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The name to know for power

Some have a hard time getting Byronell Arline's name right. Tackling the Ridgewood sophomore has been even tougher.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published October 7, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Some people put the "r" in front of the "y" in his first name. Others replace the "i" in his surname with a "y".

Most mispronounce both, calling him BYRON-el or BRIAN-el ar-LEAN.

"It's real irritating," said Ridgewood sophomore tailback Byronell Arline. "I got used to it, is all."

Arline pronounces his name, "Bry-NELL ar-LINE." But to be safe, call him "Burn," the nickname an uncle gave him at age 5, and which best describes his effect on opposing defenses.

The deep back in Ridgewood's I-formation offense, Arline leads the county with 718 yards and four touchdowns on 128 carries entering today's game against Gulf.

"He's done a good job," said Ridgewood coach Chris Taylor. "He's running the ball hard at times. Obviously, the way our offense is designed, it revolves around the tailback, so for our offense to go, our tailback has got to be pretty good."

Arline has been better than good, rushing for more than 100 yards in five of Ridgewood's six games. He had touchdown runs of 74 and 68 yards as part of a 214-yard effort in a 33-6 victory over River Ridge on Sept. 16 that snapped the Rams' nine-game losing streak.

But he was most impressive Sept. 9 against Land O'Lakes, rushing for 154 yards as Ridgewood (1-5) built a 13-12 halftime lead before falling 34-13 to the 5-0 Gators.

"He was finding the holes, he was hitting it hard and making some cuts, but it also was taking two, three, four guys at a time to take him down," Taylor said. "That in itself was impressive from the mere fact I think our football team thrives on that."

Not bad for someone who was out of shape during the spring and had to beat three or four others for a starting spot. But after "busting my butt" during summer conditioning and fall two-a-days, Arline won the job outright.

These days, Taylor would be hard-pressed to find a better poster boy for his smashmouth offensive philosophy than the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Arline. If the blockers in front of him don't clear a path, Arline will create one.

"My plan is to just get out of his way," fullback Barry Johnsonbaugh said. "Get me and whoever else is in his way out of his way."

Lately, more defenders have been standing in Arline's way.

With his production on the ground and quarterback Charley Minichino out for the season with a knee injury, defenses have been crowding the line of scrimmage and daring T.J. Haab and Jimmy Madoz to throw over them.

Gulf (3-2) will be no exception.

"Obviously, if they're putting nine guys in the box, (in) running the football we're going to be a little less effective," Taylor said. "But we'll design something and make sure we can throw the ball a little bit to where we're putting a little less pressure on our tailback position."

Arline has another idea.

"I've just got to run with my power, basically," he said.

Maybe, then, they'll remember his name.

[Last modified October 7, 2005, 01:50:23]