Sweet Smell Of Success

Those who enjoy the odor of perspiration, come take a whiff of Hart High’s three starting defensive linemen.

Peter Dubsky, Evan Allen and Chris Frome are the Terrifying Trio, a group of underclassmen who play the game so hard they barely notice the havoc--and stench--left in their wake.

“Boy, are you stinky,” was the greeting Dubsky received from his sister last week after recording two sacks against St. Francis.

Said Allen: “My mom will just give me a handshake after the game because I’m so drenched.”

Added Frome: “My mom will usually be the one to give me a hug but she hesitates because she gets a whiff of the air.”

These aren’t your typical high school defensive linemen. They’re mobile, smart, tough, relentless college prospects.

Dubsky, 6 feet 1 and 225 pounds, is a junior nose tackle with 13 sacks.

Allen, 6-4 and 220 pounds, is a junior tackle with 10 sacks and 15 pass breakups.

Frome, 6-5 and 230 pounds, is a sophomore tackle with two sacks, 16 tackles and the kind of size that gets the interest of college coaches.

As Hart (13-0) prepares to take on Foothill League rival Valencia (10-3) in the Southern Section Division III championship game Saturday night at College of the Canyons, the three linemen figure to be prominent figures in trying to contain tailback Manuel White, fullback Ray Cassaday and Valencia’s high-scoring offense.

“It will be a real good game,” Dubsky said. “Manuel’s awesome, Cassaday’s awesome. They’re going to come out ready and we’re going to come out ready.”

Hart is known for producing top quarterbacks, sure-handed wide receivers and hard-hitting linebackers. But Dubsky, Allen and Frome are major contributors to perhaps the best defense in school history.

Dubsky was born in Czechoslovakia and moved to the United States with his parents when he was 2 1/2 to escape communist rule. His father played rugby and sought a sport that might interest his son. Football became a perfect fit.

“You don’t have to hold anything back,” Dubsky said. “You get to go all out.”

Allen didn’t play football until he reached high school.

Soccer, basketball and baseball were his best sports.

“My friends wanted to play football so I went out and tried it,” he said. “It was kind of weird freshman year. The idea of hitting people, I wasn’t into that. Probably three-fourths into freshman year, it was fun. I just want to play all the time now.”

When a quarterback releases a pass in Allen’s direction, there’s a good chance he’ll bat it down with his long arms.

Frome is the pup. He looks to the other two for guidance.

“It’s great to play with two guys that have so much talent,” Frome said. “They always tell me the moves they use that work. In films, they’ll point out the errors I made.”

Frome also starts at offensive tackle, but defense is where the real fun takes place.

“Defense is all aggression, all heart,” he said. “You use all your energy, and defense is what gets your name in the paper.”

Frome has big-time college potential written all over him with his 4.18 grade-point average and a body that can handle additional mass.

It’s just that playing defensive line stinks.

“I’ve been bit on the leg, I’ve been scratched, I’ve been poked in the eye,” Frome said.

Said Allen: “Someone went under my helmet and got to my ear. I’ve been pinched.”

Added Dubsky : “I’ve gotten a finger in my eye, a finger in my ear and my wrist bit.”

OK, so maybe you need a tetanus shot to play defensive line, but these guys find ways to get even.

“It’s a blast,” Frome said. “What’s football without a little eye-gouging and scratching.”

And what’s a better compliment for a defensive lineman than to be called stinky?

“We just have to wash our shoulder pads,” Dubsky said.