We-before-me mentality: Pirates’ collective effort along offensive line creates success

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Film doesn’t lie.

So as the Hannibal football players and coaching staff reviewed last Saturday’s 42-26 victory over North County in the Class 4 state semifinals, a familiar site popped up on the screen — Aneyas Williams running untouched for a touchdown.

Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter, Williams took the handoff between the tackles, cleared the line through a gaping hole and raced 32 yards for the tying touchdown.

“If you watch that from the end zone view, the kid isn’t even touched,” Hannibal coach Jeff Gschwender said. “It’s just a sprint from the backfield to the end zone. … If you look at it throughout the year, a lot of our big plays and our big runs the skill guys are hitting is 100 percent, no question about it because of our offensive line.”

You don’t rewrite the record books without owning the trenches.

The Pirates have done that.

They head into Friday’s Class 4 state championship game against Smithville at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., averaging 49.7 points and 416.2 yards per game. They churn out 7.7 yards per play and have piled up 83 offensive touchdowns. They’ve paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher, a 1,000-yard receiver and nearly a 2,000-yard passer.

It’s enabled the Pirates to commit less than one turnover per game.

“We all have the we-before-me mentality,” senior left tackle Caden Selle said. “All of us up front know we might not get the most recognition, but we still do the job to the best of our ability. We know the outcome of games is better than any sort of personal accolades.”

Those around them understand the offensive linemen will put forth 

“They’re great,” senior quarterback Courtland Watson said. “Selle really leads the o-line, and he’s done a great job getting them ready. They always tell me, ‘We’ve got you. No one’s going to touch you.’ That feels great that they’re in front of me.”

Although the Pirates admittedly lean left in their offensive play-calling to run behind Selle and junior left guard Xxavion Washington, the coaching staff has confidence in the entire group.

Junior center Ryan Ross, junior right guard Briley Cunningham and junior right tackle Austin Wilhoit have allowed the Pirates to average 6.4 yards per carry and 18.7 yards per completion. The Pirates haven’t scored fewer than 35 points in any game this season.

“We all have the we-before-me mentality. All of us up front know we might not get the most recognition, but we still do the job to the best of our ability. We know the outcome of games is better than any sort of personal accolades.”

Hannibal senior left tackle Caden Selle

“We’ve had a little bit of adversity, but we’ve really come together well,” Selle said. “I think we’re at our peak.”

That’s all about attitude, and this line has the right attitude.

If they do their job, the skill position players will flourish.

“Not only do you get the reward from winning the game, but you get to see them be successful,” Selle said. “I like seeing other people’s success. Along this journey, there have been a lot of games where you see a crazy catch or we score a touchdown to go up or even late in the game when the clock is running out.

“You sit there and go, ‘Wow, we did that. We’re moving on.’”

So much of what the Pirates have accomplished is born from the relationship built between the lineman and offensive line coach Jason Noland.

“When you think of an offensive line coach, you think of a real hard-nosed guy who doesn’t take crap off anyone,” Gschwender said. “Coach Noland is a different kind of coach. He’s a ‘I’m going to create a relationship with you’ kind of guy. He’s as sharp of an offensive line coach as you’ll ever see as far as blocking schemes, angles, how we need to block against this or that.

“Beyond that, the relationship he has with his offensive line, they’ll run through a brick wall for him. That’s something that’s really special. It doesn’t matter how talented your offensive line is, if they come out and work their butts off for their coach and they give effort every single play, they’re going to be good.”

They’ve been better than that. The Pirates have been dominant.