Holding the line
SLIPPERY ROCK— Question: What stands 31½ feet tall and weighs 1,450 pounds?
Answer:The combined size of the Slippery Rock University offensive line that's been imposing its will on opposing defenses all season.
The Rock (8-2) has failed to generate at least 400 yards of offense only once, and itran for 209 yards on the nation's top-ranked run defense California (Pa.) on that day.
SRU enters its regular-season finale at Edinboro Saturday averaging 460 yards per game, tops in the PSAC.
"This offense's success begins with the offensive line. It's as simple as that,"SRU coach George Mihalik said.
And the Rock offensive line begins with 6-foot-7, 330-pound senior left tackle Mike Butterworth.
A three-year starter who also started three games as a freshman, Butterworth has drawn plenty of attention from NFLscouts."He's a big guy who stays on his feet,"Mihalik said. "That's what the scouts like about him."Linebacker coach Thomas Howard serves as SRU's scout coordinator as well and said 24 NFLteams have been in to look at Butterworth."We've been contacted by 26 teams about him,"Howard said. "Mike is quick on his feet and very agile for someone his size."He's got a chance to be drafted in the later rounds — a pretty good chance, actually. If not, he'll definitely get a prime shot as a free agent."Other PSACoffensive linemen have made noise in the NFLranks. Indiana Pa.'s Jason Capizzi lasted until the final round of cuts with the Steelers this fall and Clarion's Reggie Wells recently signed a multiyear extension with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted in the sixth round in 2003.
The Philadelphia Eagles have had scouts at four Rock games this fall, and the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills have seen Butterworth play on multiple occasions as well."I would definitely love to play pro ball,"said Butterworth, who was not recruited by any Division I college. "As a freshman, it was the farthest thing from my mind."The pro thing kinda developed on its own since I've been here."So has the power of SRU's offensive line."We're having a lot of fun as a unit,"Butterworth said. "Sometimes it feels like we can do whatever we want out there."The numbers bear that out. SRUis averaging 22 first downs, 260 yards rushing and 200 yards passing per game.Three different running backs — Corey Manfull, Ryan Lehmeier and Damarcus Cleckley — have enjoyed 100-yard rushing games this season. Manfull has 1,086 yards despite missing two full games and half of another with a shoulder injury.SRU also leads the PSACwith only nine sacks allowed.
Right guard Bron Clouser stands 6-1 and weighs 310 pounds. Right tackle Dave Mulvihill is 6-4, 285. Both are senior three-year starters."We love when the coaches call the outside zone play to our side,"Mulvihill said. "That's a stretch handoff running right. We know what we want to do there and how to execute it.""Experience is a big part of our success,"Clouser said. "Everyone knows what the guy next to him is going to do and we help each other out. They can't double team everybody."Left guard Grant Hrabovsky is 6-3, 280, and a second-year starter at his position."The seniors set goals this year of getting over 400 yards of offense in every game and getting more rushing yards than the opposition every game,"Hrabovsky said."Those guys are great leaders. Myself and (Brandon)Fusco are the newcomers and we want to keep this success going."Fusco, a Seneca Valley graduate, is a redshirt freshman and first-year starter at center.
"He's the one guy up front who has gone well above and beyond expectations,"Mihalik said.""It's been a great experience playing with these guys,"Fusco said.Knoch graduate and Rock sophomore John Krauland, 6-4, 280, plays behind Butterworth. Mike Tomaino, a 6-5, 260-pound sophomore, plays behind Clouser, and another good-sized senior, 6-7, 310-pound Joe Klipa, backs up Mulvihill."We've got some depth up front — and some pretty good teachers they can learn from,"Mihalik said.
Behind its veteran line, Slippery Rock University's offense leads the PSAC with 460 yards per game. Here is the breakdown:<B>Opponent Rush Pass Total</B>Seton Hill 288 199 487Millersville 165 293 458Bowie St. 282 163 445Kutztown 262 174 436Indiana (Pa.) 202 206 408East Stroudsburg 332 220 552Clarion 382 111 493Shippensburg 158 288 446California (Pa.) 209 1348 347Lock Haven 318 210 528
