This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

An 0-3 team looks for all the bright spots it can. In the case of the Cyprus football team, that could be the offensive line.

"We're all looking forward to picking it up this season and start winning some games," right tackle Trent White says. "We're getting better."

White, Max Cone, Dylan Monson, Bryan Edwards and Joe Fracchia are more than linemen — they are leaders. Three out of five members of the team's leadership council are linemen, and four out of the five are seniors.

A team motto says a lot about the respect the Pirates have for the offensive line: "Linemen up front."

"They're first in line for dinner, first when we hand out equipment, first for whatever," coach Brian Jacketta says. "They're always up front in the trenches in our games. They can go first in everything else."

On a team that must make many improvements before it starts winning games, the offensive line stands out for its cohesiveness. Cyprus' spread wing offense requires it to sweep over often and pick up surprise stunts to buy time for plays to develop. Most of the plays don't use any tight ends, so the five linemen must handle all rushers themselves.

In many ways, the line must be the most efficient unit. The guards, in particular, are almost alarmingly undersized: The 5-foot-7, 210-pound Monson wouldn't be big enough to play fullback on some 5A teams. On the Pirates, he plays both ways as a guard and a defensive tackle.

"I've always played line," Monson says. "It's hard but it's fun. I have a lower center of gravity, so sometimes I can hit them harder. And I'm faster. We don't get intimidated, we just think positive, and we know we can beat them off the ball."

Like many units, their friendship extends off the field. The linemen hang out together and consider themselves one of the closest-knit groups on the team.

"I think we're just all outspoken and we communicate well," White says. "We just respect each other, and it helps us play together."

The linemen hope playing well together will start getting some results. Cyprus' recent football history is one of frustration.

In the past five seasons, the most wins any Pirates team has earned is four. Region 2 is traditionally dominated by Skyline, Hunter and Cottonwood.

This season, Cyprus is the only remaining Region 2 team without a win.

"They're 17-year-old kids, so sometimes they don't see the grand scheme of things: that this is a game," Jacketta says. "We haven't played slouches, so it's been tough. It does take a toll on their psyche, but it's our job as coaches to convince guys to keep up what they're doing and to play hard."

As the games have gone on, the Cyprus offense has seen precious little progress. It didn't score any points in the debut against Provo. The Pirates scored 6 points the next week against Kearns.

Against defending 3A champions Juan Diego last week, the Pirates took their first lead of the season when Jordan Wager completed a 55-yard pass to T.J. Johnson, making the score 7-3.

The margin quickly evaporated as the Soaring Eagle ended up with a 43-10 rout, but the team stays hopeful it could be a good omen.

"When I look at it, I think we've gotten better working as one," Monson says. "I think we'll come out strong in our next game." —

Cyprus at a glance

This year's team has started 0-3 but has scored more points in every game after a season-opening loss to Provo.

The Pirates will head to American Fork this week to take on the winless Cavemen.