How everything aligned for Palatine's offensive line

Finding the proper alignment for the Palatine offensive line was not easy.

Newer parts needed to fit in with older ones. One had to be plugged into a completely unfamiliar spot and another suffered an unfortunate breakdown.

The master mechanic of the crew, Palatine line coach Mike Hernon, had to do a lot of tinkering and extra work to help the front men in an offense that sputtered at times.

But the Pirates (7-4) have been in the playoff fast lane with 28 and 42 points in victories that have them hosting Loyola (10-1) in Saturday's 6 p.m. Class 8A state quarterfinal.

And big-rig seniors Tyler Farris and Joe Landeck, juniors C.J. Machnik and Nathan Gerdes and sophomore Josh Baldus have given Cody Bobbit and Jim Smearman plenty of room to maneuver.

"I feel we're running at max...," Farris started.

"Efficiency," Landeck finished.

Landeck (6-foot-5, 257 pounds) and Farris (6-3, 302) are the anchors at tackle for one of three 4-loss teams still alive in the state playoffs. Machnik (6-0, 200) and Gerdes (6-0, 249) are the guards with Baldus (6-5, 227) at center.

Developing continuity and cohesiveness was a challenge. Baldus spent most of the summer on defense and never played center until a week before the season started.

Junior guard Layne Kirch missed a good chunk of the early season with a high ankle sprain. He returned for Mid-Suburban West play and did well but then broke the other ankle on the first play of the game against Fremd.

"All of those woes are a reason why it took a long time to develop compared to most years," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "The last three or four weeks they've really been outstanding.

"When we got to Glenbard North (first-round upset victory) we thought we'd have to throw the football every down. All of a sudden we were getting 4 yards a pop (running) and we said, 'Wow.'"

The leadership of the vocal Farris and the more soft-spoken Landeck, who both started last year, helped them get through the tough times to the good times.

"I was there last year and that's what the seniors did for me," Farris said of providing motivation and instruction.

"If bad stuff happens and things go wrong, we're not getting on them all the time," Landeck said of the younger linemen. "We're encouraging them to keep their heads up and keep going."

Landeck had his own adversity to deal with just before the season started. His cousin C.J. Boyd, who played for the Pirates, was on duty with the Marines in Afghanistan when he was killed by a roadside bomb.

Landeck wore Boyd's uniform number 54 as a tribute until it was retired and has switched back to 77.

"I had to get through it," Landeck said. "The Lake Forest and Rolling Meadows games, all the stuff for him was still going on, and those two games were the hardest to get through that.

"As the season went on it became easier to focus and play."

Farris' move to tackle created an opening at center. Baldus, who played on the sophomore team as a freshman, suddenly found himself delivering shotgun snaps to Bobbit.

"What's been huge is it hasn't rained," Farris joked of last year's bad weather during eight games he was at center.

But Baldus said what Farris and Landeck have provided the Pirates has been no joke.

"Any time I have a bad snap they'll be there and settle me down and get my mind back into it," Baldus said. "Without their leadership we wouldn't be anywhere. In the playoffs, they've been big leaders and have helped everybody out."

Having Machnik helped the Pirates overcome the loss of Kirch. Gerdes made the transition from center to strong guard.

"C.J. has adjusted really well and stepped up in a situation that shows a lot of character," Farris said. "Nathan has really stepped up, also."

And Donnelly said the extra work they've put in with Hernon by watching film and doing early morning walk-throughs as a group is paying off now.

"Now we're playing more as a unit," Farris said.

One hitting on all cylinders.