The Hopkins Football team continued their undefeated record this season, with a 45-10 victory against the Dickinson Red Devils this past Friday. The Jays now hold an impressive 6-0 record.
The News-Letter would like to acknowledge a standout performance by offensive lineman Anthony Campanile.
While offensive linemen rarely show up in the box score, and even at the professional level are only known to the most avid of fans, they form the backbone of any cohesive offensive unit.
The Offensive Line is crucial to providing protection and allowing the offence to function optimally.
It is for this reason that The News-Letter recognizes starting Right Tackle and junior Anthony Campanile as this week’s Athlete of the Week.
Campanile and the rest of the offensive line enabled the Jays to generate 512 yards of total offense last week. We were fortunate to sit down with Campanile to ask him some questions.
The News-Letter: This year, you had to replace four starters on the offensive line. How was it adjusting to a new group?
Anthony Campanile: The returning group of guys knew that we had a lot of talent to replace in Colin Egan, Rowan Cade, Baxter Debruyn and Fernando Concepcion.
They were all incredible players, and great mentors for us. But everyone in the group stepped up in the off-season because we knew we had big shoes to fill. We were all all-in, and the chemistry that we have as a group outside of football played a huge role in developing our group into what it is now.
We’re lucky to have Coach Schloeder who knows everything there is to know about offensive line, and he has helped mold the line this year.
It also helps that those guys who just graduated do not hesitate to critique any of us after any game.
N-L: What made Hopkins the right choice for you?
AC: I wanted to go to a school where academics were first, but also one with a great football program.
Hopkins has given me exactly that; an incredible academic experience and a football program with a winning tradition. I could not be happier with my decision to come here.
N-L: How do you balance going to a top 10 school while also playing football for one of the top D3 programs?
AC: Academics are so important to all of us, and we all know that school comes first. Coach Margraff does such a great job of prioritizing school first.
If we have to miss a practice for a class, that is not an issue to Coach. When we’re at practices or meetings, football is the only thing on our minds.
When we’re in class or the library, school is our only focus. The fact that every guy on this team is hardworking is what really plays a key role in balancing football and school.
N-L: What are your personal goals, as well as your goals for the team?
AC: As an offensive lineman, I don’t really have any goals besides winning every game I play.
Obviously I want to play my very best every single day, but what it really comes down to is helping the team win. As long as I can protect Germano and open holes for Cary so that we win the game, I’m as happy as can be.
Our team goal every week is to go 1-0, and ultimately we want to keep the Centennial Conference trophy at Homewood Field.
Playoff football is earned football, and if we earn that opportunity we are looking to go as far as possible.
N-L: The offensive line is rarely a position of spotlight in the media, what makes a good offensive linemen and why do you enjoy it?
AC: Offensive linemen aren’t the guys who get their names on box scores. There isn’t much fame associated with linemen in general, but both lines are such an important part of the game.
Everything starts with the line on every single snap. We like to be the guys who set the tone for the game.
A good offensive lineman needs to be someone with a lot of discipline who is willing to go to work each play despite a lack of recognition.
Our line loves working and winning, so fame isn’t important to any of us. Personally, I love that I get to get down in the trenches and fight right next to my brothers to protect some of my best friends.
N-L: What do you hope for life after Hopkins?
AC: I definitely still have a lot to think about when it comes to my future after Hopkins. I hope I can go out in the real world and utilize the lessons I’ve learned here from playing football. There are some amazing things that Coach Margraff has told us that apply not only to football, but to life in general.
I hope to always continue to display pride and poise no matter what I do in life.
