|
| Jordan Giza has made some big
plays down the stretch this season for Linfield, in his first year
as a starter. Photo by Joe Fusco, d3photography.com |
By Adam Turer
D3sports.com
With a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter of a quarterfinal matchup in Whitewater, Linfield appeared in control. Then, Matt Behrendt and Jake Kumerow took over, leading UW-Whitewater to a 28-17 come from behind win to end Linfield’s 2013 season.
The Wildcats could not spend the offseason beating themselves up for letting Behrendt toss four touchdown passes, three of them to Kumerow, over the final 41:06 of the game. Instead, they had to focus on replacing a unit that graduated seven starters from last year’s team. Linfield’s new back seven has enjoyed an outstanding season thus far, and is looking forward to its biggest test yet on Saturday against the defending national champions.
After reloading with a majority of first-year starters, Linfield ranks second in team pass efficiency defense, allowing an efficiency rating of just 82.08, fifth in passing defense (130.6 yards per game), third in total defense (222.6 yards per game), seventh in scoring defense (12.6 points per game), third with six defensive touchdowns. The Linfield defense has forced four turnovers in each of its past two games. The Wildcats attacked early and often, forcing three turnovers in the first quarter of each of those contests.
“We have a next man up mentality here, and it is expected that you will perform when it is your time to step on the field as a Wildcat, whenever that comes,” said coach Joe Smith. “We have tried to develop our program to be in a situation where we can consistently have the opportunity to measure ourselves against the best.”
Widener came in to Saturday’s quarterfinal averaging 39.8 points per game. The Pride were held to a season-low seven points. Mary Hardin-Baylor averaged 54.6 going into the second round matchup. The Crusaders scored 28 in their loss to Linfield, with one of their four touchdowns coming on a punt return. Chapman averaged 43.5 points in eight games against non-Linfield opponents. In the teams’ two meetings to bookend the season, the Panthers scored a total of 38 (14 in the season opener and 24 in a first round playoff loss).
UW-Whitewater averages 41.4 points per game entering the semifinal matchup.
“Our defense is playing at a high level right now; however, we have not seen an offense quite like this one since we played them last year,” said Smith. “They are the best for a reason: They are extremely talented and very well-coached. As good as our defense has played, we know that this will be the greatest challenge they have faced all year.”
Keanu Yamamoto, Jordan Giza, and Kyle Belcher combined to start zero games in 2013. This year, they have been a force for the Wildcats. Monsterback Giza leads team in tackles with 56. Cornerback Belcher leads team with 11 pass break ups. Rover Yamamoto adds 34 tackles. The trio have combined for five of Linfield’s 17 interceptions. Eleven different players have picked off a pass this year, and no player has more than two interceptions.
“We were optimistically hopeful that our backfield would be playing like this by the end of the season,” said Smith. “There is a lot of youth, but a great deal of savvy and talent. I could not be more proud of how they have played this year.”
|
|
The Wildcats were counting on the one returning player in the secondary who proved to be the best matchup with Kumerow. Instead, cornerback Chad Coburn has missed this entire season with an injury. His loss could have made a green position group even weaker, but instead the defensive backfield has proven to be a strength.
“You never know for sure what you’re going to get when you have that many new starters,” said defensive coordinator Jackson Vaughan. “The one thing about the group we have is there is more length and physicality than we had last year.”
Even though they were complementary backups at the time, this year’s starters learned from last year’s preparation for the Warhawks offense. They hope to take what they learned from that experience and use it to win the battles that Linfield lost in the previous matchup between these two teams.
“We schemed them up very well and stopped the run well. We just couldn’t execute on deep balls in the secondary,” said Yamamoto. “It will come down to us making plays on balls in the air. That’s where they beat us last year.”
There were plenty of positives to take away from Linfield’s last performance against the Warhawks. While they allowed 28 unanswered points, they held the eventual champions well below the 52-point outburst UW-Whitewater put up in the Stagg Bowl two weeks later. The new starters are excited and prepared for their turn to take on the top team in the nation.
“Last year’s seniors did a great job of bringing us along,” said Giza. “I don’t know if there’s a better defensive coaching staff who puts as much time in to prepare us every day.”
The Wildcats focused on improving their communication on the field, making sure that all eleven defenders are on the same page each play. The loss to Willamette in the regular season was a wakeup call that showed the players what can happen when they lose their focus and start to play outside the scheme.
“We all realized after that loss that maybe it was a blessing in disguise,” said Giza. “It made us realize that we’re not as good as we think we are when we’re not very disciplined.”
The secondary would not be thriving without the defensive line, which has been the biggest asset for the defense all season. The Wildcats knew what to expect from tackle Jeremy Girod, end Alex Hoff, and linebacker Mike Nardoni, all returning starters. Hoff earned Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors thanks to his 17 sacks (11 of them in the regular season), 30 tackles for loss, and 54 tackles. Girod and Nardoni joined Hoff on the all-conference first team for the second straight year.
“Our front four has done a great job of getting pressure, which allows us to play our zone very aggressively,” said Vaughan. “The back seven’s got a lot of confidence in the front four and know that the ball is going to have to come out quickly. Every game, these guys have grown more confident.”
After shutting down the Cru and the Pride, the Wildcats’ confidence is at an all-time high, even if they feel that they have not yet played their most complete game. It will be hard to top their quarterfinals domination of Widener, but if the Wildcats can keep the Warhawks in check for four quarters, it will be their best performance to date.
This year’s team has learned that it takes a relentless effort to shut down a powerful offense.
“You can tell when teams are getting frustrated. Once you get under their skin, you want to step on the gas and not let up,” said Yamamoto. “We’re going to go out there with nothing to lose and play pressure-free. We definitely think right now we’re about to be peaking.”
Linfield accepted that it lost to a better team, on the road, in the quarterfinals to close out 2013. This team has already advanced farther than expected and proven that it can win big games on the road. Keeping last year’s loss in perspective should help the Wildcats as they prepare this week.
“There were just a few things that turned the momentum last year,” said Vaughan. “We walked away feeling like they just outplayed us in the second half.”
In just eight games of action this year, Kumerow has caught 11 touchdown passes, adding to his total of 19 from last season. Justin Howard has caught nine, including five over the past two games. The Wildcats know that they are about to face their toughest test of the season. If they can contain the Warhawks’ duo of dangerous wide receivers, Linfield could reverse last year’s fortunes. Nobody expects a shutout, but the Wildcats are confident that they can remain focused and weather UW-Whitewater’s best shot this time around.
“One thing we’ve emphasized a ton is that guys are going to make plays; we’ve just got to keep playing and make our own plays,” said Vaughan. “We understand that if anybody’s going to come back, it’s Whitewater. They’re always one play away from scoring. Hopefully, we don’t let their best player beat us.”
The Wildcats are playing for one another and for their fallen teammate, Parker Moore. Since his death, the players have a different outlook on their roles as football players and young men. Their football journey has helped them overcome their grief and honor Moore through their conduct on and off the field.
“It put life in perspective,” said Yamamoto. “It gave us extra incentive to play that much harder and take nothing for granted.”
“When we face any type of adversity, we embrace it,” said Giza. “These past couple weeks, our defense as a whole is just more motivated than ever. The strength and brotherhood we’ve created, it almost does help us on the field. We look around, and we know we’ve got our brothers with us.”