Hawks defense the real deal

Armwood D improves all-around, stifling run and pass schemes.

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published December 1, 2005

	[Times photo: Daniel Wallace]
	Junior Torrey Davis, keying in on Middleton QB Dominic Grooms, is part of Armwood's stingy defense.

SEFFNER - Fans said it, opponents said it, coaches said it and heck, even teammates said it: The defensive line was Armwood's weakness last season.

And, well ...

"They were right," senior defensive tackle Jake Cross said.

How's that for honest?

In fairness, the unit wasn't exactly terrible. Armwood's defensive front was rather strong vs. the run. But against teams armed with better-than-average passing attacks, such as Miami Washington, whom the Hawks beat 36-35 in last year's Class 4A semifinal and meet again Friday night, the group wasn't particularly good at pressuring the quarterback. And that deficiency almost kept Armwood from claiming a second straight state title.

"We could have done a lot better," junior defensive end Torrey Davis said. "We didn't get much rush. We were thinking too much."

This season, Armwood's defensive line has excelled at the run and the pass. And the group's statistics are nothing short of spectacular. Through 13 games, the Hawks have allowed 567 rushing yards on 1.51 yards a carry. Opponents have thrown for just 804 yards and their quarterbacks have been sacked 46 times - 34 from Cross, Davis, senior tackle Stephan Hicks and sophomore defensive end Sergio Joyner.

"On a scale from one to 10 last year, I probably would have given them a six," defensive coordinator Matt Thompson said. "This year, it would probably be a nine or nine and a half. And they haven't played their best game yet."

Why so much improvement?

Cross thinks he knows the answer. This season, the group is older, faster, more knowledgeable, stronger and has better technique, he said.

"Our whole unit is better," Cross said.

Cross and Hicks were dependable players inside in 2004, so their play this fall has come as no surprise. The biggest gain, everyone seems to agree, has come on the outside. Davis, a first-year starter last season, has improved as much as any player on the team. Meantime, Joyner, a junior varsity standout a year ago, has been an absolute menace, leading the team with 16 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries.

"We were so slow at end last year," Thompson said. "We had to get better and we have. Those guys are really coming off the ball good."

The results speak for themselves. Armwood's defense has allowed only one team to gain more than 200 yards. Six were held to under 100. "It all starts up front," safety Jeremy Carver said.

How far has Armwood's defensive line come since last season? That question should be answered Friday against an explosive Washington offense.

"They have a lot of speed," Cross said. "But we have speed, too. We're ready."

[Last modified December 1, 2005, 01:08:09]