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鈥淥ur offensive line eats first,鈥� Panthers coach Jorge Mendivil said. 鈥淲ithout them, there鈥檚 nothing else.鈥�

Amphi鈥檚 big and bruising linemen are treated like royalty. Mendivil鈥檚 insistence that an often overlooked position be the team鈥檚 identity helps Amphi stand out among its peers.

The line is anchored by its senior trio of Jonathan Cardenas, Jayden Corral and Christian Manriquez. The team鈥檚 starters are listed at over 6 feet and more than 250 pounds, with Mendivil claiming each guy is as strong as the one next to him. It鈥檚 no surprise then, that Amphi鈥檚 ground-and-pound approach has carried the team to a 2-0 start to the season.

Through two games, Panthers are rushing for an average of 275 yards per game and scoring 34.5 points per contest.

Star running back Kiko Trejo garners much of the attention, and understandably. so. The senior has already rushed for 374 yards this year and his most recent jaw-dropping feat was a five-touchdown performance in Friday鈥檚 42-27 victory over Sahuarita.

But Trejo understands it鈥檚 the guys in front of him that allow him to be the workhorse he is.

鈥淭hey get 99% of the credit, I get 1% of the credit,鈥� Trejo said.

Amphi鈥檚 stout line opened up sizable gaps each time Trejo touched the ball against Sahuarita. The senior running back needed just nine carries to rack up 137 yards 鈥� an average of 15.2 yards per touch.

鈥淚 just hit the holes and run, man,鈥� Trejo laughed. 鈥淚鈥檓 just confident knowing those guys are there and I鈥檓 just able to be smooth in the game.鈥�

In practices and games, Mendivil demands that his linemen be physical. Not only that, but he expects his line to be the reason people come away impressed with watching Amphi play. The Panthers coach has been especially pleased with Cardenas, the right tackle who sets the edge for outside runs.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a mauler,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e just wants to run over people.鈥�

Cardenas, a senior listed at 6 feet and 250 pounds, loves when a run play is called. That means he can go on the attack.

鈥淥ur line, we want to hurt people,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ake sure they feel us.鈥�

More impressive, Amphi鈥檚 damage on the ground on Friday came without left tackle Jayden Corral, who was out with an injury. Marco Martinez got the start.

鈥淢y boys Johnny (Cardenas) and Marco (Martinez), they鈥檙e the two big boys,鈥� Trejo said.

When Corral returns, which could come as soon as next week against Phoenix Thunderbird, Mendivil thinks his O-line can perform at an even higher level.

鈥淲hen we get him back and it鈥檚 more cohesive, it鈥檒l be a lot better,鈥� he said.

Expect the team to continue leaning on the size and strength up front.

鈥淲e know they鈥檙e the hogs and they鈥檙e gonna get the credit,鈥� Mendivil said.