Shane Thomas | The Valdosta Daily TimesValwood linebackers Jaharie Boone (12) and Bay Moorman (27) converge on a Clearwater International ball carrier during a game at Goddard Field on Sept. 15.

HAHIRA –– Defense wins championships. Sure, it’s cliché but time-tested to be true time and time again.

The Valwood Valiants (4-2) currently find themselves on track to make history through their first six games.

Since giving up 38 points to defending state champion Autauga in the season opener, the Valiants have allowed just 18 points in the last five games.

Valwood defensive coordinator Justin Henderson tweaked some things with personnel and kept his approach unchanged. Thanks to the defensive line and wealth of returners, Henderson sees a defensive unit that polices itself and executes its game plan without fail.

“We laid an egg in the first game,” Henderson said. “We had to come back, try to figure out who we are and shuffle some pieces around. The front four have been huge because they’ve given us the ability to play base defense and still stop folks. We don’t have to bring six every time to get pressure on the quarterback, we can get pressure with four. We came in the first game with a ton of zone blitzes and we’ve stuck to them and they’ve been beneficial to us.

“We had a lot of returners so being able to open up the playbook a little bit more attributes a lot to the success. The kids just get it. You watch them on the field––they’re pointing things out, they’re getting on to one another and that matters when you’ve got that experience especially at the linebacker position.”

Coaching such an experienced unit, Henderson says, covers many bad play calls he could make throughout a game.

“They make up for a lot of my mistakes,” Henderson said. “If I call something that puts us in a bad spot, they get it fixed on the field, on the fly, quickly. I don’t have to call a perfect game. I just know if I screw up, I’ve got some leaders on the field that can get it right.”

Through six games, all-state lineman Isaiah Bristol, Jaharie Boone and Sam Martin have tallied 42 total tackles with newcomer Ray Gordon not far behind with 32.

On the outside, the Valiants rely on receivers Cam Walker and J.D. Scurry to be stoppers at cornerback and according to head coach Ashley Henderson, Walker and Scurry may be the best corner duo in the state.

“I think we have the best two corners in the state in Cam Walker and J.D. Scurry,” Henderson said. “Being able to put those two on islands out wide and our kids winning the battle up front right now, for us to be successful, they’ve got to continue to do that.”

The Valiants allow just 9.3 points per game this season. A big reason has been special teams play. Senior kicker and punter John Miller boasts a touchback percentage in the 60s this season, forcing teams to stare down the barrel of making an 80-yard drive to score.

“I don’t know if anybody can drive the length of the field on our defense,” Martin said. “Having one of the best kickers in the state helps because he pins them deep every time.”

Added Henderson: “That’s huge. When he doesn’t hit it in the end zone, it’s in the spot we need it––that’s big. Easy to cover, we can clamp down on that side of the field. It makes the offense drive the field. We don’t want to give anybody a short porch. We want to win the field position war and John sets the table with that in his punting and his kickoffs. He’s playing at a very high level for us as well.”

One area the Valiants have yet to make their mark has been in the way of interceptions. The Valiants came close to picking off a pass late in a 36-0 win over Clearwater. The coaching staff jumped up and down and nearly ran onto the field to celebrate. Unfortunately, the ball hit the turf.

With the end zone roughly 30 yards away, a defensive score would’ve given the Valiants an all-you-can-eat reward.

“Certainly, we do want that (interception),” Henderson said with a smirk. “We’re taking the boys out to eat at a buffet if we score on defense. For a shutout, we get pizza. If we score on defense, we go to a buffet. I think the mood of the team, when they saw an opportunity for an interception on a short porch there to get into the end zone, when they saw that they lit up until that ball was dropped.”

The Valiants have four wins this season, all of which coming as shutouts. By pitching a fifth shutout this season, the Valiants will set a new single season record. 

The 7-1 Southland Raiders visit Goddard Field on Friday. Given the Raiders’ 40.2 points per game average, setting the record Friday night seems highly unlikely. While getting the record would be sweet, Henderson insists his team won’t fantasize too much about it moving forward.

“I don’t think it’s anything we’re really dwelling on right now,” Henderson said. “We know if we each do our nine percent on defense, we’ll be just fine. Whether that means a shutout, who knows?, especially against a talented team like Southland. Everybody we’ve got left is capable of scoring certainly, but the only thing we can control is our effort that we give and knowing our assignments. If we keep doing that and doing our nine percent, we’re going to be just fine.”