They might still be a young group, but each passing week leaves the Statesboro defense looking more and more like the dominant Blue Devil defenses of a few years ago.
    This became clear last Friday when – with a region championship on the line – Statesboro went toe-to-toe with the high-powered Brunswick attack and came out on top.
    Even with the Pirates taking the momentum and tying the game in the final quarter, the Devils were able to dig down and find a little more gas in the tank.
    Ben Roberts came up with an interception inside the SHS red zone with 3:30 remaining, the Devils stopped BHS running back Justin Coleman inside the 1 yard line on the final play of regulation, and then forced Pirate quarterback Chris Anderson out of bounds a foot shy of the chains to force a turnover on downs that set up Statesboro’s game-winning score.
    “Football is a game of inches,” said SHS coach Steve Pennington. “The field is 100 yards long, and you have to cover every one of them to score. Our defense was up to the task in that regard. Those stops show just how important every inch is in the course of a game.”
    As close as last week’s win was, the numbers for the season prove that the performance was no fluke. Brunswick has lost just three times this season, and has been held under 21 points just twice. The culprit in each of those games – Statesboro.
    Solid play up front from Branden Williams and Justin Spells has put the pressure on opposing running backs, and a youthful secondary has come up with 10 interceptions. Add to that a Blue Devil offense that grinds clock and keeps its defense fresh, and anyone trying to game plan for Statesboro is in for some trouble.
    “I think we’ve improved a lot from last season and from the beginning of this season,” said defensive back Haydon Rollins. “The more we practice and play, the more we’re coming together as a unit. Now we have a better idea of how to react to whatever is coming at us and we know where to expect each other to be on the field.”
    A thorn in the side of the 2009 Statesboro defense was the mobile quarterback.
    Losses to Brunswick, Glynn Academy and Effingham County last year all saw the Devils struggle to keep up with teams that could spread the field and have their quarterback attack Statesboro with his legs.
    This season, the Devils have looked much more confident. Whether it is power or speed that opponents come at them with, the Devils have been able to execute and, in a few games, come up with the decisive play.
    This week, Statesboro faces a new challenge as it welcomes Tri-Cities for the first round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs.
    The two teams have never met before, and share no common opponents this season, so it will be harder than usual to prepare for Friday’s win-or-go-home matchup. To make things more difficult, the Bulldogs’ I-formation option offense will be something that the Devils haven’t seen this year.
    Regardless of that, the Statesboro defense — now all grown up — is ready to get down to business.
    “It’s a challenge, but we’re up for it,” said linebacker Willie Johnson. “Tri-Cities is a good team, and the option is sort of new, but that doesn’t change a whole lot. We need to work hard, be prepared, and when we get on the field Friday, the defense is going to do what we do best — get to the ball and make the play.”

    Mike Anthony can be reached at (912) 489-9404.