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Defense features experience
The Jacks' most complete game last season was also their rival game, season ending game and redemption game.
Quincy is hoping to start the 2010 season in Ephrata the same way it ended the 2009 season - pounding the Tigers. Last year the Jacks piled up 345 yards and won the Battle of the Basin, ending a four-year drought, by a score of 20-7. They also limited the Tigers to just 91 yards of total offense.
This Friday, second-year head coach Stephen Wallace is looking for the same result, despite the fact that the contest is coined a non-leaguer.
“It’s not a nothing game when you play Ephrata. It’s a must win game. It sets the tone for our season,” he said. “That was one of our strongest games of the season and it carries over to week one, so it will be a big momentum game for us.”
The Jacks used this week’s rivalry game like a carrot dangled in front of a horse to keep the team focused.
“The first two weeks of football is tough. There is nothing fun about it. You are learning so much and you're physical. So having Ephrata to look forward to keeps you focused,” Wallace said. “Everybody wants to play in that game. It always helps to get you through the first two weeks.”
Four-year starter and the top returning defender Brett Petersen is at the center of a strong returning cast on the defensive side of a 4-3 scheme.
“Our linebacking core looks good and so does our secondary,” he said. “Stopping the run is what our goal is.”
While Petersen spearheads the middle linebacker position, he also has two other four-year starters in Jackson Hodges and Manny Ybarra to help him.
"We’ve been playing for four years, so we’re experienced,” he said.
Petersen (80 tackles) will anchor the defense from his inside linebacker spot, while being flanked by Hodges (62 tackles) and rookie Jacob Durfee. Durfee has been floating around the offensive side of the ball, but found a starting role on the defense.
“He’s also played backup quarterback, backup fullback and backup offensive tackle. He’s a tough kid and he’s athletic,” Wallace said. “Right now he’s learning that linebackers spot and getting aggressive. He’s our utility man.”
On the line as defensive ends are Ben Horning (15 tackles) and Cole Stanley (35 tackles).
“(Cole) and Ben both have speed. We don’t have a lot of size up there, so we're trying to make up for it with speed,” Wallace said. “Cole’s got those long arms, so he’s got that leverage to get through. He’s got the speed to blow by you and strength to push you over.”
The defensive tackle position is the most wide open battle, with four players in the forefront for playing time: Christian Aguilar, Felipe Cornu-Labat, Zac Gates and Jacob Barth.
While the linebackers have a couple of veteran players returning, the defensive backfield has the most experienced players. The corners will be Cody Beaumont and Kody Berens (32 tackles). Beaumont missed last season with a broken ankle. Ybarra (78 tackles), the defensive captain, will be the strong safety, while Cai Yamamoto (29 tackles) is the free safety. Also in the mix is Marco Ochoa, Michael Castro and Kevin Rincon (17 tackles).
The coaches are looking for the right personnel to fill out the starting roles, but are also viewing this game for what it is - a rivalry.
"In a non-league game you usually go into it with limited plays. You run base plays and try to move some personnel around and see what meshes," said Wallace.
"You've got to come with a W - whatever you do."
Domer commented, on September 7, 2010 at 8:56 a.m.:
Who holds the school record for most tackles in a regular season?
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