Before the season started, Randy Cuthbert got some funny looks when he told people his offensive line would be better than last year.

The Hornets had graduated everyone. Not just interior linemen, but tight ends and receivers, too. This year's team has fresh faces up front from sideline to sideline.

But Cuthbert, who took over the team in late spring of 2013, knew the players that would take over in the trenches had been in the weight room all offseason. He knew how close they had become and how big and strong they were compared to last year.

"They've gotten better all year," said Cuthbert. "We basically replaced the whole line - tight end to interior linemen to split end.

"If you just look at our line, we look stronger. They have an attitude. They want to run the ball. They're feeding off each other."

Through eight games, Emmaus has rushed for 2,539 yards (363 per game) this season behind the reloaded offensive line, which has just one senior on the interior in 6-foot-5, 220-pound tackle Zach Muller. He plays opposite strong side tackle Jared Romig, a 6-4, 240-pound junior. At guard are juniors Richie Roman (6-3, 215) and Eric Miller (6-1, 235). Junior Brett Poling (5-11, 230) has taken over for injured junior Josh Purnell at center. The tight ends are Kyle Carraher and Tom Wagner.

Those players helped senior back Andy Davidson run for 272 yards in last week's 28-7 homecoming win over Pocono Mountain East one week after clearing the way for a 318-yard Davidson effort against Central Catholic.

The Hornets (5-3) run mostly out of their rhino package. It's no secret to their opponent what they're going to do.

"We're a very strong offensive line," said Muller. "Even if we make it obvious that we're running the ball, we're going to run it down their throat and get yards every play."

The Hornet running backs show their appreciation, taking the linemen out for dinner every once in a while.

"I feel like when it's their name in the paper, its our name in the paper, too, because we're a team," said Romig. "The running backs know that the offensive line is working hard and making the holes for them. We're doing a great job and they're doing a great job and that's what being a team is all about."

The line flexed its muscles early last Friday against Pocono Mountain East.

Emmaus scored on its second possession of the game, a five-play, 38-yard drive in which Davidson carried the ball on all five plays.

A fumble ended Emmaus' next drive, but after a missed Cardinal field goal, the Hornets mounted a 73-yard drive that saw Davidson carry the ball on all five plays, finishing it with a 6-yard run to pay dirt with :07 left in the first quarter.

East got the ball back and drove 92 yards in 16 plays before fumbling at its own 1-yard line.

The Hornets took over and went 98 yards in 15 plays. Davidson had 13 carries on the drive, including a 3-yard touchdown scamper that made the score 21-0 with eight seconds left before halftime.

Davidson eclipsed 1,000 yards for the season and finished the game at 1,167 for the year.

The Hornet offensive linemen couldn't be happier to block for such a punishing running back.

"I'm good friends with Andy," said Muller. "I'm completely fine with him getting his name in the headlines."

"I understand when I see Davidson's name," said Romig, "it's pretty much going out to our offensive line for doing a good job."

The Hornets recovered a Pocono Mountain East fumble on the first play of the second half. Davidson, who also plays linebacker and was the Lehigh Valley Conference's co-defensive player of the year last season, forced the ball out of the hands of Cardinal running back Dontae Edwards and teammate Nolan Marks recovered it.

Emmaus turned it into a 28-0 lead, going 29 yards in five plays, including Davidson's fourth touchdown of the game, a 9-yard run with 8:17 left in the game.

The Cardinals made it interesting with a touchdown on their next drive. But Emmaus' defense came up with a couple stop and even battled through a roughing the kicker penalty that kept East's final drive alive.

The Hornets are still at least one win away from earning a district playoff berth with games against Whitehall (6-2) and Parkland (6-2) coming up over the final two weeks.

They travel to the Zephyrs this Friday night and host the Trojans in the season finale.

Emmaus is 10th in the District 2/4/11 rankings with the top eight teams earning a spot in the playoffs. One win could be enough but two would certainly secure a spot for the Hornets.