Anson's Kyle St. John throws a tire during the State LineMAN Challenge on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at Hardin-Simmons' Shelton Stadium. Five linemen from each team threw the tire, one after the other, to see how far down the field they could throw it overall. It was one of 11 events in the Challenge
By Joey D. Richards, Abilene Reporter-News
The football skill players – quarterbacks, receivers and defensive backs – get to do the fun, flashy stuff like 7-on-7 during the summer. They even get all kinds of cool goodies at the state 7-on-7 tournament in College Station.
But the big offensive and defensive linemen, what do they get? Well, other than running and lifting during the summer, they get to compete in the State LineMAN Challenge doing what else – running, lifting and throwing heavy things around.
That's OK with Khalil Spivey, who will be a senior offensive guard at Abilene High in the fall.
"This is all the stuff that matters," said Spivey, who competed with his Eagles teammates at the sixth annual State LineMAN Challenge on Saturday at Hardin-Simmons' Shelton Stadium. "Nothing can really happen without the O-line and D-line getting things started. They get to have their fun, and we get to have our fun. Ours really matters in the end, because they can't do it without us."
Sure, the skill guys get to have a lot of fun throwing and catching the ball during the weekly 7-on-7 leagues and state qualifying tournaments. But Spivey said the wins and losses on Friday night start with the work the big guys up front put in during the summer.
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