Any successful high school football team most likely has a top-notch offensive line. This has been true for the Beal City Aggies this season.
The tight ends are Carson Salisbury at the left side and Ryan Tilmann on the right. Left tackle is Nick Ward. Right tackle Austin Cook was a running back who was moved to the line. Tackles are Jacob Flaugher and Thomas Fussman, who both return from last season. The center is Kevin Bleise. The two tight ends, plus Ware and Bleise, are seniors.
Both tight ends and guards, plus the left tackle, started last year. Cook and Bleise were both on the varsity at different positions. Cook was fullback and Bleise was at linebacker.
“Salisbury is a great blocking tight end and has really caught the ball well this year,” said coach Lou Rau. “He’s made some spectacular catches when you least expect it.”
Tilmann “is nicknamed ‘Megatron’ for his spectacular catches,” Rau said. “He’s a 6’3″ guy with wide range in catching the ball.”
Rau called Ward the “cerebral one of the bunch. Our other tackle, Austin Cook, is a converted fullback from last year,” Rau said. “We like his athleticism up front.”
Flaugher and Fussman started as sophomores for Beal City last year. “They spent the off-season and really hit the weights hard,” Rau said. “They put on probably 30 pounds each since last year. They really developed their strength and speed.”
Bleise “is the steady hand who makes sure the ball gets to the same place every time,” Rau said
“This is a very athletic and strong line, physically,” Rau said. “They’re not huge but are physically strong and quick.”
The best part of the line is that it’s stayed intact all season with no notable absences. “They have to be able to play as a unit and be able to do different combination blocks,” Rau said. “They all but Bleise play on defense, too.”
Flaugher is the biggest lineman at 210 pounds. The smallest is 185 pounds. “We try to stress lean, fit physiques to be able to do the things we want to do,” Rau said.
The impact of the offensive line on a team that started out 12-0 and is making a serious bid for a state title has been “huge,” Rau said. “They’ve struggled at times but have always come up big when we’ve needed them to. They do a wide range of things from beginning our sweeps to pass blocking to all sorts of things. It’s a very versatile group.”