An extra year in Westlake’s system – and an extra year in the weight room and several extra helpings at the dining table – should help the Chaps survive the departure of two all-state offensive linemen.

Three starters return for the pivotal unit on any offense, including center Joe Jarke, left tackle Sean O’Farrell and right guard Tyler Jones. One of the new starters, right tackle Jesse Fender, spent much of last season rotating into the lineup, thus giving Westlake coach Darren Allman plenty of confidence about his big uglies.

Last season, the unit paved the way for an attack that averaged 34.1 points and 369 yards per game.

“Really, we have four starters coming back,” he said. “The offensive line has to play well for us to be successful, and I’m confident that they’ll do just that.”

Jones, a 5-foot-11-inch, 242-pound senior anchor in the middle, returns after picking up all-district honors a year ago. O’Farrell, a 6-foot, 253-pound senior, will protect quarterback Lewis Guilbeau’s blind side, and the 6-4, 224-pound Fender provides athleticism on the right side.

The unit’s only question marks appears at left guard, where Eric Wassmuth (5-11, 236) and Lawton Johnson (5-11, 233) are battling for the starting spot.

No lineman will face more of a challenge than Jarke, a 6-1, 261-pound senior who moves from guard to center. Like most teams, Westlake relies on the center to call out all the blocking assignments before each play. In addition, Jarke must deliver consistent snaps in Westlake’s shotgun base offense while fending off the ill-tempered noseguards that are becoming more common to prep football.

“That center spot really is the most important spot on the line for us,” Allman said. “We moved Jarke there to get some more size [at center]. These days, so many teams put a big nose guard right on top of the center. You really need a big body there so you don’t have the center pushed back into the play.”

Guard Jake Wassmuth, tackle Ryan Van Ert and center Kyle Kimery provide depth.