Few if any offensive linemen ever tackle their position of choice in search of fame and glory.
In football vernacular, their work is done in the trenches, lads focused on doing the heavy lifting so that their “skilled positional” players, those gifted with more speed and arguably all-around athleticism, can strut their stuff elsewhere on the gridiron.
Elite offensive linemen are at their best performing in that small area of turf that is somewhat nondescript to the average fan of the sport. People who really know football, however, will share a whole different story altogether regarding the importance of those who toil in the “Land of the Big Men”.
“Our O Line is the foundation of our team,” said Confederation Chargers Head Coach Shane Hutchison on Oct. 25, the day after his Valley East crew claimed their first city title since 2003 with a 31-29 win over the four-time champion Lo-Ellen Park Knights.
“Without an incredible line, our offense simply doesn’t function properly.”
The Chargers dominated the ground game in the team’s 42-0 NOSSA semi-final win Nov. 1 over North Bay’s Algonquin Barons, scoring six rushing touchdowns and gaining several hundred yards from their backfield posse.
Achieving those scoring and rushing numbers requires a strong offensive line, and coach Hutchison certainly seems blessed with that.
For as much as the six-man grouping of Zach White, Crawford Wiebe, Owen Parro, Cameron Dubois, Boston Bobbie and Riley Clarke were not looking for adulation, it never hurts to be reminded just how key one’s contribution is to team success.
The pride in their work is evident, as was the year over year improvement that allowed the Chargers to turn the tables in 2025 after dropping the city final to Lo-Ellen 12 months earlier.
“Last year, we really weren’t drive blocking that much; we weren’t finishing blocks properly,” noted 17-year-old right tackle Cameron Dubois. “We have really improved in drive blocking and, as well, with our quarterback position.”
Tyson Vitali returned as the QB and for as much as he was not required to throw a great deal, the progression in his game has been obvious to those who see him the most.
“I have a lot of faith in our quarterback,” said Dubois. “I know that he can make those throws. The whole offensive line knows he can make those throws.”
But thanks to the sheer physicality and technical advancement of the offensive line in front of him, Vitali really is not prone to airing the ball more than he has to.
Just a hair shy of his 17th birthday, Boston Bobbie — who stands 6-3 and tips the scales at 340 pounds or so — was a clear fit on the lines for coach Hutchison.
That said, the young man who grew up in Mississauga before moving north was coming off a season on the defensive side of the ball as he slotted over to left tackle this fall. Prior experience definitely worked in his favour.
“I have a pretty good football IQ, I think,” said Bobbie, whose first love was hockey before joining the Chargers in Grade 10. “I can spot what defenses are trying to do, especially because I played defense. I know how the D Line operates, I know how the linebackers operate – and a lot of our plays are based on what the defense is doing.
“We will block every play differently depending on how the defense lines up,” added Bobbie.
Cameron Dubois also arrived at football tryouts for Confed in Grade 10, but played only two games that year, did not particularly like it and returned to hockey before finally seeing the light last fall.
“Most of my friends were playing football and I was not going to be the only one not playing,” said Dubois. “When I came back, I started at tight end. Then we had some injuries so I moved to tackle. With that move, I fell in love with the sport.”
For Dubois, it’s simple: he loves to tackle and the fact he is a relatively undersized offensive lineman (5-10, 190 lbs) doesn’t bother him at all.
“I have tried guard in practice, but tackle is the position for me,” said Dubois. “It’s what I understand the most – and where I have the most fun.
“At tackle, I get to be more mobile. I have more climbs, I have more pulls, I have more down blocking.”
And for as much as there is something of a “mano a mano” component to the head to head battles on the line of scrimmage, there is a timed choreography of the five-man unit that is beauty to the eye of the informed observer – when executed to perfection.
“We run a lot of stuff in practice for timing,” said Dubois. “That’s mostly what we’re working on. We want to have our timing down to know we can run it perfectly. If it’s messed up by even a second, that’s when it can all collapse.”
Communication is critical.
“Before every play, when we get set, me and Zach (White) are always talking,” said Bobbie. “Even if our assignment is a certain guy, sometimes we might change it up, trying to block it better.”
And few do it better than the offensive line of the Confederation Chargers.
The NOSSA final between the Chargers and the Korah Colts of Sault Ste. Marie will be held at the James Jerome Sports Complex on Nov. 8 at 4 p.m.
Randy Pascal is a sportswriter in Greater Sudbury. Pursuit is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.