• Todd Kelly unofficially visits Alabama for its game against Auburn.
• Joey Duckworth unofficially visits Bowling Green for the Kent State game.
• Darius West unofficially visits Cincinnati
• Northwestern offers Derek Kief
• Cincinnati offers Kyle Berger

The #1 Prospect in 2014 is down to 10, his finalists are:

Alabama
Florida State
LSU
Michigan
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Virginia Tech

Get in line: Indy-area teams have consistently produced Division I linemen and state champions

Lawrence Central offensive lineman Tim Gardner is committed to Ohio State. / Star file photo

The Lawrence Central High School football team can score points in bunches. Long drives, short drives, defensive touchdowns and kick returns.

But Tim Gardner's favorite drive of the season -- a 14-play, eight-minute slobberknocker -- ended without any points. It was a drive that gassed the Center Grove defense and salted away last week's 28-15 semistate victory.

"That was probably my favorite moment of the season," said Gardner, a 6-5, 315-pound right tackle who is committed to Ohio State. "There's just something unexplainable about that."

Something unexplainable about a drive that ended in no points? OK, maybe offensive linemen are wired a little differently. Or maybe they just appreciate the little things more, because they are so rarely singled out (except for the negatives, such as holding calls, false starts and allowing a sack).

They may not have the ball in their hands for the dazzling touchdown plays, but take a look at the local teams playing in the five football championship games this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium and you'll find a common denominator to their success: strong line play.

And it's not just this season. The metropolitan area has produced a bountiful crop of linemen in recent years, including Notre Dame junior Zach Martin (Bishop Chatard), a three-year starter at left tackle who could be a second- or third-round draft pick if he leaves after this season.

Chatard, which plays for a third consecutive Class 3A title on Saturday against Hamilton Heights, is a program known for its physical offensive line play. Matt McCann, a 6-5, 275-pound sophomore left tackle, may be the most promising player on this year's line.

"He's a Division I prospect right now," Chatard coach Vince Lorenzano said. "When you are (that size) and love the weight room like he does, that's a good sign. He's going to be a pretty dangerous cat. (Martin) was the best technique blocker that will ever come out of our school. He was a technician of the game and one mean dude, that combination has carried him to where he is now."

Offensive line was a bit of a question mark coming into the season at Cathedral, which will play for its third consecutive 4A title Saturday against Mishawaka. But that group, which struggled as the team started 1-3, has continued to improve throughout the season, led by Air Force recruit Colin Sandor at center.

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