WORCESTER – As South High School center Johnny Vickers fires off the ball along the line-of-scrimmage, he enjoys that sense of instant gratification every time he smashes into opposing nose tackles and linebackers. He loves that immediate sense of accomplishment when he sees Angelo LaRose’s red Colonel’s jersey dash through an open hole he created. 

“The biggest thrill is to see number six sprint up through that hole untouched,” said the senior and four-year Colonels’ starter. “It’s awesome to see his track star speed go into that end zone. There’s nothing better.”

There has not been a rushing attack better than South High in Central Mass this season. LaRose leads all Central Mass running backs with 1,333 yards and 17 touchdowns in just four games. In the last game alone against Auburn, LaRose ran for 413 yards with seven touchdowns, tying the record for most rushing scores ever in a Central Mass game (Fitchburg’s Sal Figueroa had seven, Nov. 10, 2017 against Algonquin). His success rushing the ball is a direct result of South’s big, bruising offensive line opening huge holes in opposing defensive fronts. 

“Blocking for Angelo LaRose is unbelievable,” Vickers said. “Getting to see him run through the hole, with his speed and his strength is absolutely amazing. There’s nothing truly like it.”

LaRose has proved to be a versatile back possessing excellent vision to find the correct holes to run through. He has sneaky quickness for his 5-foot-9-inch, 195-pound frame. He has the swift ability to accelerate through the holes with acceleration. Once he gets to the second level of the defense, he has the breakaway ability to get huge chunks of yardage. However, LaRose said he is only the beneficiary of the work his offensive line has done opening holes in front of him. 

“My success is everyone else’s success,” LaRose said during a recent practice. “I can’t go anywhere without my lineman.”

The Colonels’ rushing attack starts with their five starting linemen and one tight end. Anchoring the line’s interior as the starting center is Vickers at 6-feet, 250. Vickers is bookend by two sophomore guards, Alexi Estrada at 5-feet-10, 230, who starts at left guard position with Chris Winfield at 5-feet-8, 260, manning the right side. Lining up at left tackle is freshman Julio Salinas at 5-feet-10, 268, and the right tackle is the Colonels’ biggest lineman, junior Andrew LaPlume at 6-feet-4, 330. The line is reinforced by 6-foot, 310-pound junior tight end Noah Barrera, who can line up on either side of the line. Barrera’s versatility as a reliable receiver and strong blocker creates a lot of difficulty for opposing defenses.

Despite being a relatively young group of players, Colonels offensive line coach Mike Maldonado said this group brings a lot of power, strength, and intelligence to the ground attack.

“It’s their intensity that we get from all five guys up front that makes them so good,” Maldonado said, who is in his second season as line coach. “The intensity they bring every game and how they move their feet helps open up these holes. They believe in each other and they feed off each other. I’ve never seen a line like this and they’re so young, that’s the crazy part.”

Maldonado said despite their age, they have a strong understanding of the game, which is key. “They understand their footwork and they give me 100 percent every play,” he said. “It starts with our center and guards and the pulling that they’re doing. With the intensity they’re bringing, with their size and strength, they’re difficult to stop. They also lead by example and that makes coaching very easy.”

LaRose said he feeds off the line’s intensity. “They get excited when they make a good block,” he said. “When I feel their energy, I know it’s over. I know we got them right where we wanted them. I love it. It’s old school. You know, run it right up the gut and obviously these guys are doing a great job. I couldn’t do anything without them.”

The members of South’s offensive line have a strong mastery of the pancake block, which is a term that is used by offensive line coaches and linemen in football to describe a block that leaves a defensive player flat on his back as the running back goes through the hole. It represents dominance by the offensive linemen and a source of Colonels pride. 

For LaPlume, there’s nothing more satisfying than when he or one of his linemates “pancakes” the opponent. “When I see my teammates get a pancake, I just love to hype ‘em up,” he said. “I get extremely loud and hyped when I get one, too.” 

As the only senior in the starting group, Vickers is looked to be the leader in the trenches. According to Winfield, “playing with Johnny is almost like getting taught how to play football again. It’s different playing with him. It’s not like playing with any other center. He’s taught me more how to control the line. It’s really building up the intensity and pointing out the linebackers trying to creep up and blitz (during pre-snap reads). And calling out the protections without giving it away.”

“I would say Johnny is the mentor to us,” Estrada said. “I would say he is the captain of the line. He gives good callouts … He keeps us in check in the huddle. He makes sure we line up straight. He’s the center, the leader of our line.”

Vickers said he appreciates the talent of his young teammates, who has seen them grow as players with the Worcester Cowboys, a local youth football organization. “Seeing them grow up is absolutely amazing,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed watching them play for years and to be playing with them now after watching them for so long is absolutely amazing.

“Going with such a young group, I expected I would have to mentor them, but coming out here, even though they are a young group, they know what to do,” he said. “They got the football mentality. I don’t really have to teach them much. I just try to keep them going in the straight line.”

South also has excellent experience and depth in case someone has to miss a snap. Suring-up the guard positions is senior Kelvin Mercadante. At 5-feet-9, 200 pounds, he has the ability to play both guard positions. Sophomore Aidan Morrow at 6-feet, 225, has the ability to backup both tackle and guard positions.

LaRose also has some help in the backfield with sophomore Jose Reyes lining up as a blocking fullback. “My job is to take out the first guy in front of me so I can leave that open green field for Angelo to score,” he said. “It feels great to do my part.” Also backing up Reyes at fullback and Barrera at tight end is senior Steven Solano at 5-feet-10, 230 pounds.

With the help of his line, LaRose is challenging several Central Mass records. He was only 23 yards off the record for most rushing yards in a game set by St. Bernard’s Cody Titus with 436 on Oct. 15, 2011. He is halfway to breaking the record for the most rushing yards in the regular season held by Auburn’s Mark Wright with 2,607 yards in 2014. He is also on pace to break the most rushing touchdowns in a regular season of 34 held by West Boylston’s Cole McCubrey in 2016. 

However, LaRose does not care about any of his personal records. “All that stuff, it doesn’t matter to me,” he said. With his team sitting atop the Inter-High League with a 3-1 record, he is only interested in one thing. “All I care about is that win or loss column and what we do as a team together.”