LEXINGTON — Before Lexington High School’s football team could roll toward a Heart of Illinois Conference championship and long playoff run, and before senior running back T.J. Stinde could race to the brink of state rushing records, things had to change on the Minutemen offensive line.

Senior center Steve Kolat, the lone returning full-time starter up front, knew what it was like to be part of a dysfunctional offensive line. He wanted no part of a repeat.

“The line last year, we didn’t get along,” Kolat said of the 3-6 season of 2008. “We couldn’t work as a unit. It was all selfish.”

Thus, when preseason practice began in August, Kolat was hoping for a new and improved attitude from the guys who would be blocking for Stinde.

“It was different right away,” he said.

The unified front has led to a 12-0 record heading into Saturday’s Class 1A playoff semifinal at Lena-Winslow (11-1).

It also has helped Stinde amass 2,923 yards, 204 shy of the state record set by Decatur St. Teresa’s Sean Dunning in 2005, and 42 rushing touchdowns, three away from the state mark set by Highland’s Billy Greenwald in 1989.

Stinde said the numbers are “overwhelming to me,” and is quick to credit his blockers. Joining the 5-foot-11, 160-pound Kolat up front are junior tackles Cory Wilson (6-1, 275) and David Sleeter (6-0, 225), senior guard Weston Gresham (6-0, 205) and junior guard Kyle Taylor (5-10, 165).

Junior Ryne Bessler (5-11, 175) is the tight end, while fullbacks Jesse Kemp and Anthony Feit have been superb lead blockers for Stinde, whose nine 200-yard games are two shy of the state record.

“They’re not afraid to hit anybody. They drive block people,” Stinde said of Kemp and Feit. “(The linemen) are all strong and fast. They’re all good friends and they work great as a unit. That’s what really makes things work.”

The line showed its mettle in last week’s 24-13 win at Alexis United. Leading 18-13 with eight minutes left, Lexington ran the ball 12 times en route to a clinching touchdown.

Head coach Mike Castleman said he and his staff “kind of put it (the game) on them” at that point, telling the line, “The ball’s staying on the ground, we need first downs and a score would be great.”

“They’re very unselfish guys and they realize the success of the team really lies on their shoulders,” Castleman said. “They take that as a huge responsibility and challenge, and they’ve done a great job.”

Kolat considers communication the key. Last year, there was mostly in-fighting. This season, he said, the linemen get along well, yet hold each other accountable.

“We will pull each other aside and say, ‘You have to fix this,’ ” Kolat said. “We’re not afraid to take criticism, and we’ll give it, too.”

In turn, Lexington can give the ball to Stinde, a powerful 5-10, 200-pounder who looks to reward his blockers after the season “if everything goes well.” That is, if the Minutemen win the state title.

“I’ll take them out to dinner wherever they want to eat,” he said. “Steve (Kolat) is the smallest one, but he probably eats the most.”