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OFFENSIVE LINE GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS OPPONENT LEFT TACKLE LEFT GUARD CENTER RIGHT GUARD RIGHT TACKLE Kent State Brendan Mahon Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Derek Dowrey Andrew Nelson Pitt Brendan Mahon Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Derek Dowrey Andrew Nelson Temple Brendan Mahon Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Derek Dowrey Andrew Nelson Michigan Brendan Mahon Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Derek Dowrey Andrew Nelson Minnesota Brendan Mahon Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Andrew Nelson Maryland Brendan Mahon Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Andrew Nelson Ohio State Paris Palmer Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Brendan Mahon Purdue Paris Palmer Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Brendan Mahon Iowa Paris Palmer Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Brendan Mahon Indiana Paris Palmer Ryan Bates Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Chasz Wright Rutgers Ryan Bates Steven Gonzalez Brian Gaia Derek Dowrey Chasz Wright Michigan State Ryan Bates Derek Dowrey Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Chasz Wright Wisconsin Ryan Bates Steven Gonzalez Brian Gaia Connor McGovern Chasz Wright there," Dowrey recalled before his last home game. "I wanted to be at a place with high character, high moral values that played great football and did the right thing off the field." On the field, Dowrey played sparingly as a redshirt freshman before making the switch to offense with Gaia before their sophomore season. It was a mutual deci- sion between the players and Franklin that was made soon after the new coach- ing staff was hired. With so few scholar- ships available, the staff was concerned about bolstering a shorthanded line. Dowrey and Gaia embraced the position change and played in 25 games through- out the next two seasons at their new spots. The change helped them build a personal bond. "He's one of my closest friends," Dowrey said. "Not only have we been to- gether for so long, hopping around to dif- ferent positions at the same time, but also because he's a great guy, intense com- petitor, and a great friend." It's not as though they didn't face their challenges. During their first two years on the offensive line, the Nittany Lions sur- rendered more sacks than any team in the Big Ten, while Dowrey battled and often played through nagging injuries. Now, as they get ready to conclude their careers, Penn State has turned a corner. The Lions have one of the more produc- tive offenses in the Big Ten. They've won 11 games for the first time since 2009 and are ranked among the 10 best teams in the country. Had it not been for the challenges that he and his team had to wade through, Dowrey said, they might not find them- selves in this scenario. "Whether they were four years ago or whether they were one year ago, all the struggles we have gone through have brought us closer together as a team," he said. "When you're closer together, you play better, obviously, and so I think that's where we are right now." In his last year, Dowrey has had to face another obstacle, one that veers his path away from Gaia's. Dowrey began his senior season atop the depth chart, starting the first four games at right guard. At the same time, his career was taking another twist – one that, yet again, he graciously ac- cepted. By the time Penn State played host to Minnesota in early October, McGovern had supplanted Dowrey in the lineup after splitting reps before that. Bates was hold- ing down the opposite guard spot, while Gonzalez was just starting his bid for playing time on the practice field. Wright had also seen some time at guard before switching back out to right tackle on a full-time basis. As a fifth-year athlete whose minutes were now split with those still in their first years of eligibility, Dowrey might have been expected to express some dis- content. He didn't. "My personal goals and helping them – it all goes together, because my personal goal is to do anything I can to help this team win on Saturdays," Dowrey said. "If that's starting or playing the entire game at guard, sure. If that's helping out a young guy who is playing better than me, sure. If that's holding up a card or getting water for guys, sure. "It doesn't matter to me because any- thing we achieve as a team would outweigh anything that I can achieve on my own, by far. So I'm not going to try to achieve things on my own selfishly when I can help the team achieve what we've achieved. I think so many people have bought into that, and that is such a huge reason why we've been successful this year." It's also why the offensive line has been, as Franklin noted, one of the year's best stories. And judging by the trajectory of the talented youngsters – players such as Bates, Gonzalez, McGovern and more – Dowrey's leadership might continue to influence the story next year. ■ P O S T S E A S O N P R E V I E W >> P E N N S T A T E

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