The kids are all right on Hersey’s offensive line
The Hersey football team fields University of Kentucky commit Jake Nawrot. Rivals.com ranks him No. 5 nationally among senior quarterbacks.
Protecting the 4-star Nawrot is a huge responsibility. Alongside senior center Ben Zebron, senior right guard Justin Carrillo and junior left tackle Johnny Lamonica, Hersey has taken a slightly unorthodox position to start underclassmen at the other two line positions.
Sophomore Taetum Mulder is in at left guard and a freshman, Charlie Lamonica, Johnny’s brother, plays right tackle.
These kids are all right. Hersey is 2-0 and has outscored foes 80-28 entering Friday’s nonconference game at Neuqua Valley. Nawrot has thrown for seven touchdowns without an interception and the team averages 429 yards of offense.
“They’ve been great,” Zebron, a two-year starter and team captain, said of Mulder and Lamonica.
“Came in in the summer, just had a lot of guys, kind of like a tryout, basically,” Zebron said. “These guys stepped up, filled in the spots we needed and they’ve been playing great since.”
Hersey coach Tom Nelson echoed his center. After graduating four starting linemen there was fierce competition for line positions.
“We just felt like those guys did the best job, and they deserved a shot,” said Nelson, a 2005 Hersey graduate who doesn’t recall a freshman ever starting on the Huskies’ offensive line.
“Obviously they’re young players, they’re not perfect nor do we expect them to be. But they’ve done a really nice job,” said Nelson, head coach since 2022 and in the program since 2014.
As far as integrating into the team, no sweat. Hersey, which offers varsity and junior varsity teams, has a multitude of sophomores on its varsity roster. Both Mulder and Lamonica also have older brothers on the team, Tillman and Johnny, respectively.
“I didn’t know we were going to play the same position, but it’s really fun,” said Charlie Lamonica, an athletic 6-foot-5, 230-pounder who, at 14 years old, believes he’s still growing. He did not expect to be starting this season.
“The things I don’t know (Johnny) teaches me. I’m really grateful for him to be on the other side of the line,” he said.
Mulder, who has another brother, Thomas, playing on the defensive line for Carroll University, said it’s a group that “picks each other up” after a mistake.
“I think every kid coming into their first varsity football experience, it’s a bit scary, but I just think we’ve got a great group of guys,” said Taetum Mulder, 6-foot and 243 pounds.
Mulder and Lamonica both stressed the importance of constantly playing physically in the varsity setting, though they diverged slightly on learning the playbook. Mulder said it came relatively easily to him, while it took Lamonica a bit.
It makes sense, since Lamonica came in cold while Mulder had a year in Hersey’s system.
“When I came in I didn’t really know any of the plays, and it took me awhile, but I think I’ve got it down now,” Lamonica said.
Zebron’s message was plain and simple: “Just keep your mind clear, play fast and just work at it.”
Seeking to put players in position to succeed regardless of experience or position, Nelson realizes there is a learning curve for these young linemen. He said both can take “hard” coaching because they want to improve.
As good coaches do, Nelson knows when to encourage and when to critique.
“You’ve got to obviously pump them up when it’s time to pump them up. But you’ve also got to hold them accountable,” he said.
“Like we tell them all the time, we know there’s going to be mistakes, we know there’s going to be growing pains. Just control what you can control — your effort, your attitude, your intent. They’ve done a real good job of that.”
As far as protecting Nawrot, Mulder doesn’t stress.
“I really don’t feel too much pressure,” he said.
“I love Jake, he’s a brother to me. He’s made it clear that I’m a brother to him, so I know he’s got my back and I’ve got his back. I’ll be there for him, I’ll put my life on the line for him. And I know he’ll do the same.”