Harrison defensive front builds wall for opposing backs

WEST LAFAYETTE - Here's the luxury.

Harrison rotates five seniors on the defensive line.

Here's the downside.

None of them will be on the roster next season.

But while they are, the Raiders are going to ride the benefits of that experience.

Through two games, there's not much you can fault the defensive front for.

Harrison's defense did not contain West Lafayette quarterback Max Mullis from getting outside a couple times and he exploited it with some big gains in the opening week.

Other than that, moving the ball on the ground has proved to be a difficult task against Evan Powell, Josh McKelvin, Chaydon Miller, Boone Munn and Juan Debernardi.

"Our whole defensive line has been close," Powell said. "As a senior class, all of us are all close friends and work well together. That has helped us on and off the field."

The Harrison offense has struggled putting points on the board, but the Raiders have been in two tightly contested games thanks to the defense.

"Our defense overall has played very well this year. A couple of big plays against West Side containing the quarterback killed us," Harrison coach Terry Peebles said. "Other than that, we have played well and it has been the four, five, six guys up front. They've been the catalyst for that."

Remove Mullis from the equation and West Lafayette had 86 rushing yards on 23 carries and senior running back Connor Blankman struggled to find running room.

Last week against Plainfield, a team coming off a game where it ran for 206 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry, Harrison held the Quakers to 19 yards on 26 carries.

"With Evan being a three-year starter, he sets the tone for us," McKelvin said. "With me, Chay and Boone, we didn't start last year, but we did get some reps and do have some experience. It sets the tone for the linebackers and DBs. It starts up front."

The Raiders now gear up for a struggling Marion team that has not scored a touchdown through its first two games.

That doesn't change the mindset for Harrison's defensive front though.

"We know as a team that all of us have to get better, including defense," McKelvin said. "We know our job is to get stops and make sure no points are put on the board."

Last year, it was the offense piling up points while the defense took time to find its way in Andrew Rodriguez's first season as defensive coordinator.

Now, the roles have reversed.

A new offense and new players in key skill positions has led to slower than anticipated success on that side of the ball while the defense is thriving.

"I feel like now we understand a lot more of what (Rodriguez) wants from us," Powell said. "We're showing a lot more than last year. We are executing it a lot better.

"The whole D-line sees that it is conference season. It is a lot more serious. We are going to be on each other and make each other work a lot harder."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

Harrison (1-1) at Marion (0-2)

Time: 7 p.m.

Sagarin ratings: Harrison 70.92, Marion 36.89

Series history: Harrison has won three of the four meetings, most recently 49-42 in 2019.

About Harrison: The Raiders average 18 points and allow 20.5 per game. ... Harrison is ranked 10th in the Class 5A coaches poll. ... The Raiders now have three consecutive games, dating back to last year's sectional, scoring 22 or fewer points. That's the first time Harrison has done so in three straight games since the 2018 season. ... Stat leaders - Passing: Ben Henderson (28-45, 296 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT). ... Rushing: Carter Knoy (25 car., 188 yards, 2 TD), Ethan Popp (25 car., 145 yards). ... Receiving: Carter McDonald (9 rec., 140 yards, TD), Jake Walters (9 rec., 82 yards, TD). ... Tackles: Brayden Conklin (11). ... Interceptions: Sammy Hallada (1), Gavin Halsema (1), Gavin Goodwin (1). ... Kicking: Alex Stene (3-4 PAT), Trey DeJoie (1-1 FG, long of 37).

About Marion: The Giants average 1.5 points and allow 41 per game. ... Marion has scored a combined 43 points over its last five games after scoring 48 points twice in a three-week span last season. ... The Giants have started 0-3 just once (2015) since 1996. ... Stat leaders - Rushing: Jayden Johnson (20 car., 76 yards). ... Kicking: Ayden Roedl (1-1 FG, long of 27).

Coach Peebles' take: "They are definitely a team you have to prepare for. We are not good enough to just show up and beat anybody. Especially offensively, we are still trying to find ourselves. We can't take anything for granted."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Harrison defensive front builds wall for opposing backs