Cochran has Buhach in driver's seat
ATWATER — It's appropriate Matt Cochran is the man in the middle of Buhach Colony's offensive line, one of the largest lines to ever suit up at a Stanislaus District school.
The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder is near the top of every coach's recruiting list — he is ranked the No. 3 center in the country by Rivals, No. 7 by Scout — and is the driving force behind the Thunder's offense.
"Matt is the best I have ever coached," said line coach Roger Johnson, an all-district offensive lineman at crosstown rival Atwater in 1988. "People rave about what a force he is on the field, but he impresses me even more off the field."
Cochran leads film sessions for the line and often watches film on his own when he isn't lifting weights, conditioning or kept busy with academics.
Buhach's six offensive linemen boast an average GPA of 3.1, with Cochran's 3.6 at the top. Colleges are pursuing Cochran for his size and savvy, but his academic résumé has Cochran holding the cards.
His list of suitors included Stanford — which recruits on academics first, due to its entry standards — and most of the nation's top 25 programs.
That list has been whittled to two, he said during a lunch interview on campus, but he isn't ready to decide between Cal and defending national champion Auburn just yet.
Before spending more time thinking about a college destination, Cochran and his teammates have a season to finish.
That continues Friday with the Thunder visiting Pitman in a Central California Conference showdown between 6-0 teams. Both are seeded No. 1 in their Sac-Joaquin Section playoff divisions — Buhach in Division 2, Pitman in D1.
Pitman has the speed, with a lineup of quality backs led by Kody Brackett (16 yards a carry, 10 TDs), but Buhach's strategy is to keep the Pride's potent attack on the sideline.
That's where the line comes in. With Cochran leading the way, and flanked by size and strength, Buhach has developed a methodical offense.
The Thunder made noise in 2010 with its big-play backs — two runners hit 1,500 yards, and Jarrell Davis averaged 13 yards a run — but this year's running game is grinding out drives.
"We knew we were going to have new backs this year and that coach was going to want more from us," said Cochran, who arrived from Texas prior to his sophomore year. "That motivated us to put in the extra time in the offseason, lifting and running, and it's kept us driving forward this fall."
Four backs have at least 280 yards, and they range from 34 to 53 carries. No one's on pace for a 1,000-yard season — the current leader is Kevin Kelleher with 394 yards — but that is part of the Thunder's plan.
"A year ago, if we had a back get hurt it would leave us with a hole," said tackle Andrew Mark, the 6-5, 277-pound senior. "Now we're using six, seven backs. We don't lose much from one to another."
It helps to have an offensive line that is strong enough to push forward and still quick enough to block downfield.
"I look up and I see Matt going downfield with a running back, hitting people 10 and 15 yards past the line," said 6-1, 240-pound guard Michael Escobar. "That says a lot about the way we play. We like to say 'Win the hit and hustle.' "
That means not stopping after hitting the first defender.
"We try to stay ahead of the teams we play by watching so much film," said Aaron Cochran, a 6-8, 350-pound tackle and Matt's "little" brother. "If we ever think we're playing too well, coach will sit down with us and point out mistakes."
Aaron Cochran began showing up on recruiting lists his sophomore year, in large part because of his size. He backed up that with his play during the summer combine season.
He'd go with Matt and defensive end Aziz Shittu — one of the country's best at his spot — arriving as a little brother and departing as a prospect.
"When we're talking about Aaron and the other linemen, football is only part of what makes them special," noted Johnson, whose club runs for 326 yards a game and scores 43. "As a coach, it feels great to know these kids are going to take care of themselves.
"They're driving each other in class, on the field, when we lift. Not one of them wants to let the other guys down."
This story was originally published October 13, 2011 at 1:45 AM.