The question rages on in Coal City.
Have “Grogg’s Hoggs” decimated opposing defensive lines for the wins, or for the donuts they are rewarded with after the games?
“I don’t know really. That is a tough one,” all-state left tackle Logan Isom said, laughing. “They both are pretty good. We want to win, but donuts are really good.”
Of course earning a win is the main goal each week, but the donuts have arrived courtesy of running back Judah Price. The plan is simple, Price rushes for 200 yards, the lineman get donuts.
So far the terrors of the trenches have not gone hungry in eight regular season match-ups that have seen the starters sitting in almost all of the second halves of blowout wins.
Last week when Class AA No. 7 rated Nicholas County came to town, it was seen as the biggest challenge so far this season for the No. 3 rated Patriots and it vaunted offensive line.
When the halftime horn sounded at George Covey Field, Price alone had over 200 yards rushing and Indy had rang up 58 points.
For their efforts Friday night, Parker Withrow, Aaron Shiflett, Fisher Williams, Brady Grimmett, Logan Isom, Braxton McKinney, Chandler Johnson and Jordan Harvey have been named this week’s Lootpress Offensive Line of the Week. The award is sponsored by The Law Offices of Brandon Steele which will make a $50 donation to the school’s athletic fund.
“I had high expectations for this group this year. They are all three-year starters and have played at a high level all year. They go a great job and they are easily coached,” Independence head coach John H. Lilly said. “They motivate each other to do really well and they play well as a cohesive unit. When you hear an offensive line is like a glove, they are the perfect glove. They have a great mentor in (assistant) coach (Kevin) Grogg. That is why we call them “Grogg’s Hoggs”.
While the guys up front are having a good time and lots of laughter can be found at practices and games, their success is no accident.
“It has been fun going out there stopping on everybody,” right tackle Parker Withrow said, laughing. “We have played together since we were four or five, so we have really good chemistry and are really experienced.”
“We just really work hard in the off-season and take care of the little things,” Isom said. “We knew we were going to have a lot of pressure on us after what we did last year. We knew we had to go out this year and duplicate it.”
Last year the group paved the way for Kennedy Award winner Atticus Goodson and helped guide the Patriots to the state championship game in Wheeling.
In a shortened season due to Covid issues, Goodson rolled up over 1,600 yards and scored 25 touchdowns.
This year Grogg’s Hoggs have paved the way for over 4,000 yards of total offense which includes 2,872 yards on the ground.
“We have come together like a band of brothers, really. We fight hard for each other and have a band that can’t be broken,” center Fisher Williams said. “We have a deep group that likes to compete. Like coach says, iron sharpens iron.”
Now the Patriots are on the verge of another major milestone with Price sitting 19 points away from breaking the state scoring record of 276 points set by Ethan Payne from Poca in 2019.
“Hopefully we will have a scoring record Friday and we had the Kennedy Award winner last year. That is a tip on how good they really are,” Lilly said. “They matured and worked hard in the off-season. There is probably not a day where they don’t touch weights here or somewhere else. They are not enough words to express how happy I am.”
Along with the state scoring record that is on the line, Independence also has the chance to finish undefeated in the regular season for the second consecutive year.
The Patriots will enter the game Friday as a heavy, heavy favorite, but they cannot sleep on Wyoming East who will be looking for a monumental win for its program.
“We always look at it as every team is good. It comes down to preparation and physicality,” right guard Aaron Shiflett said. “We take it week by week and don’t let our head get too swollen. It feels good knowing we have a chance to help Judah get that record.”
