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Friday,
October 4, 2002
No backing down for BHS defense
Size can't keep secondary
from physical play
By Randy Reinhardt
Pantagraph staff
BLOOMINGTON -- Bloomington High School football coach Rigo Schmelzer
offers numerous adjectives to describe his secondary.
And while no word resembling "big" escapes Schmelzer's mouth
in the process, the Purple Raiders' defensive backs do play a big role on
a typically stout BHS defense.
"The secondary is a fun group," Schmelzer said.
"Michael Harrison and Chad Hudson are hard-nosed, good players who
make Chad Olson look big. And Olson weighs in at an impressive 150
pounds. But you know what, they'll stick you. They do a good job."
The 5-7, 145-pound Harrison and the 5-7, 130-pound Hudson join Olson,
175-pound free safety Eric Esch and 200-pound Apache (strong safety)
Justin Harrison as key contributors to a secondary that has helped BHS
surrender just 8.2 points per game.
That mark is fifth best in The Pantagraph area entering today's 7 p.m.
game at Big 12 Conference non-divisional foe Rantoul. BHS (5-0) is ranked
third in Class 6A and has won 30 consecutive regular-season games.
"We aren't the biggest group of defensive backs, but we get the
job done," Olson said. "We make up for it with speed. We're
pretty fast. We go out there and try to make plays."
Esch, who has two of BHS' six interceptions, said his smaller
secondary mates are smaller in stature alone.
"They're real hard-nosed. They do the job just as well if not
better than I do," he said. "Our corners are real physical and
our defensive backs have a lot of speed."
"They're solid, intelligent guys," Schmelzer said.
"They're very fast and they play well together in space."
Getting plenty of help from veteran linebackers Ryan Pankey and Noah
Wyatt, BHS has allowed just 19 points in four games since a
season-opening 39-22 victory over Danville.
"We've been playing linebacker together since we were in eighth
grade with the (Twin City) Tigers," Wyatt said. "We pretty much
know where the other person is going to be every time."
Schemelzer called Pankey and Wyatt "lousy practice players.
They've got (defensive coordinator Don) Anderson pulling his hair out.
But you put them in the game and they find the ball pretty well."
The BHS defense likes to take the field first because "we're
always the ones who set the tone," top tackler Pankey said. "We
get everybody ready for the game."
"We love being on defense first," Olson said. "Shutting
them down on three plays and then we get out there on offense all hyped
up and we go and put points on the board."
The Raiders have received solid play from defensive interior linemen
Jacob Kummer and Chris McWhorter. At 165 pounds, nose guard Rod Castillo
has used his quickness to become an effective pass rusher.
Defensive ends Damon Mehlberg and John Hamrin are inexperienced at the
position but making fine progress, according to Schmelzer.
"We've had some offensive names lately, but I've always liked
defense," said Schmelzer, who was the BHS defensive coordinator
under former coach Terry McCombs. "We emphasize that as much as we
can."
Particularly impressive was a 13-0 shutout of Normal Community. The
Ironmen have averaged 40.7 points in their other four games.
"Community had a chance or two," Schmelzer said. "It
was a physical game. We shut out what has proved to be a pretty good
team."
The same cannot be said for Rantoul, which has a 1-4 record.
"They've got a new staff and a new coach (Trevor Lehnen) with a
positive attitude," said Schmelzer.
"But it's difficult for them to be competitive with some teams in
the conference. We don't want to come in flat. Hopefully that won't be
the case."
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