Lives behind Rock Bridge football

Rock Bridge running back Scott Concannon was feeling well enough on Saturday morning to eat a hearty breakfast with seven of his teammates. He devoured his pancakes, hash browns and toast like they were Jefferson City defenders.

The waitress kept bringing out plates for the famished players.

“Do you have everything now?” she asked, relieved after making her last trip from the kitchen.

Neither Jefferson City nor an upset stomach could stop Concannon on Friday night.

Though he was feeling ill all game, Concannon returned the opening kickoff 76 yards to set up the team’s first touchdown, rushed for 198 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns, leading the Bruins over the Jays 49-28 at Adkins Stadium.

Concannon said the food he ate before the game never settled. He vomited once before the game, twice on the field in the first half and again at halftime.

The running back did not eat as much as his offensive linemen on Saturday morning. Center Clay Minchew ordered a hungry jack, consisting of two pancakes, two eggs, toast and bacon, as well as a side of biscuits and gravy. Minchew finished his meal with a flourish by stacking hash browns and bacon on his toast, stuffing it in his mouth and washing it down with a gulp of iced tea.

Minchew lines up on both sides of the ball like most of the Rock Bridge linemen. Left guard and nose tackle Jason Reddy and defensive end Will Wesbury joined Minchew at breakfast.

None of players protecting quarterback Logan Gray is shorter than six feet or weighs less than 265 pounds, and they have played together for years, especially Reddy and Minchew. The two met in elementary school, and they lined up together on several Columbia Youth Football League teams in junior high.

Their relationship got heated this summer during two-a-day practices in August. The coaches divided up the team, and Minchew found himself facing off against Reddy.

The matchup was fierce. Minchew blocked Reddy hard on one play, but Reddy beat the center on the next snap. Frustrated and fatigued, Minchew took a cheap shot at Reddy, and blocks gave way to punches. The two didn’t utter a word to each other for the rest of practice, but the next day they were joshing again.

Minchew is the prankster in the locker room.

“If you leave anything out,” Reddy said, “there’s a good chance you’ll be looking for it.”

Minchew admits to his kleptomania. He said although he does hide large items such as pads, he prefers to conceal less bulky equipment, such as shoes.

Seniors Minchew and Reddy have lockers next to their fellow linemen, juniors Dan Shufeldt and Garrick Williams and senior Jeremy Guier.

“We all try to stick together,” Minchew said.

The linemen have been together for three years. Guier, Minchew and Reddy were part of the defensive line rotation as sophomores, and they all started on the offensive line last year.

The competition is not limited to practices. They challenge each other in video games, including Madden 2007and NCAA 2007.

The best player is evident.

“I’m not going to lie,” Guier said. “I’m definitely not the best. (Reddy) is.”

This honesty is helpful on Friday nights. Reddy said the linemen communicate frequently, admitting when they need help on blocks or encouraging each other before a big play.

Their teammates appreciate their cohesion.

“They have trust for one another,” Concannon said.

For instance, the teamwork allows one of the linemen to break off a double team to pick up a linebacker, Concannon said.