Football: Now at full strength, 'Brute Brothers' powering Tompkins' late run
Falcons' offense rolling as line returns to full health at perfect time of the season
The word brute is defined as a “savagely violent person or animal.” One of the definitions for the word brother is “one related to another by common ties or interests.”
In those two words, the ethos of Tompkins’ offensive line is revealed.
In one aspect, junior left guard Nicholas Loftis, senior left tackle Erben Birkhoff, junior center David Bryson, senior right guard Deacon Parrish and junior right tackle JP Culotta play with a violent physicality befitting their size and strength.
None stands shorter than 6-feet tall; Parrish, Loftis and Birkhoff are all 6-2 or taller. None weighs less than 240 pounds; Culotta, Parrish and Birkhoff are 260, 265 and 293, respectively.
In another aspect, there is a bond between all five guys, as well as invaluable reserves Nyrel Ablola and Cooper Cummings, that is fundamental.
“I think they do a great job working together,” sophomore running back Ethan Meadows said. “Once we know our job and they do it, (the lane) is wide open. Every single time.”
“I see the chemistry,” coach Todd McVey said. “I see guys who take great pride in the position. It’s a close-knit group that’s getting closer. That’s the nicest thing. I want to see them grow that. I think it’s just the continuity.”
It’s no coincidence that two of Tompkins’ three best offensive showings of the season have come in the last two games, with the offensive line back at full health after the return of Loftis and Birkhoff from injury.
Over those two games, the Falcons are averaging 45 points per game, rushing for eight touchdowns on 267 rushing yards per game.
In Thursday’s 50-45 win over Cinco Ranch, Tompkins’ final drive was a seven-play, 60-yard jaunt that started at the 4:11 mark of the fourth quarter and ended kneeling out the clock following four first downs for a win that went a long way to boosting the Falcons’ (4-3, 3-2 District 19-6A) playoff odds.
All seven plays were run plays.
All beginning and ending with the Brute Brothers.
“It’s good to finally get an offensive line set,” said Birkhoff, a Rice commit. “Whether you’re a ‘2’ or a starter, you’re a part of the brotherhood of the O-line. Our O-line is called ‘Brute Brothers’ for a reason. We all come together. We all know our assignments. We want to do it for one another, for our running back, for our quarterback.
“I think the thing with us is we want to be bigger than ourselves.”
Tompkins’ offensive line returned to full strength for the Oct. 11 win over Morton Ranch. The Falcons piled up 245 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries.
Thursday, Tompkins totaled 289 yards and five touchdowns on 42 carries. The majority of that production came via Meadows, who had 237 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries.
“Amazing,” Meadows said, gushing about his O-line. “There’s no second-guessing. Just straight downhill. Easy. When they work together, we get combos. When we get combos, we get movement.”
Tompkins has won three consecutive games to revive what appeared to be a dormant season. Over those wins, the Falcons are averaging 279 yards rushing.
When Loftis and Birkhoff were sidelined, Ablola, a senior guard, and Cummings, a sophomore guard, stepped in admirably.
“We’ve had guys fit in different roles,” Parrish said. “That’s what makes us special. We’re really versatile. Everybody knows every spot. We can move people around. That’s a big strength for us. We can put anyone anywhere.”
Ablola and Cummings’ standout play was indicative of the growth a young offensive line has shown as it endured some pains early in the season.
Birkhoff and Parrish, who are also team captains, are the only returning starters from last season.
“You just have to show them the process,” Parrish said of getting younger guys on the line up to speed. “And that means showing that every little detail matters. Every little step. Holding them to the same standard as a senior who’s been there, everyone just rises to that level.”
Tompkins led 36-14 early in the third quarter against Cinco Ranch on Thursday. From there, the Falcons utilized a lot of heavy formation with seven linemen and an H-back to sustain the run game, keep the chains moving, keep the clock going.
“All those big guys, man, yeah,” Meadows said. “It’s great. I know I’m at least getting two yards, and if anything, it’s going to break out.”
It was telling of the faith offensive coordinator Mark Hopkins has in his linemen, Meadows and senior quarterback Justin Thierheimer, and the coaching job of Shaq Roberson and Cody Johnson getting the O-line in a position where it could be relied upon so prominently in a pivotal game.
“I’ll recall what Coach Hopkins tells us: it’s a mindset,” Birkhoff said. “We have seven linemen on the field. We’re going to take your five linemen, your two linebackers, and we’re going to put them in the ground and see what our running back can do.”
Birkhoff said what makes the line special is the youth and the bond, a unique pairing.
“Having that close relationship as an offensive line lets us know we can trust the person next to us, no matter what the situation is,” he said. “It’s about knowing we can trust them, and they can trust in us, and we can build off that. Because all an O-line is about is relationships.”
One of the Falcons’ core values is finishing. The mentality of coming into a game with the intent of finishing it out. As coachspeak goes, playing a full 48 minutes.
That often means being the more physical team, the more resilient team, the more mentally tougher team. The one that doesn’t fold before the other.
On Thursday, Tompkins finished.
Down by five points, 4:11 left. One drive to close it out. An offensive line hungry to comply.
“We’re going to face all kinds of D-lines, but we focus on us and them doing their job,” McVey said of the O-line. “They’re not going to be perfect every play, but they are trying to be the best they can be on each snap, and we’ll go from there.”