Arter drops anchor for Northridge offensive line
JOHNSTOWN — One name has been mentioned by the Northridge football team’s seniors time after time this season when asked for an up-and-coming player.
When told it was him, junior Winton Arter was blown away. On a young developing offensive line, Arter is a foundational piece.
"I am very honored by it. It's a good thing for the future of our program," Arter said.
Northridge has undergone a transition season particularly on offense going from the wing-T run by former coach Jay Campbell to true the spread look under new coach Tod King. The importance of the line remains the same.
Arter and classmate Brody Dixon and sophomores Jake Davis and Maxim Boukhtin have combined with senior Luke Bennett to lead the way for the attack headed by senior quarterback Lane Hess. Hess has a shot to reach 1,000 passing yards, sitting at 756 yards with two games left and also is the Vikings’ leading rusher at nearly 479 yards, accounting for 12 total scores.
"It's a good responsibility to have. I am proud to be one of those people blocking for him. It's an honor," Arter said. "Competing with bigger schools makes everyone better. We just have to keep the pad level low, keep eyes up and keep feet moving."
Northridge (1-7, 1-2) hopes to add to those numbers when making the short trip on U.S. 62 to Utica (2-6, 0-3) on Friday night to continue Licking County League-Cardinal play.
The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Arter does not draw attention simply because of his impressive size. King quickly noticed he has the intangibles to be a top-notch performer, too.
"He's just a good young man," King said. "He works so hard, and he's very coachable. He is always willing to do extra and more and find a way to get better."
King has rarely spoken since he took over at Northridge without using the words leadership and accountability. The results have been slow to come in the win-loss column this season at the LCL’s smallest public school, but King is preaching the big picture.
King sees Arter in the foreground as that picture comes into focus.
"He is becoming a great leader," King said. "He goes about his business very quietly but is a good role model. He works hard in film study and does things right in practice."
With the aforementioned Bennett being the only senior on the line, Northridge has plenty of room to grow and reason to be optimistic for the future. Those Vikings will be blocking for sophomore Cameron Brannigan, who is a threat in the backfield, and classmates Dylan Chambers and Ben Aamodt, who will be threats on the outside, in 2023.
"Our center Jake Davis is usually who I look to," Arter said. "He makes our calls and says if he needs help with someone."
Northridge, however, first still has business at hand in 2022. Hess and classmates Peyton Wheeler, Brody Booher, James Kalas and Haedyn Parman all have been multi-year starters in a program that reached the Division VI playoffs last season.
The younger Vikings know the best way to send the seniors out.
"Win for them," Arter said. "They don't have much time left, so we have to make the most of it."
ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com
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Twitter: @newarkurt
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Winton Arter drops anchor for Northridge Vikings offensive line
