HOFFMAN ESTATES — Even though the Barrington football team’s offense is rolling to the tune of 43 points a game, you can’t ignore the defense.
The Broncos have limited opponents to fewer than 7 points a contest, including two shutouts. The defense stood tall again Thursday night, shutting down Conant in a 42-7 victory. Barrington, ranked No. 16 in the Sun-Times Super 25, limited Conant to just 64 yards of offense in the first half of a Mid-Suburban West game before substituting liberally in the second half.
“We preach swarming to the ball,” Barrington co-defensive coordinator Bill Helzer said. “If the first guy misses, he’s got 10 guys there to help him. You don’t have to make the play. If you do what you’re supposed to do, the next guy will pick it up for you.”
When asked what makes the defense special, senior linebacker Jake Coon echoed Helzer’s sentiments.
“We always try to get 11 guys to the ball,” Coon said.
All phases of the defense have been contributing. Against Conant, the starters played one half and registered three sacks and nine tackles for losses, including a jarring hit by Coon on a first-quarter screen pass that had the Broncos’ sideline yelling in approval.
The defensive line is anchored by senior defensive tackle David Danhauer, while senior defensive end Jason Harris was all over the Cougars’ backfield with one sack and three tackles for losses.
“Our D-line sacrifices a lot for us [linebackers] to make plays,” Coon said. “We’ve been executing the first six weeks. We’ve just got to keep it going.”
“We have great chemistry,” senior linebacker Mark Bornhofen said.
That chemistry comes from the fact that Barrington returned 10 seniors on defense from last year’s 10-2 team that made a Class 8A quarterfinal.
“They’re very experienced,” co-defensive coordinator Tim Norwood said. “They know what they’re doing. They believe in what we’re doing.”
Added Norwood, “It’s all meshing now.”
Barrington (6-0, 2-0) took control early with 21 first-quarter points, including a 74-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Johnny Davidson to senior wide receiver Scotty Miller. Miller also took a punt 54 yards to the end zone for the third touchdown of the opening quarter. Senior running back JT Henderson added two 1-yard scoring runs. Seniors Matt Moran and Dylan Abel each had touchdown scampers of 34 and 8 yards, respectively.
The Broncos scored all of their points in the first half. Conant managed a 1-yard TD burst by junior Jake Jakubosky during the running clock portion of the game. Junior defensive back Alan Herrmann had an interception for the Cougars (2-4, 0-2).
