Enkhbayer’s return to line aids South

Senior is lone returning starter for offensive line

By: Bob Nuse
   Bill Enkhbayer remembers very well what it’s like to be the new guy on the offensive line.
   So this year, when the West Windsor-Plainsboro High senior was the only returning full-time starter for the Pirates on the offensive line, he was more than willing to share his experience with the newcomers.
   "Last year, I had to ask guys like Adrien (Schriefer) what some of the plays were," recalled Enkhbayer, who is now starting on both sides of the ball for the Pirates. "I think it’s a senior thing. I’ve been in the system for two years now. It’s a simple system for linemen and the coaches do a great job of teaching us what we need to do. I try to help the other guys as much as I can.
   "What’s been great this year is that we have new guys starting on the line and they have stepped up big time. Everyone has gotten better and I respect what they have done. Last year we had two very good offensive tackles. This year we don’t have two players like that, but overall I don’t think we’ve taken that big of a step back."
   A year ago, the South offensive line helped the Pirates amass over 2,600 yards rushing. This year, even with the newcomers, South has put together another impressive season on the ground with 1,962 yards through the first eight games of the season.
   "He’s the only permanent starter we have back on the offensive line," said South coach Todd Smith, whose team improved to 6-2 with a 28-7 win over Princeton on Monday. "He is, hands down, the smartest kid we have playing on the offensive line. Not only does he know what he’s supposed to do, but he knows what everyone else is supposed to do."
   Enkhbayer just goes out and does what he can to help the team win. This year, that has meant helping a young offensive line come together. The Pirates started the year with just one win in three games, but have come on to win five in a row and clinch a berth in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.
   "I’ve been playing with some of these guys for a while," the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Enkhbayer said. "But because I was the only one back who started and played all the time, it took us a little while to come together. We had some bad games early in the season, but we have stepped up lately.
   "We’ve been blocking well and letting (Ryan) Lupo get his yards. He’s a great back and we know we just had to stay on our blocks. We also have Stuart Adams, who is a very underrated back and also does a great job."
   Since a loss to Hamilton dropped the Pirates to 1-2, they have rattled off five straight wins and averaged nearly 42 points a game. The offensive line has had a lot to do with the success over the past five weeks.
   "We had a group meeting after watching the film and talked about what we had to do," Enkhbayer said. "I think it helped us that we played North our next game because we were all pumped up for that game and it got us focused again."
   That Hamilton game was also Enkhbayer’s first of the season on defense, where he has helped stabilize a unit that has come together over the last five weeks.
   "I haven’t really played defense since my sophomore year," said Enkhbayer, who plays defensive tackle. "I just had to get used to it and make sure I plugged my gaps. This year I just wanted to contribute to the best of my ability. If the coaches believed I could play defense and help the team, then I was going to play defense."
   Added Smith: "Last year we didn’t give him much of a look on defense because we had so much depth there. He was probably fifth or sixth on the depth chart. This year we felt like he could help us there. He comes off the ball with attitude."
   The Pirates have this week off before they open play in the CJ IV playoffs. At the moment, South is fourth in the power points standings heading into this weekend and could finish anywhere from fourth to sixth.
   "This is a good week for us to get a game off," Enkhbayer said. "We’ve had some tough games, especially Notre Dame. So it’s good for us to get some time off to get ready for our playoff game. We have a couple of weeks now to prepare."