Ever heard of this one - defense wins championships? Worn out cliche, but it's as true as it gets in football, right on down to the high schools. Here's a breakdown on some of the title conteders and some of the team's top stoppers.
* Grant Pacers (12-0)
Stoppers of note: Vei Moala, James Sample, Darryl Paulo, Puka Lopa, Ronald Fields.
Defensively speaking: We could list the entire defensive unit here, it's been that dominant, with eight shutouts, 40 take-aways and a stunning 77 sacks. Moala is an all-time great already, unblockable and relentless. He has 15 sacks and Lopa has 19.
Inderkum Tigers (12-0)
Stoppers of note: Jordan Adams, Garrett Brewer, David Weider, Darius Jenkins, Lawrence Holliday.
Defensively speaking: It starts with the D-ends in Weider and Jenkins, who dominate the line of scrimmage; Adams has 12 sacks and Weider and Jenkins have 212 total tackles between them. Brewer has 8 interceptions. Fast, fierce unit wants D-III section title.
* Del Campo Cougars (11-1)
Stoppers of note: Orlando Ortiz, Eddie Plantaric, Keith Sutherland, Ryan Dimino.
Defensively speaking: There is strength on the line, at linebacker, in the secondary, and the difference maker in the big games this season, including the playoffs, has been Dimino, a terror at linebacker who bucklers ball carriers. D could run into Inderkum in D-III finals.
* Monterey Trail Mustangs (10-2)
Stoppers of note: Jim Meadows, Kalamani Fili, Lamin Wilson, Fili, Rozale Byrd, Ethan Clark.
Defensively speaking: Outside of Grant, this is the fastest most ferocious defense in the section, an attacking, blitzing unit with four shutouts and two smother jobs in the playoffs. Held Folsom to season-low points, picked off Dano Graves twice; Clark has 9 picks.
* Nevada Union Miners (11-1)
Stoppers of note: Dan Pettinato, Eric Niederberger, Juan Espinosa, Zach Vallejo, Chad Knight, Justin Fike.
Defensively speaking: The Miners have shutdown all comers in the playoffs with a DE stud in Pettinato, ace LBs and strong secondary. A staple to the great NU teams over the years has been wing-T mastery and dominant defensive playoff efforts.
* Del Oro Golden Eagles (10-2)
Stoppers of note: Adrian Williams, Tyler Adair, Blake Landry, Freddie Cargile, Spencer Butterfield.
Defensively speaking: Plays tough, physical defense, and belted fast teams such as Franklin of Elk Grove, had stops to beat Granite Bay and major stops to stop the section's highest scoring team in St. Mary's in a D-II quarterfinal. Even the defensive backs pop with Cargile and Butterfield.
Rocklin Thunder (12-0)
Stoppers of note: Daniel Lessard, Andrew McEwan, Scott Polaske, B.J. Roberts, Sean Moore.
Defensively speaking: You don't start 12-0 on offense alone, and wins over NU, Del Oro and Granite Bay and two routs in the playoffs had defensive moments. Lessard has been a standout but may not play against Grant with a knee injury; Jackson Cummings may play a ton in the secondary from here on out.
* Placer Hillmen (11-1)
Stoppers of note: Josh Klem, Cameron Southward, Brent Lenz, Jarrad Weaver.
Defensively speaking: Yes, the Hillmen have allowed points at times, but they have also made a ton of stops, and they have jumped ahead of two playoff foes early, thanks in large part to the D. Klem has 98 tackles, 5 picks.
* Pleasant Grove Eagles (9-3)
Stoppers of note: Devin Young, Kenny Taylor, Jonathan Bias, Charlie Rodriguez.
Defensively speaking: Yes, the Eagles gave up a lot of rushing yards to Vacaville in a D-I
quarterfinal, but PG also held the Bulldogs to their lowest scoring output since Week 2 - by a long shot. Tough line play, tough linebackers, tough secondary men. Major challenge with NU's wing-T.
* Folsom Bulldogs (11-1)
Stoppers of note: Burton DeKoning, Jordan Richards, Sam Lueken, Kori Babineaux.
Defensively speaking: Yes, this is an offensive machine, and yes the Bulldogs allow points, but they did have enough stops on a Granite Bay team that had been scoring 52 points a game in the final five down the stretch. DeKoning is an impact player but missed the second half against Granite Bay and may be tender against Del Oro with an ankle. His loss will be brutal if he's out.
