Feature photo of Snider’s Brycen Reinig by Gary Hale
Tune into television highlight shows Friday night and you’ll see an excess of offensive fireworks. Big runs, breathtaking catches, touchdown celebrations. It’s the nature of the media – I’m guilty, too – to gravitate toward those putting points on the board.
As we head into Week 2 of the prep season, let’s pause and recognize the other side of the line. It’s a cliché because it holds some weight in truth: defense wins championships.
Defensive players often set the tone of a team’s commitment and toughness.
Take, for example, Wayne’s leading tackler last week, Sean Weideman. First one to practice, last one to leave.
“He will be a future coach for sure,” Wayne coach Derrick Moore said. “He knows where everybody on the field is supposed to be at all times. He is a pleasure to coach.”
Let’s look at 10 Summit Athletic Conference impact defensive players from Week 1:
Camari Harris, LB, Bishop Luers
Harris is simply a do-everything senior linebacker who finds his way to a ball carrier or a receiver in traffic and delivers the hit. In the 21-20 win over Carroll last Friday, the 6-foot-2, 209-pound Harris’ performance was typical of his style: eight tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass break up. He’ll have to be on his A game again this week as the Knights take on Wayne, whose offense is itching to get on track.
Tahj Alford, LB, South Side
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker makes his presence known in every way. He posted 11 tackles against Concordia last Friday as one of the main bright spots for the Archers in a 42-0 loss.
“Tahj is a senior leader who does all the intangibles,” South coach Roosevelt Norfleet said. “He works hard on and off the field and leads the team in the right direction with positivity.”
Brycen Reinig, DT, Snider
Snider entered the season with all sorts of needs on its defense, which was dominant a year ago but filled with seniors. Graduation opened opportunities for backup players. Reinig is a senior defensive tackle who had been waiting his chance, and you could tell on opening night.
He recorded six tackles with two tackles-for-loss in helping Snider hold North Side to one score in a 31-8 win.
“He presented himself better than we had hoped in the first game against a good North Side offensive line,” Snider coach Kurt Tippmann said. “He will be a huge part in determining our success this season.”
Liam Fletcher, DE, Concordia
The Cadets’ spread offense often makes Concordia a dangerous opponent, but a message was sent by the defense with a shutout win over South Side. Fletcher, a 6-foot-2 defensive end, spent much of the night hanging out in the South Side backfield, leading the Cadets with six tackles, including four for losses and one sack.
Alex Satterthwaite, LB, Northrop
The Bruins had the daunting task of defending Homestead last week and 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior Satterthwaite stepped up in a major way to help the cause. He had four tackles and a sack out of his linebacker position.
“He is progressing with his reads and is continuing to get better in pass coverage,” Northrop coach Jason Doerffler said.
Sean Weideman, LB, Wayne
The senior linebacker led the Generals with nine tackles in their 22-0 loss to Bishop Dwenger. Weideman was part of a defensive effort that didn’t gain as much recognition for its performance in slowing Dwenger as it would have if the game had been tighter.
“Sean is one of our captains,” Moore said. “He’s always the first guy to practice and the last guy to leave. He is undersized (5-foot-10, 175), but has the heart of a champion. He works very hard in the weight room and in practice.”
Ryan Burton, S, Homestead
It’s not easy to find a spot on the field as a sophomore in a program like Homestead’s, but Burton started last year as a freshman (!) and is a standout safety. In the 45-28 win over Northrop, he had eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass break up.
“He comes to work every day to get better,” Homestead coach Chad Zolman said.
Jalen Harris, S, North Side
Harris, a 6-foot, 195 safety with versatility in special teams, recorded 17 tackles with an interception in the Legends’ loss to Snider. He’s a junior who should only get better. He teamed with Theo Redmond (18 tackles, three for loss) to demonstrate some playmaking ability in the North defense.
“Our defense played great for the most part,” North coach Michael Brevard said. “They gave up a few big plays, but these two safeties could cause trouble for opposing offenses.”
Hayden Ellinger, LB, Bishop Dwenger
Ellinger, a 5-10, 210 pound junior linebacker, never turns on the cruise control. He has the pedal to the metal all game. In the win over Wayne, Ellinger had 13 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. If I gave him a nickname, it would be “The Disrupter.”
“He’s not taking plays off,” Dwenger coach Jason Garrett said in an understatement.
Hunter Mertz, OLB, Carroll
A rising sophomore talent at outside linebacker, the 5-10, 160 pounds Mertz led the Chargers with five solo tackles in their razor-thin loss to Bishop Luers. As Mertz increases his strength and experience, he could be a major force for Carroll.
