James Copeland is an ASU student journalist assigned to cover Betty H. Fairfax High School for AZPreps365.com

An offense and defense tend to have one thing in common. Both sides tend to start and end with how their lines play on each side of the ball. Winning the game in the trenches can ultimately be the difference maker in the game.

If you do not block on the offensive side, it is very difficult to set up the run and pass. On the defensive side if you do not get pressure or stop the run it can be very tough to stop your opponent from scoring.

For Betty H. Fairfax High football program, both sides of the ball are having these issues and the coaches and players are looking to fix it.

Part of the reason for the struggles of the line play is the same as it has been for the Stampede and that is their youth and inexperience. Coach Keith Mannie continues to preach that the line will get better the more reps and opportunities they get to play.

“The good thing about both our lines is that they are young. I just see every week they are slowly getting better. I think this momentum we got going now this season will really help us out going into next year,” he said.

Mannie is not wrong about the offensive line’s improvements in recent weeks. In their last game against North High School, the Stampede were able to open up big holes for their star running back, Dual Machar Wie, as well as good pass protection, being the reason they were able to set up a huge screen play as well as punch in a couple touchdowns.

What has really hurt the offensive line is being without their captain and leader, Connor Bowman. The senior center has been out for the last two games with a concussion.

Bowman has made a name for himself with the coaching staff as one of the hardest workers, and can be seen helping and motivating his fellow teammates on the sideline even in his absence. He spoke of the passion he has for the position as well as what it means for him to be a leader.

“I just love doing the job of making sure my quarterback is protected and that my running back can run the ball. I like to keep practice intense and make sure my fellow lineman don’t get all mopey when we start struggling,” he said.

The defensive line has also been struggling on their side of the ball with tackling at the line to gain and letting the running backs break free for the linebackers to get them.

There has also been some big injuries to that side of the ball as their star defensive end Porter Swope was not suited up for the game against North. Martwon Weaver, who is in charge of the defense as a whole and helps run drills with the lineman, explained what the team does to prepare and how he feels the level of play has been this season.

“I think they’ve improved good and are finally starting to learn their techniques while adapting to Varsity speed on the fly. We do a lot of sled drills in practice as well as three-on-threes and five-on-fives to help them learn their technique. They are young and will continue to get better,” he said.

One thing that can definitely be said is that these lineman are young and still have a year or two to build up their strength and technique to the varsity level they are expected to play at.

The future of the lineman at Fairfax seems to be trending in the right direction.

“We just want to help teach them the game first and foremost. That’s what you need to do when it is a lot of guys in their first year ever playing football,” Mannie said.