Bellevue Wolverines stalwart offensive lineman Henry Roberts loves plowing open gaping holes for his running backs. Roberts, who committed to the University of Washington football team this past September, throughly enjoys seeing his teammates succeed.

“It’s the best feeling when they (running backs) run past you and you know they are going to score,” Roberts said.

Roberts said the offense is in sync, possessing a tight-knit unbreakable bond.

“I would say my best friends on the team are on the offensive line. My second best friends are the quarterback, running backs and receivers. We’re all pretty tight,” Roberts said with a smile.

The Wolverines are completely focused on winning its seventh consecutive Class 3A state football championship this December at the Tacoma Dome.

“We have got the best coaching staff in the nation. They hold us to high standards. They ride us and they make us better every day,” Roberts said. “The level of respect we have for each and every coach is just unbelievable.”

Expectations never waver for the Bellevue football program, which is something Roberts said each player cherishes.

“It’s about our tradition and coming out here and trying to get better every day. We’re always thinking about the people that have played in the past for Bellevue. It’s not about what people on the outside think of us, it’s more about the people that have played for Bellevue and the standard that we’re held to because of them,” Roberts said.

Roberts’ decision to attend the University of Washington beginning in fall of 2015 was an easy choice football-wise and family-wise. Roberts said his beloved uncle Brett succumbed to cancer just six months ago. Losing his uncle is something Roberts said he thinks about on a daily basis and played a role in his decision to play college football close to home.

“My uncle died and that made me think about how important family is to me. He hurt his back and he went in to the doctor to get an MRI done. When he did that, he found out he got cancer. They told him he had six months to live. It was really sudden,” Roberts said. “They’re (University of Washington) so close to home and the coaching staff is phenomenal. I just believe in everything they say and at the end of the day, it was the right place for me to go.”

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com