MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Any defense worth its salt knows what just a few turnovers can accomplish. There is perhaps no better demonstration of that philosophy than Clay-Battelle’s defensive effort this season.
The Cee-Bees have forced 13 turnovers through its opening five games, including 10 in their three wins. To see the C-B turnover machine in action, one has to look no further than last Friday.
Visiting Calhoun for a Week 6 matchup, their defense forced three turnovers against the Red Devils. While none were turned into scores on the ensuing drives, coach Ryan Wilson was happy with the control on the game the takeaways placed in the Cee-Bees’ hands.
“Against Calhoun we created turnovers in the first half, but we never converted on them. But it did allow us to not let them get out of a hole, and we went into the halftime tied 0-0, but those turnovers gave our kids confidence,” he said.
“In the second half, we didn’t create those turnovers, but we were still in the right positions to make those plays. Overall I think that’s a great defensive effort.”
According to senior defensive lineman Nathan Swaniger, that type of turnover production keeps the team motivated and the defense rested during crucial times during games, which has played a large part in the Cee-Bees successes thus far.
“The whole team has to get turnovers, it’s a given. Without turnovers, it makes defense a whole lot harder,” he said. “Every time we get turnovers, it gives the team a bigger boost and momentum gets on our side. It helps us on offense and help us push harder.”
“We definitely try to get as many turnovers as possible. The longer we’re on defense the harder it becomes. It just allows them to keep the ball longer if we don’t get those big stops,” added fellow senior Hunter Brewer, who has tallied two takeaways this season.
Wilson noted another benefit to his squad forcing takeaways at such a high rate — even when they don’t result in scores — they most certainly end drives for the opposing offense and help flip field position.
In a game of inches such as football, the importance of such moves can’t be overstated.
“Whenever we force a turnover, maybe we don’t always move it but if we punt it, we back them up,” he said. “Twice last Friday, Calhoun started drives inside their own 10-yard line. For a high school team to drive 90 yards, that’s pretty tough.”
Wilson attributes many factors to the turnover success, including focus on the weekly scouting reports and the efforts of the defensive coaching staff at C-B.
“A lot of things contribute. One is our scouting report. Our kids are getting into the correct spots to make those plays. That goes back to the coaching staff, as well as the kids paying attention to the ball,” he said.
“Some goes back to our coaching staff teaching the kids how to strip a ball and working on getting to the fumble. We work on it like, “there’s a ball on the ground, go get it.” I think every little thing helps.”
Another important factor at play is the Cee-Bees knack for pressuring opposing quarterbacks. They have tallied nine sacks and forced numerous hurried throws, which Swaniger attributes to interrupting the timing of passes and helping produce the six interceptions the Cee-Bees have recorded.
“Getting pressure on the quarterback has played a huge role in our defense so far. That’s what helped lead to the interceptions we’ve gotten,” he said.
“Myself and the other defensive lineman just try to get back there as fast as we can and get some type of pressure on the quarterback. We want to force the pass to get off a little bit behind or in front of the receiver so our guys can pick it off or make a play on it.”
