,” Ranger head coach Herb Minyard said. “Throughout a lot of injuries and illness, he’s always managed to come to the table with a team we can win with.” Sterling, the District 21-5A third-place team, finished third in district in total offense, averaging just a tick below 300 yards per game (294.9). That was split between 203 yards per game passing and 92 rushing.The Rangers linemen all play both offense and defense, a fact of life necessitated by the loss of players to Baytown’s new high school. Goose Creek Memorial. They also cross-train at their offensive positions.“We all know what each other is doing,” Gibson said, explaining how the blockers can often switch positions without a drop in efficiency.Lucero said the players' selflessness has been a key to theRangers' success, citing the recent example set by Sylvester.SEE RANGERS • PAGE 6APlayoff tickets on saletion. “It’s the same people back we had last week and the week before that.Right guard Hayden Jones and left guard Fitiseula “Miki Partsch complete the all-senior starting five after each missed about half the season with preseason foot injuries.Curtis Jenkins, Reece Parrish, Trent Padgett. McCall Lucas. Brok Boyd, William Spears and Clive Aldonza are the others who have played for offensive line coach Mike Washburn.• Sterling vs. Pearland, 7 p.m. Today, Abshier StadiumTickets for the Sterling football playoff game against Pearland High School can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., today at Sterling High School or the Administration Building tax office.Pre-game tickets are S5 for adults and $3 for students. At the gate, tickets will cost $7.
Newspaper Details
Baytown Sun
Baytown, Texas, US
Fri, Nov 14, 2008
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Rosenberg L.
TX, USA 01 Nov 2018
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