The defense never rests

Plainfield Central's Anthony Bjorklund (39) makes a run against Morris.
(John Patsch/Herald News)

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MORRIS -- So far this season, the bulk of the attention for the Plainfeld Central High School football team has gone to the running attack.

After Friday night's 7-0 win over Morris, the Wildcats' defense deserves its time in the limelight.

Plainfield Central (5-1, 4-0) held its Southwest Prairie Conference rivals to just 93 total yards, including just 40 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Linebackers Keith Marry and Anthony Bjorklund were in the Morris backfield all night, helping limit Redskins standout running back Adam Tondini to 27 yards on 13 carries.

"We know that Tondini is a good player," Marry said. "The key was stopping him, and we did a good job of that.

"Our team stood together tonight, and that was all it took. We all played for each other."

The ultimate one-for-all, all-for-one effort came in the fourth quarter, when Morris (2-4, 2-2) caught its best break. Redskins defensive lineman Melo Hairapetian intercepted a screen pass and was brought down at the Plainfield Central 12.

The Wildcats' defense was more than up to the task, stopping Tondini for a 2-yard gain, then for no gain. On 3rd-and-8 from the 10, Central's Ryan Carr sacked Morris' Matt Hussey for a 6-yard loss. A 33-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left and Central took over at the 20.

"We're at our best in the red zone," Marry said. "We go crazy in there. It's what we do. That's a matter of who wants it more, and we wanted it more."

From there, the Wildcats finally got their ground game going. They went 80 yards on 13 plays, with Brian Meeks finally scoring from 8 yards out with 4:08 to play.

"Brian was having a little trouble with his asthma early in the game," Central coach John Jackson said. "When we got down in their end, we saw something in their defense we thought we could exploit, and Brian was able to punch it in there. Our linemen all did a good job with their drive blocking.

"And, I can't say enough about our defense. We did a good job on Tondini and Keith Marry played like a man tonight."

The Morris defense was nearly as stingy, as Plainfield Central needed 50 carries to gain 183 yards.

"Our defensive guys were studs," Morris coach George Dergo said. "They were just on the field too long.

"Our backs ran hard, but they were getting hit in the backfield. Plainfield Central just outmanned us on the line and we didn't deal with their blitzes very well."

Morris fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Central's Alonzo Morgan recovered. The Redskins got some life, though, when Tyler Thetard blocked a Wildcat punt and Robert Hicks recovered at the Morris 49 with 1:29 remaining. On 3rd-and-10, Hussey hit Danny Niewinski for a 16-yard gain to the 35, but the next four passes fell incomplete and Central ran out the clock.

"This was a total effort," Jackson said. "We knew they would come after us, but we made some good adjustments. The kids had the drive and the will to win, and once we scored, the defense knew they could keep Morris from scoring.

"This is a big win for us, and I'm proud of our kids."