APTOS — You can call them undersized, you can call them unproven, you can call them inconspicuous.

They call themselves the 1,000-pound club.

Griffin Simmons, Brian Williamson, Nolan Howell and Joe Sutter make up the bulk of Aptos High’s offensive and defensive line. None are above 6-foot-2, and none weigh more than 250 pounds. And standing next to each other, none of them inspire fear in a hungry pass-rusher — yet.

“We’re definitely not intimidating,” Simmons said. “But that’s good, though.”

The fearsome foursome may not be much to look at, but the fact is that they’re strong. Country strong. They’re the only four players on the team who can push 1,000 pounds in the weight room (and they’ve got the T-shirts to celebrate that point).

“We like being smaller and stronger,” Sutter said. “So it’s good, because teams don’t expect it from us.”

Aptos’ new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Pat Simmons— Griffin’s father — called the power running game the team’s “bread and butter.”

The Mariners may be counting on being overlooked this season. Despite a so-so final record in 2007, Aptos showed flashes of competence — especially during a 22-21 loss to eventual CCS champion Santa Cruz. The team has lost its quarterback and top two rushers from a year ago, but does return most of its brawn, on whose shoulders success in ’08 will likely rest. The Mariners are turning to a fly offense this season, which relies on simple running plays and the ability to out-muscle and out-hit defenses for small, but consistent, chunks of yardage. So knowing the O-line can be counted on for a strong push gives Aptos’ coaches reason to believe the team can sneak up on a few opponents and pop them in the mouth.

“We might gain 14 points a game just by the look test,” coach Simmons said.

In 2003, when Aptos won its last CCS championship, the Mariners had one player who could lift 1,000 pounds, Simmons said. In addition to the four “1,000-pound club” members on this year’s squad, three more players can lift 900 pounds, and 11 more are lifting 800 pounds.

“They will definitely outperform themselves,” he said.

While the 1,000-pound club may be the backbone of the Mariners’ team this year, they know they’re not likely to get much of the spotlight. That’s OK with them, though. Because behind every big passing play is a defined pocket for the quarterback, and behind every long rush is a wide-open hole, created courtesy of the work of a bruising, anonymous lineman.

“We know that if they get the glory, it’s because of us,” Sutter said.

Sutter said the 1,000-pound club — three seniors and one junior, Howell, who is known only to the team as Tex, has filled the leadership void created when Kevin Farmer, now playing at Washington State, graduated.

While the team figures to rely more on brawn than blazing speed, the Mariners do have a few skill-position players who could make some noise. Dana Ensminger, an All-County selection last season, returns as a linebacker and running back, while newcomer Duni Valenzuela is playing receiver and defensive back for the first time since his freshman year. Valenzuela was a member of Aptos’ CCS runner-up boys volleyball team last year.

“We’re a basic football team,” coach Simmons said. “We’ve got a lot of strong players, but no extreme speed. But we’re very physical.”

And in a league where a botched two-point attempt was the difference between the first-place team and the fourth-place team, the slightest extra muscle could make all the difference.

“We’re a much stronger team than last year,” coach Simmons said. “In 24 years here, this is the strongest team I’ve seen in the weight room.”

Simmons paused, surveying the practice field.

“But they don’t pass the look test, do they?”



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(Published on Aug. 23, 2008)

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Photos by I.A. Stewart/Register-Pajaronian

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