Dave Sundin | Special to the TimesValwood defensive lineman Isaiah Bristol (3) assists with tackling Westfield's Payton Black on Friday at Goddard Field.

HAHIRA –– Offense sells tickets, defense wins games. 

While the Valwood Valiants’ offense has lit up the scoreboard, their defense has kept its last two opponents off the scoreboard entirely. Valwood head coach Ashley Henderson points to his defense’s pursuit of the ball and efficient tackling as the biggest reasons for the surge.

“We’re playing gap-sound,” Henderson said. “We’ve got a hat in every gap out there and we’ve got guys getting to the football. Their effort in getting to the football and getting guys to the ground––we’re not missing many tackles either when we get there. Avoiding foolish penalties––we’re getting better and better at that. It’s been a collective group effort. 

“Our coaching staff has done an outstanding job. Since the second half of the Autauga game, we’ve been a totally different football team. We’ve given up 12 points and that’s the challenge for us each week. We’ve set that bar where it is defensively…Defense sets the tone for us –– if they don’t score, they don’t win.”

Newcomer Jaharie Boone currently leads the team with 25 tackles. Senior Sam Martin is second with 23 while reigning all-state defensive tackle Isaiah Bristol isn’t far behind with 20. The last two games unveiled a new impact player on the Valiants’ defensive line: Ray Gordon. 

After the Valiants’ 34-0 win against Memorial Day, Henderson acknowledged Gordon’s seven tackles, calling it his “coming out party”. Gordon added seven more tackles in the lightning-shortened rout of Westfield last Friday.

Gordon’s 14 tackles are tied with J.D Scurry for fourth on the team. Playing alongside Boone, Bristol and others, Gordon says, lifts his confidence on the practice field and helps him carry it into games.

“I’m just trying to get better every week,” Gordon said. “I’m feeling pretty good. My team is pushing me to get better in practice and in the game, it just starts coming easier.”

The Valwood offense has scored quickly when they’ve had possession due in large part to excellent field positioning. Teams have kicked away from Cam Walker, who broke a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown against Westfield. Conversely, Valwood kicker John Miller’s ability to punt the ball deep and the team not yielding much in the way of kick return yardage puts the Valiants in prime position on both sides of the ball.

“(Field position) has been huge,” Henderson said. “The Memorial game, we only had one drive over 50 yards. It’s one of those things––(the defense) keeps giving us a short field and we have big strike ability where we can score right away…even in the punting game, which is an extension of our defense with Cam (Walker) back there. Our defense had done a great job. We’ve been winning the field position and turnover battle––they’ve been causing a lot of turnovers and giving us a short field to work with a lot.”

A point of emphasis for the Valiants in the offseason was forcing more turnovers. The Valiants have turned takeaways into points consistently through the first three games. As long as the Valiants’ offense maintains its efficient groove and takes care of the ball, Henderson sees the defense continuing to do its part.

“I think were plus-3 right now through three games,” Henderson said of the turnover differential. “Compared to last year, that’s a huge difference for us. The other night, the only time we didn’t score was when we fumbled it. It’s not been a problem and I don’t see it becoming a problem for us right now.”

The Valiants take on the North Florida Christian Eagles on Friday night. The Eagles hung 351 yards of total offense on Deerfield-Windsor en route to a 21-0 shutout last Friday. Henderson was very complimentary of the Eagles’ offense after Monday’s practice but insists his defense will be up to the challenge on Friday.

“They’re a very talented bunch,” Henderson said. “Their skill guys are really good. They can score from anywhere on the field. It’s a challenge every time you play them. They can score over the top or they can get behind their big offensive line and grind you down on the ground.

“It’s always a challenge and that’s why we like playing this game. It makes us better and our kids are going to answer the call this week.”