Play of patchwork offensive line key for Jeannette in run to PIAA semifinals

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 | 7:24 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

Jeannette's offensive line of senior left tackle Jalen Jones, junior left guard Drake Petrillo, sophomore center Cam Felbaum, junior right guard Dom Myers and senior right tackle Ian Smith has played exactly one game together in those current positions: last Saturday's WPIAL Class A championship.

The patchwork, mix-and-match unit held its own in a 35-34 win over Imani Christian to give Jeannette its ninth WPIAL title and first in 10 years.

Who needs chemistry? The team admits to freewheeling its line combinations out of necessity — injuries, player absences and other reasons have caused Jeannette to make more line changes than the NHL's Metropolitan Division.

“It's just crazy,” line coach Trevor Petrillo said. “There have been games where we've had five different line (combinations). So many guys in and out, in different positions.”

From summer workouts, to training camp, to 14 games into the season, the front line has been a conundrum for the Jayhawks (13-1), who face Farrell (11-2) on Friday night in the PIAA Class A semifinals at Seneca Valley. The winner advances to the title game Dec. 7 in Hershey.

Ask any coach or player on the team about the line situation, and you get a chuckle, an eye-roll, a sneer.

The linemen could wear question mark helmet stickers.

The plan at the start of the season was to have Jones, senior Jordan Sullivan, Felbaum, Malik and Myers line up and block for senior quarterback Robert Kennedy.

Those plans are ancient history now. The team has used “about” 15 line combos, and junior Seth Howard has moved to quarterback, sharing time under center with Kennedy.

In all, 10 players have seen time up front for the Jayhawks.

Felbaum has played all five positions, mainly center and guard this season.

“It's tough to believe, all of this,” Felbaum said. “But we're OK with it. We knew we had to put the work in. We're all close. If one of us needs something, we know we don't need to ask.”

Malik was the center most of the season but went out with an injury, forcing Felbaum to take his place.

Jones and Sullivan were injured against Springdale.

Petrillo took over at guard for the second clash against Clairton.

“He learned how to play guard the night before that game,” said his brother and assistant coach Trevor Petrillo, a former Jeannette lineman. “I was showing Drake what to do in our living room.”

The current unit barely has had time to learn where one another should be lined up, let alone time to percolate together.

“Before, we weren't a unit but now we are,” said Smith, who switched positions after Sullivan left the team. “It's been a free-for-all, but everyone works together, the whole unit.”

Trevor Petrillo coaches the line, along with a former Jayhawks front-line stalwart, Jeremy Binakonsky.

“It's a testament to our guys,” Trevor Petrillo said. “We talk about them having the want-to. These aren't big kids, either. We've had small lines before at Jeannette, but we've had so many changes. There have been nights before games where I've been on the phone with Benny (Binakonsky), and we're like, ‘What are we going to do tomorrow?' We just say we'll figure it out when we get there.”

Jeannette's only state title came in 2007. That team had Terrelle Pryor at quarterback, Jordan Hall at tailback and a line that did not change much all season.

“That was a steady group,” Binakonsky said. “This one is completely different.”

That team's line was stocky and anchored. This one, while undersized, can move around more.

“The guys who have stepped in there are hungry,” Jeannette coach Roy Hall said. “They aren't big kids, so we just ask them to be pests, to get in the way.”

Jones is 6-foot-1, 208 pounds; Petrillo is 6-0, 180; Felbaum 6-1, 212; Myers 6-0, 205; and Smith 6-2, 190.

Farrell averages about 260 pounds up front. Still, the Jayhawks are ready to belly-up to the Steelers.

Hall also is a former Jeannette lineman but does not micro-manage his staff.

“First and foremost, it's about our coaches,” Hall said. “Trevor is a volunteer, but he is great at teaching these guys, and he is so dedicated. Our coaches have put in the time to help us get to where we are.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Jeannette