COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS FOOTBALL: TWO OF A KIND BEATS ALL COC LINEMEN ARE A WINNING COMBO.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Put Paul Dolinsky and Greg Vandermade next to each other and they likely will produce a championship.

The offensive linemen have been teammates since their days at Hart High, where they won a Southern Section title. As teammates on the College of the Canyons football team, they've won back-to-back Western State Conference championships and helped earn the Cougars a berth in Saturday's WSC Bowl.

``They've been side by side for years and they always win,'' COC coach Chuck Lyon said of the pair who earned first-team All-WSC honors.

``Together, we work extremely well,'' Dolinsky said. ``When one of us is having a little trouble, the other steps up. We always have each other's back.

``He knows what kind of calls I make and vice versa. We think alike, picking up things without having to say anything. I know when I speak, he knows what I'm saying.''

Their mindset and ability to stave off defenders is where the similarities between Dolinsky and Vandermade end.

Dolinsky, 20, has a more natural feel for the sport and has played since childhood. However, at 6-foot-1, he also is significantly smaller than the 6-4 Vandermade, who didn't start playing football until high school and immediately was turned into a lineman because of his size.

Vandermade, 19, has an offer from Utah State and has received interest from other schools. Dolinsky moved from guard to center this season, the same position he played in high school, to help compensate for his height disadvantage, but it hasn't helped attract attention from Division I schools.

``A lot of schools won't look at me because of my size,'' said Dolinsky, who said he loves the offensive line too much ever to consider another position. ``It makes everything 10 times harder. I have to go on pure technique, work on my footwork and get good leverage.''

Having seen Dolinsky dominate for so long, Vandermade would be among the first to argue that height should not be an issue.

``He's probably one of the best players I've ever played next to,'' Vandermade said. ``He can pass-block and run-block better than anyone I've played with. I've seen players a lot bigger than him that aren't nearly as good.

``I've gotten gradually better every year. With Paul, I see it comes a lot more natural for him. I have to work a lot harder on it. He's one of the hardest workers I've seen, though.''

On a fun-loving team that sometimes is criticized for its lack of intensity, Dolinsky and Vandermade take an all-business approach. They don't mind that their position is one of the game's least glamorous.

``I think a lot of games are won or lost on the offensive line,'' Dolinsky said. ``A lot of people who don't know that much about football probably don't notice the offensive line that much. But the offensive line does control the game.

``Greg and I, we try to lead by example. If we work hard and do our job, the rest of the team can do theirs.''

Vandermade shares a similar view.

``If our quarterback throws for a lot of yards, it shows we blocked and gave him enough time,'' he said. ``Or if the running backs have a lot of yards, it shows we opened up space for them. That's enough credit for us, them getting their yards.''

The Cougars have been getting plenty of yards. Their offense ranked second in the conference this season with an average of 371.1 net yards, which also has meant plenty of wins. This season's 9-1 record makes COC 18-3 during Dolinsky's and Vandermade's tenure.

``I've never been on a losing team in my life,'' Dolinsky said. ``I expect to win, and again I've been on a winning team this year.''

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Greg Vandermade, left, and Paul Dolinsky have won everywhere they've been together, and it's no different for bowl-bound COC.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer