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Defense fuels Celtics' success

By Gene Schinzel
The Hutchinson News
gschinzel@hutchnews.com

Last Thursday, for the first time all season, the Trinity Catholic offense failed to score 34 points in a game.

Trinity managed just 14 points against an inspired Halstead defense, but the Celtics still came away victorious, thanks to their defense.

It's a defense that has been among the stingiest in the state. Trinity shut out six of its nine opponents and has allowed a total of 27 points.

"I thought we'd be OK coming in (to the season), but I didn't think we'd be as good as we are now," Trinity coach Sean Racette said. "The kids worked hard getting bigger and stronger in the weight room."

Trinity's players agree that offseason weight room work is paying off.

"We had about the whole team in there about the entire summer. That's a big part of our success," senior defensive lineman Brennan Oberle said.

"We did a lot of work over the summer. That helped us tremendously," senior linebacker Anthony Mendoza said. "During practice, I'm seeing a better work ethic as a team. We know we can reach the state championship game and we're fighting for that goal."

The quest for that goal starts tonight when the Celtics, unbeaten and ranked sixth in Class 3A, host 8-1 Southeast of Saline in the first round of the playoffs.

This season has continued the rapid turnaround for the Celtics.

In 2007, Trinity went 2-7, losing its last seven games of the season. Last year, the Celtics were 7-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs.

This year, the Celtics not only are winning, but they've won convincingly on most nights. Prior to last Thursday, Trinity's offense was averaging 51 points per game.

Meanwhile, the defense had allowed seven points in its previous six games, shutting out three straight opponents during one stretch.

"It's nice to win, but it's even better when you get that zero," said Oberle, who is second on the team in tackles behind Mendoza.

The Celtics returned six defensive starters from last year's team when they allowed 15.4 points per game.

Oberle is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, but Racette said defensive ends Austin Flynn, Joseph Schrock and Chase Jones have filled in well on the line.

"In my opinion, the defensive line is the key to our defense. They eat up blocks so our linebackers can run free," Racette said. "We had a lot of questions that had to be answered on that side of the football. They've done a great job."

Racette said playing adjustment-sound is the secret to this team's defense. The Celtics will allow the intermediate gain, but Racette wants to stay away from the big play.

"If anyone is going to beat us, we'd rather see them take a 12- or 15-play drive to score than give up one big play," Racette said. "Like against Halstead, we bent but we really never did break."

Today, the Celtics will see a team that features a quarterback who can move the ball effectively on the ground or through the air.

This season, Bryant Beneke has rushed for 1,060 yards and passed for 1,078. It's the second consecutive year Beneke has rushed and passed for more than 1,000.

"They like to spread you out and then let their athletic kids make plays," Racette said.

A win today could set up a matchup with defending state champion Conway Springs on Saturday. But for now, all of Trinity's focus is on Southeast of Saline.

"We know they're going to come out and play hard because this is the time of season, it's win or go home," Mendoza said.