In every sport there are players who grab the headlines, dominate the stat sheet and receive praise for their actions both on and off the field. Seniors Dayton Marcks and Jonah Dubinski are not these players.
The senior offensive linemen have been silently opening up gaping holes for the running game and providing essential pass protection during the Bruins 4-6 campaign this season.
The combined frames of the 6’2” 275 pound Dubinski and 5’11” 245 pound Marcks have been foreboding for just about every opponent RBHS has faced. Senior quarterback Logan Twehous said the two have helped him stay confident when making decisions when looking to pass from the pocket.
“They boost my confidence tremendously and their ability to communicate things out with other lineman is second to none,” Twehous said, “and their ability to not just make themselves better but the people around them better is a huge asset to the team.”
The duo have been helping Twehous prosper in his final season as a Bruin with a staggering total of 2,370 passing yards through nine games, and have a special chemistry that provides for a hunger that keeps them working hard day in and day out.
“We’ve been friends since I started [RBHS] football,” Marcks said, “because we have had similar goals and been in similar positions.”
Junior running back Nick Collins has also flourished with the help of Marcks and Dubinski and has scampered his way to a season total of 655 yards.
“Coach [A.J.] Ofodile goes out of his way to mention us whenever he has the chance,” Dubinski said, “and my teammates always strive to give us some credit.”
However, their high level of play isn’t always as easy as they make it look.
Because RBHS often employs the shotgun formation, Marcks holds a very small margin of error as center for the Bruins and is responsible for every snap of the offensive drive, and must make sure he delivers the ball to Twehous both accurately and quickly. After the snap, he and Dubinski, an offensive guard, must ward off the opposing defense as they swarm towards Twehous and Collins in the backfield.
Sometimes the intricacies of the pair’s game can go unnoticed by the average football fan and get lost in the flow of the game. Twehous believes their play is pivotal in key moments and can give the Bruins life when in a dry spell or in need of a big play from either the quarterback or running back.
“They’re great at sorting things out.” Twehous said, “Defenses can give different looks and plays but their ability to adjust the blocking scheme and make it so it is a successful play is a huge thing people don’t realize about offense.”
With the offensive line playing such a key role in the team’s performance, it can be nerve-racking to maintain playing at a high level.
“I try not to think about it,” Marcks said, “and just know that if I trust what I’ve been coached then I will play fine.”
Dubinski credits a lot of their success to offensive line coach Dan Schufeld.
“Dayton and I are both pretty self-motivated people so having to push us hasn’t really been something Dan [Schufeld] has had to do,” Dubinski said, “but the way he has taught us his knowledge of the game and technique is where he has impacted us the most.”
The pair have received helpful contributions from their fellow offensive linemen consisting of junior offensive tackle Drew Fougere and senior Andrew Cunningham, as well as All-State senior offensive guard Daniel Wolfe.
Dubinski and Marcks both plan to make an impact wherever they go after their careers at RBHS come to an end when they graduate this May. Dubinski has visited both Western Illinois University and Missouri State University and has heard from numerous other schools. Marcks is still pondering about what will be the right fit for him after he is no longer a Bruin but is certain he and Dubinski will maintain their friendship.
“We’ve been friends for a while,” Marcks said. “We will stay in touch no matter what we do after high school.”
By John Flanegin