It’s often said winners of football games are decided by the battles in the trenches, waged by the big boys who normally man those positions on the lines.
Right?
While that’s generally true, it’s not always the case at the high school level, especially on the defensive side of the ball. There’s something to be said for defensive linemen who are agile and mobile as well as equal parts nasty.
At least that’s the philosophy coaches at Batavia have used to their benefit in recent years, especially with more teams utilizing spread attacks that make foes defend the entire field.
More Top Picks Ratings
Case in point?
Take a look at Derek Nutley, a senior defensive end nominated by coach Dennis Piron as his player of the week in last Friday’s 48-28 win over St. Charles North.
Nutley is no behemoth, checking in at 6-foot, 185 pounds. Last week, he had seven tackles, 3.5 for sacks totaling 14 yards in losses, three quarterback hurries and one pass deflected.
“I had a pretty good game, but we all have had good games,” said Nutley, who leads Batavia with 8.5 sacks.
He’s aware of those numbers but doesn’t want to get consumed with them.
“It’s hard not to think of them sometimes because people talk about them,” he said. “But I’d rather try to stay modest and keep working. All that really matters anyway is whether we win the game.”
So far, the Bulldogs (5-0) have done nothing but win, though that streak gets tested this week when they play host to Naperville Central (4-1) in a much-anticipated nonconference matchup.
Two years ago each team won a state title, Batavia in Class 6A, the Redhawks in 8A.
“It’s gonna be a pretty big game, a closer game than what we’ve been having,” Nutley said. “We like having tough games like this. It will help us when we get to the playoffs.”
Nutley, who has 24 tackles, is joined on the defensive line by tackles Miles Williams (5-7, 195) and Tristan Kennedy (6-0, 270) and end Connor Stejskal (5-11, 185). The unit will likely have an integral role, win or lose.
“Derek has had an unbelievable year,” Piron said. “He showed flashes as a junior. He’s a wrestler, too, and has run some track. That toughness has helped him at defensive end. He motors but also does a good job of controlling the edge. He was behind (standouts Noah) Frazier and (Josh) Leonhard last year.”
Nutley said he learned a lot from Frazier, a fellow wrestler, and that the team’s practices helped prepare him for this season.
“They help us develop depth,” he said. “There are guys behind me who could be starting other places.”
Defensive coordinator Matt Holm said Nutley relies on his speed and technique.
“As an example, he had 3.5 sacks against St. Charles North but two of them were (linebacker) Colin Thurston chasing (North’s quarterback) out of the pocket and (Nutley) spinning out of another block to come up and finish the play,” Holm said. “There’s literally plays where other guys probably never would have got there. As little as he is, he’s playing low and he uses technique to get to the ball.”
Holm pointed out he has to go back to 2011 to remember Batavia defensive ends who played only that position throughout high school. Since then, “we’ve been taking guys that have been linebackers when they were younger and putting them at D-end and sometimes tackle. We’ve often had eight guys on the field who are or were linebackers.”
It could be problematic this week.
“In a sense, they’re old school,” Holm said of Central. “In our modern age, everyone wants to spread it out and throw the ball around. They do that, too, obviously with the receivers they have. But mainly, when they want to move the ball and they’re serious about scoring, they’ll run it down your throat.
“If I were to have a concern (this week), obviously looking at a little defensive line, you’re gonna have to fortify that a little bit with how you play your linebackers and moving safeties into the box. That’s the fun, chess-game part of football.”
Even more interesting, he said, is that Central has the same philosophy with its defensive line.
“I heard their coordinator talking at a clinic about it and thought, ‘Wow, they do the same thing we do,'” Holm said. “It should be fun.”
Twitter: @RickArmstrong28
FIVE GAMES TO WATCH
Naperville Central at Batavia
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Scouting report: Area’s game of the week pits Central (4-1, 4-1) of DuPage Valley against Batavia (5-0, 3-0) of Upstate Eight River. Both are capable of diversified attacks. Both defenses are good. “We haven’t seen him drop a pass,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said of Central’s Iowa commit, WR/DB Emmanuel Rugamba. Same might be said of Bulldogs’ WR Canaan Coffey (36 receptions).
More Top Picks Best Home Blood Pressure Friendly Cooking Classes Online 2
Oswego East at Oswego
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Scouting report: Solid defense led by linebacker Nik Wadsworth, defensive back Kaelub Newman and linemen Elijah James and Jack Borvan key to hopes for East (3-2, 1-2) as offense seeks consistency. Steven Frank and Co. are improving, but defense led by Chad Marsh a strong suit for Oswego (4-1, 3-0).
Lake Park at Metea Valley
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Scouting report: Metea (2-3, 2-3) looks to keep rolling after big win over Waubonsie Valley. Keep an eye on D-I defensive line prospects in Michigan State commit Mike Panasiuk and younger brother Jacub of Lake Park (2-3, 2-3).
West Chicago at West Aurora
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Scouting report: Cakewalk for West Aurora (3-2, 1-1), looking to extend win streak to three? It should be, but teams wanting to make playoffs for first time in more than a decade shouldn’t take anyone lightly. That’s why West coach Nate Eimer doesn’t bring up the “P” word and why he won’t let his team overlook Wildcats (1-4, 1-1), whose win over East Aurora could have easily gone the other way.
Aurora Christian at St. Rita
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Scouting report: Records can be deceiving and this game could illustrate that point. Class 3A Eagles enter Catholic League crossover (3-2, 0-2 White) looking to halt two-game skid. It won’t be easy against 7A Mustangs (1-4, 0-2 Blue) who have lost three straight to Montini, Mount Carmel and Providence.