Nothing escapes Carmel offensive lineman Jackson Reasoner’s attention.

As Corsairs running back Donovan Dey tells it, Reasoner might as well be omniscient.

“He knows everything that’s happening on the field,” Dey said. “Before the play, even when we’re getting to the line of scrimmage, he’ll let me know, ‘This hole will be open.’ Every time he says something like that, it happens.

“He uses his brain more than his body, and he makes me look way better than I am.”

That’s vintage Reasoner, according to Carmel coach Jason McKie.

“He cares so much about winning, and he’s been such a constant for us these last two years,” McKie said. “He’s really smart, and having him help make calls up front and identifying fronts is invaluable.”

Reasoner’s role in the running game was invaluable in playoff-bound Carmel’s 24-0 CCL/ESCC crossover win against visiting Niles Notre Dame in Mundelein on Friday. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound senior helped spring Dey for 164 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters.

The intermittent downpours made the game the kind that Reasoner yearns to play. Showing extensive preparedness and being physical in messy conditions were necessary, and Reasoner and his line mates had a good inkling of what to expect before the game and adapted even more once things were underway.

“We noticed that these tackles like to slant really hard, especially on double teams,” Reasoner said. “As the game went on, if we stopped making our calls and made fake calls, we could make the tackles slant the wrong way, and they wouldn’t know what to do.”

The defense took the bait on a nifty 49-yard end-around that senior receiver Torey French took to the end zone for a touchdown in the opening seconds of the second half.

“I was pulling on that play, and I was able to pin in the end,” Reasoner said. “We know if we can get him (French) onto the edge and seal these guys inside, he can go.”

The Corsairs (7-1) know Reasoner helps make them go, on and off the field. Not one prone to being in the spotlight, he is dependable in the trenches, whether he’s helping keep the pocket clean in pass protection or blowing open holes in the run game. But he does much more behind the scenes.

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“I like showing leadership because the team likes having guys who help bring everyone together,” he said. “I feel that being someone others can look up to helps us become a better team.”

Reasoner’s versatility has been important for the Corsairs too. He has played right guard most often during the past two seasons but has also started at both tackle spots due to injuries and didn’t miss a beat.

Preparation goes a long way.

“I study a lot of film. That’s a big part of football,” Reasoner said. “Even if it’s a late night, I’ll turn it on before bed. It helps me go into the game knowing exactly what I should do on each play and what to expect.”

Opponents probably don’t know what to expect from him.

“Violence is key,” Reasoner said. “I even do this thing where I grunt and yell during a play at my opponent. It helps me get fired up and get into that violent mindset. If you aren’t violent as an offensive lineman, you’re not going to get the job done.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.