Sports

HARD WORK PAYING OFF FOR STAR CITY’S MASSEY IN FINAL YEAR

By Sean Saunders/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, November 12, 2009 12:37 PM CST

STAR CITY — Star City coach Blair Brown knew offensive tackle Greg Massey had potential to be one of the top lineman in the 8-4A Conference this year based on his past performances. But Brown couldn’t have imagined the explosion his offense has experienced this year with Massey playing a key role as the strong-side tackle.

Star City lineman Greg Massey has been a big reason for the Star City offense averaging 31.3 points per game this season. The senior worked out with former NFL player Rodney Harrison in the offseason and bulked up to 290 pounds. PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL/RALPH FITZERALD.

The Bulldogs have averaged 31.3 points per game with Massey starting on the offensive line for the third year. The line’s play has been instrumental in the team earning a No. 2 playoff seed in the 8-4A Conference and hosting the West Fork Tigers on Friday in the first round of the playoffs — Star City’s first playoff berth since 2004.

“This doesn’t even seem real right now,” Massey said. “This is the first time in a long time that we’ve been in the playoffs, so I’m really excited.”

Massey’s standout senior season got started before he even showed up for preseason camp. While most kids were leaving town to go on vacation, Massey left town as well. But it wasn’t for vacation.

“Greg’s had an outstanding year, and it all started this summer when he visited some relatives in the Atlanta area that’s involved in some college deal,” Brown said. “He got with some older guys and that’s really helped him.”

Massey got a chance to work out with former NFL players Rodney Harrison and Randall Godfrey. Massey bulked up to 290 pounds, but Brown said his tackle came back “in the best shape of his life.”

“Last summer was really hard,” Massey said. “It was really special. I think it’s very rewarding that I’m in the playoffs now after those workouts.”

Those grueling summer workouts made it to where Massey can easier play both offense and defense. Massey started on both sides last year, hogging blockers on defense to make for easy tackles by a senior linebacking corps. But the team’s offensive effort dwindled at the end of the season to the tune of only 19 total points in the final two games.

But Star City’s offense hasn’t faltered late this year. The Bulldogs scored 48 points at Lake Village on Oct. 23 before scoring 28 on Fordyce and 24 against Dollarway.

“I’d say I picked it up a lot more than what I did my junior year,” Massey said. “I’d say I did pretty good. I’ll put it that way.”

Massey is one of two three-year starters on offense for the Bulldogs. Massey has provided quarterback Sage Gasaway with protection since both arrived in 2007. But this year Massey’s had the help of three classmates with keeping the signal caller healthy after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last year at Fordyce.

“I feel like there’s a lot more leadership on my shoulders, so I feel like I need to take a lot of leadership,” Massey said. “The other four seniors did as well as me, with people like John Landreth helping me out in being a team leader. He’s just starting his first year, but he’s helped out tremendously. The same goes with Kedrick York with him being a two-year starter. It wasn’t just me being a team leader. It was all four seniors contributing.”

When given the choice between run blocking or pass blocking, as with most linemen, Massey said he prefers the much more active run blocking as opposed to passive pass blocking. His fellow linemen share that sentiment, and Brown attributes his team’s run production, which is in the top half of the league, to all the seniors he has along the front.

“They have flourished because of a solid offensive line up front and a three-year starter at quarterback who’s been able to get us in good plays and out of bad ones,” Brown said. “We’re also a threat to throw the football, so that has helped to back people off. Then somebody like Greg can hit somebody playing on their heels.”

Massey has been a secret on the recruiting trails so far, not showing up on any major recruiting services’ lists. But Brown said Massey has in-state schools such as Ouachita Baptist, Henderson State and Southern Arkansas giving him serious consideration, though his dream is still to go Division I.

“At this moment, I’m pretty undecided, but it would be a dream to play for Arkansas State,” Massey said. “My parents really want me to go to (Central Arkansas), but I really want to go to Arkansas State. That’s a big factor to me.”

But before Massey worries about his college career, he’s concerning himself with beating West Fork, the 4-4A champions from a year ago. The Bulldogs haven’t been in the postseason in five years, and they haven’t won a playoff game since 2003.

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