Raiders getting it done with defense
JACKSON TWP — Taking what a defense gives may sound like an effective way to gain yards and score points for any football team, but it has proven to be much easier said than done for Seneca Valley's opponents this season.
The Raiders are allowing just 206 yards and a paltry 9.5 points per game.
“We had nine defensive starters coming back from last year and had high expectations,” said senior Saige Ley, who plays everywhere from safety to linebacker to defensive end. “It's been great being part of this group. Every play counts for us.”
The defense is a big reason why the Raiders (8-3) are still playing. They visit rival North Allegheny (10-0) Friday in a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal.
SV defensive coordinator J.P. McFeeley has seen individual players and the unit as a whole come into its own.
“What we do defensively was already in place,” he said. “It was just a matter of the players maturing. It's a testament to the kids being in the system another year. They've done really well.”
In last week's quarterfinal meeting with Central Catholic, the Raiders had a lull on defense, allowing touchdowns to the Vikings on the first two drives of the game.
“We fully believed we could shut them out the rest of the way,” said senior middle linebacker Jake Stebbins. “We knew if we could do that, we could win the game.”
And win the Raiders did, scoring three times to pull out a 15-14 victory. After allowing 109 yards to the Vikings on their first two possessions, SV held Central to a minuscule 15 yards over the final three quarters.
Causing turnovers has been a hallmark of SV's defensive effort this season and it happened again last week. Safety Conor Hayes' interception on the first play of the fourth quarter set up Jake Mineweaser's go-ahead score.
“The turnover ratio is very important and we talk about that,” said Raiders' coach Ron Butschle. “The key is to get points off the turnovers. It's tough when you get a turnover and don't score.”
SV's defensive starters include linemen Drew Robertson, David Tkatch, Tyler Proctor and Felipe Junqueira. Linebackers are Ley, Stebbins and Evan Smith.
Brennan Hayes, Ryan Kristobak, Josh McLean and Conor Hayes man the secondary.
Whether it is forcing or recovering a fumble, making a big tackle or defensing a pass, McFeeley knows everybody on defense is capable of making a clutch play.
“If for some reason, one guy doesn't do his job, the guy next to him will,” he said. “Our defense is a mix of talent and doing the little things. There's been a lot of hard work in the weight room and finding the right fit (position) for our players.”
It is the play on Friday nights that draws the cheers, but the defense's success is due in large part to things most people don't see.
“It's a six-day per week job,” said Ley. “There's a lot of staying after practice to get in the conditioning so we can fly around and make plays in games. Guys even get together during study hall and watch film, seeing what teams are doing out of certain formations.”
The Raiders have earned three shutouts this season. The most points they have given up is 21 to a Pine-Richland team averaging 40 points per game.
Despite the impressive numbers, Stebbins believes he and his teammates could've done even better.
“We've done some great things,” he said, “but I remember certain plays that we shouldn't have given up.”
In the first meeting with North Allegheny in September, the Raiders held the Tigers to 175 yards, but lost the game, 10-6.
“I do think we are capable of playing that well again,” McFeeley said. “It's just going to come down to execution.”
“We have to shut down NA's running game,” said Ley. “That's what they're known for.”
