Published on Thursday, December 18, 2008 in The Miami Herald
Just try scoring on St. Thomas
St. Thomas Aquinas’ defensive players grew up this season, leaned on each other and present a formidable obstacle to Lakeland in the state final.
BY MIKE PHILLIPS
Go ahead Lakeland, put together an offensive game plan for St. Thomas Aquinas. Be sure to bring lots of chalk. And here's a clue: Don't spend a lot of time on one player.
''It's not one or two players that makes that defense so good,'' said McArthur coach Mike Zarra, who played at Aquinas and was an assistant coach there for 14 years. ''What makes that defense so good is the way all of those kids play the game. It's the detail, the focus to detail that they have.
''They have good coaches, and they've had the same coaches for years. Those kids listen to them. It's not that they just have good athletes, and they do. They've got smart kids. They have football sense, and they do what they're supposed to do. They don't make mistakes.''
That's what Lakeland (14-0) will face at 7 p.m. Friday when the nationally ranked
Dreadnaughts face Aquinas (14-0) in the Class 5A state championship. Lakeland has beaten Aquinas four times for the state title, including as recently as 2006, but there's never been an Aquinas team with these kinds of numbers.
Aquinas is not only ranked No. 1 in the nation in the National Prep poll, ESPN and USA Today rankings, but the defense has only allowed one team to score more than twice in a game all season. And no one has scored more than twice since August 30.
SEASON OPENER
Opposing teams are rushing for about 50 yards per game and throwing for about 58, and no one has thrown for much since nationally ranked Elder passed for 288 yards in the season opener Aug. 30 in Cincinnati. Aquinas fell behind 10-0 in that game, then went on to win 35-24.
''When we opened the season at Elder, we had no idea [how good we would be],'' said senior linebacker Conor O'Neill. ''We were thrown into the fire in that game. Nine of the 11 had never played varsity football on defense. We had to lean on each other, and I think that's what we have done all year. This team really bonded.''
On and off the field.
''We hang out together all the time,'' said defensive lineman William Nesselt, the only returning starter other than O'Neill. ''We're always together on weekends, a big group of us.
''We talk about everything from video games to talking about girl problems to talking smack,'' he said. ''And we talk to each other about our grades. I was on the phone to Conor last night talking about an English essay I was writing.''
They even watch out for each other in school, just to make sure everyone is getting decent grades.
''We're our brother's keeper,'' O'Neill said.
They are also the keeper of the end zone, where few teams have entered. After the Elder game, Aquinas allowed just four touchdowns over the final nine games of the regular season. The team has given up only 43 points in four playoff games.
''We want to have a shutout every time we walk on the field,'' Nesselt said.
BLOWOUTS
Every game since Elder has been a blowout. Aquinas held the two top 6A teams in Broward -- Miramar and Deerfield Beach -- to a total of 12 points.
There are stars: O'Neill and Nesselt have had big seasons. Cody Riggs set a school record for interceptions with eight, including three in the playoffs, and Ronnie Kennedy has been one of the best cornerbacks in Broward.
But it's the collective nature that makes Aquinas scary.
''If I had one word for the defense it would be tenacity,'' Aquinas quarterback Ryan Becker said. ''They are flying to the ball, and they play with so much intensity.
''They have good relationships on defense,'' he said. ''They know each other well, and they work together so well. It's kind of like when a baseball team has to work together to make a double play.''
It's that bond, the one that started in Ohio, that has made this defense special. ''They're all playing together with instincts, in unison,'' Deerfield Beach coach Art Taylor said. ''It's almost like a beehive where everybody has a job and everybody is doing it.
''They've got great athletes, but they're playing as a team and they believe in it,'' Taylor said. ''They believe in the system and they believe in their coach. When you get kids believing in the system and you can put them in position to make plays, that's a dangerous scenario for the other team to face.''
That's what Lakeland will face. Bring plenty of chalk.
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