Football: Monrovia has a firm foundation with O-Line


Offinsive Line: Grant Haggard, Kizz Prusia, Hale Hulin, Dean Bisterfeldt, Mark Rangel, Cody Strain, Josh Lowden and Ellis McCarthy are the unsung heroes of the Monrovia football team.

MONROVIA – Offensive linemen constantly are reminded Monrovia High School’s success is heavily dependent on their individual victories in the trenches.

How the offensive line goes, so goes its heralded quarterback Nick Bueno and a stable of running backs that includes De’Shawn Ramirez and Derrick Johnson.

It’s a ripple effect resulting in an undefeated season and the No. 1 seed in the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs.

From the start of the season, Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox said the offensive line would be the Wildcats’ strength, and so far it’s held true.

They’ll quietly go unnoticed once again when Monrovia (12-0) hosts Whittier Christian (9-3) at 7 on Saturday night in the division semifinals.

Seniors Josh Lowden, Cody Strain, Harley Hulin and Kizz Prusia are the returning linemen from last year’s team that made a run to the semifinals. Dean Bisterfeldt, a 6-foot, 210 pound junior, is the newcomer.

They’re the centerpiece that holds the offense together, but they’re also the group that gets little notice.

They’re not pretty or flashy like their more skilled teammates, but they get the job done.

“Truly they are the foundation,” Maddox said. “Without a great offensive line you don’t have the stats for Nick Bueno and De’Shawn Ramirez.

“They’re all great players, but it’s the offensive line that makes it all go.”

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Senior Grant Haggard (6-2, 225) and sophomore Ellis McCarthy (6-5, 246) are tight ends who are an extended part of the lineman family and help Bueno buy time with their intimidating frames.

Senior Mark Rangel also is part of the family. He’s had valuable playing time since Lowden separated his shoulder against Blair in Week 10. His seamless transition has helped immensely.

“Mark has been, in coaching terms, our No. 6,” Maddox said. “He can fill in anywhere – at guard, tackle or center. It’s not the first time he’s filled in for us. On occasion we’ll get Josh out on games where we can give him a rest and Mark steps in without a problem.

“He’s played big for us, and having a guy like him who can fill a spot seamlessly is of tremendous help to our team.”

Lowden, a linebacker, and McCarthy, a defensive end, can grab the spotlight at times because of their tremendous athletic ability and strength, whether it be through an interception or a sack. But the others do their job, jog back to the sideline and may get nothing more than a pat on the back with the crowd cheering as Bueno or Johnson celebrate yet another touchdown.

“They’re used to not getting their names in the paper,” Maddox said. “That kind of goes along with the job and they’re kind of proud of it. It’s kind of like an offensive lineman creed.

“They know they’re not going to get the press and publicity, and in the stands people don’t see the blocks they make and the pancakes, but it goes with the territory of being an offensive lineman.”

Bueno, a junior, has rushed for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns and passed for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Ramirez, a sophomore, is the second-leading rusher with 852 yards and 10 touchdowns. Johnson, a junior, is the third-leading rusher with 581 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“The offensive line’s glory is when they open huge holes,” Maddox said, “and they know they’re doing their jobs and dominating the defense, marching down the field.

“That’s where they get their credos from.”

Johnson undoubtedly takes notice.

“Without them we wouldn’t get the attention we have,” Johnson said Wednesday after practice. “If you see in film, I give the lineman all high fives before each play, and during halftime it’s nothing but love. All the running backs stay with the linemen because without them we wouldn’t be successful.”

miguel.melendez@sgvn.com

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