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This Moline Cut to the Chase

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In an age of specialization, Chase Moline was the only two-way starter on possibly the best team in the country, one that played arguably the toughest schedule in the nation.

Moline, The Times’ 2004 lineman of the year, was Mission Viejo’s best offensive lineman on a unit that scored within its first two possessions in 11 of its 14 victories and wrapped up most victories by halftime.

A left guard who typically lined up next to tackle Kevin Bemoll, a 6-foot-6, 300-pounder headed to Ohio State, Moline “certainly was our best offensive lineman, there’s no doubt about that,” Coach Bob Johnson said. “You can’t say that about defense -- we’ve got two guys on the line who are major-college guys -- but Chase is our best offensive lineman, and all our kids know that.”

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Flanked by two of the top high school defensive ends in the country, Ryan Williams (Ohio State) and Nick Reed (Oregon), Moline was in the center of a defense that gave up 158 points during the season, but only 44 in the first half.

Moline (6-1, 245) might not have a major-college body -- he has trips scheduled for Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State -- but he brings all the intangibles.

“He has a tireless body,” Johnson said. “To play our level of schedule, and what he did on both sides of the ball, is tremendous, always with a smile and always technique-perfect. He’s a coach’s dream.

“He plays so low, and so hard, and he plays with a lot of injuries. You can’t play both sides of the ball for us and not be injured, not be banged up, not be hurt.”

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