Most of the buzz around the Barrington football team has centered around a dynamic offensive attack that is averaging 40 points per game.
But coach Joe Sanchez cracked a big smile after his team’s 41-12 win over visiting Plainfield South (5-5) in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs Saturday, Oct. 31, while talking about his defense.
“I’m really proud of our defensive kids,” said Sanchez, whose team improved to 9-1. “We’ve really started to establish our identity the last several weeks of the season. We just keep working and working.”
As for the identity, senior linebacker Henry Ryan pointed to the locker room.
“We have a goal board in our locker room, and the coaches stress to get each one of our goals,” Ryan said. “It’s getting two turnovers a game, restricting the other team to less than 150 yards rushing, first- and third-down efficiency, and of course, winning.”
Barrington met all of those goals against Plainfield South.
“[The defense] made a difference tonight. A big reason for our victory was the way our defense played,” Sanchez said.
It was the defense that got the offense rolling, forcing three Plainfield South turnovers in a 17-point first quarter for the Broncos. On the Cougars’ first offensive series, senior defensive lineman Cooper Van Kampen sacked the quarterback, forcing a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive lineman Grant Elliott. Junior Blake Holley had a fumble recovery, while sophomore defensive back Alec Andrea added an interception.
“We always stress takeaways,” Elliott said. “At the beginning of the year we weren’t doing that, and teams were hanging around.”
The defense wouldn’t let that happen Saturday.
“It was all about us getting the momentum. Giving our offense the ball,” Van Kampen said. “The defense, as the year’s gone on, has gotten a lot better.”
The offense was led once again by senior quarterback Johnny Davidson. In just over three quarters of action, Davidson was 19-for-27 for 191 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Senior wide receiver Jake Zyzda had two scoring receptions (12 yards, 11 yards), junior receiver Logan Moews caught a 31-yard TD pass, while junior end Josh Babicz had the other scoring strike. Moews led the runners with 73 yards on just six carries. Senior kicker Damian Dembicki booted 26- and 23-yard field goals.
The only points the Broncos defense allowed came on a touchdown in the final minute of the first half, and then while freely substituting in the fourth quarter. Plainfield South was limited to just one first down in the opening two quarters, which included four Barrington sacks.
As the Broncos prepare for Marist, their next playoff opponent, the defense exudes enthusiasm.
“Defensively we’ve really come together,” Elliott said. “I’ve been really impressed with our group of guys how they’ve been focused every single day.
“We learn from our mistakes. We fix it and we move on. And we get better every single week.”
Mark Perlman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @markdavidperlma
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