MA-CATHOLIC: Eagles center a master for offensive line

Montgomery Academy coach Robert Johnson leans on center James Snead to lead the offensive line. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

There are times when Robert Johnson, the former Montgomery Academy center who has mastered the wing-T offense in 24 years of coaching, gets a few pointers on a play from James Snead, the current Montgomery Academy center who is in his first year of blocking for a wing-T offense.

“He’s very intelligent,” Johnson said. “He’s even given me some better ways to block a few plays a couple of times in practice.  Usually, when he says something, it’s something we listen to because he’s probably right. I think he should be an all-state center.”

Snead will be at the point of attack this Friday when the undefeated Eagles (13-0) play crosstown rival Catholic (11-2) in a 3A semifinal battle at McLemore Field. The game is a rematch of a Sept. 25 game on the same field that Montgomery Academy won 32-21.

“Obviously, they’ve improved, they know more of their team identity,” Snead said. “But our approach will be similar to last time because obviously it was successful. They’re a tough matchup for us. On defense, we try to take advantage of our strong suits and use that against them.”

Snead is part of a talented offensive line that was shuffled when Johnson arrived last spring and switched the Eagles from a spread attack to a wing-T. Snead, who was playing left tackle, suddenly found things were different when he was moved to center.

“Pretty much everything,” he said. “Passing blocking a nose guard is a lot different than pass blocking a defensive end rushing off the edge. And this year, we run the ball a ton more so I’ve got a down block that’s a lot different and the technique is a lot different.”

But Snead is pretty resourceful and it didn’t take him long to figure out his best source for correcting mistakes was a head coach that had earned all-state honors at the same position 33 years earlier.

“It helps a lot because he can give me some good advice,” Snead said, “and I know he knows what he’s talking about. He’s helped with technique a lot and just on knowing where to go, how to make that extra block to bust a run or get a couple more yards.”

Johnson said Snead is a better center than he was in his state championship days under John Tatum. Snead scoffs at the notion, but does admit to giving his head coach a few tips from time to time during a game. 

“It’s a lot different seeing it out on the field,” he said. “It gives you a good vantage point. You’re like, oh, maybe from the sideline he isn’t seeing something that would bust a run or maybe he wouldn’t see where you could make an extra block.”

“He does (offer suggestions),” Johnson said. “The good news is, he understands what I want. I think that’s the biggest thing. He’s figured out what I want out of our blocking scheme so sometimes he’ll have a better suggestion or a more creative way of doing things.”

The result is a Montgomery Academy offense that was impressive in churning out 42 points against a very talented Trinity defense in the quarterfinals a week ago and seems to be hitting its stride at the right time.

“Coach even said earlier in the season it was going to take us until after the Catholic game to figure out our offense,” Snead said. “We were a little confused about that. We thought we already had it down. About Week 8, 9, 10, we started seeing our offense click. People were making blocks that we had talked about in film about how we needed to make them in a game.

“It’s really fun just to trust your backs and know that if you block it right, they’re going to see it. Making one block and then going up to a linebacker and then looking down the field and your running back is getting tackled for a 30-yard gain. That’s one of the best feelings because you know everybody did their job.”

Both teams have practiced every morning for Friday night’s game. Montgomery Academy is making its first semifinal playoff appearance since 2002, while Catholic is making its first since 1989.

“This is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done in sports,” Snead said. “Just knowing there are only four teams playing in 3A football right now and we’re one of them, during Thanksgiving break. It’s the only thing I have to do this week. It’s pretty fun.”