5A high school football: Big guys up front get it done for Bingham

SOUTH JORDAN — Call them the men in the trenches, the hogs, the big uglies, the guys up front.

Call them whatever you would like, but at Bingham, the offensive line is called one thing: invaluable.

"They are where it all starts for us," said Miners coach Dave Peck. "The other guys get all the credit, but we know that without the play of those guys, we don't go anywhere. It doesn't matter how good your skill guys are, without those guys up front blocking, the offense simply will not work."

The Bingham offensive line is a big reason for the team's success this season. Jordan Hicks, Brad Laursen, Bradyn Heap, Tuni Kanuch and Brandon Taukeiaho have come together and gotten better as the year has rolled on.

"I think at the beginning of the season, the D-line may have gotten the better of the O-line at practice. But as the year has gone on, that group has improved as much as any I have ever coached," added Peck.

Kanuch is a three-year starter and a BYU recruit. He may be the strongest player to ever suit up for the Miners as well.

"It is unreal how strong he is," said Bingham defensive lineman Seni Fauonuku after battling Kanuch in practice day after day. "I think he is probably the strongest football player in the state."

Peck said his right guard bench presses around 430 pounds and can squat over 600, so going up against a defensive lineman is certainly not going to intimidate him.

"I just love getting in there and hitting someone," Kanuch said of why it is great being on the offensive line. "You have your job to do, and on every play you get to hit someone. It is the best job out there on the field."

Taukeiaho felt there was a better reason to be on the offensive line: "We get all the ladies talking to us," he joked. "The other players are watching film or talking together in their position groups and we get to talk to all the women. They like us big guys."

All joking aside, the linemen at Bingham are always where the offense starts — and, in some cases, finish. Against Alta in the 5A semifinals, the center, Heap, made what may be the best offensive line play this season. On a screen pass to running back Harvey Langi, Heaps got down field in a hurry to knock not only one Alta defender off his feet, but maintained his balance and de-cleated a second defender to clear the way for a Langi touchdown.

"In my 26 years of coaching, that may be the best offensive lineman blocking in the open field that I have ever seen," said Peck of his center. "We will be using that tape as an example for our line for a long time."