High school football: Linebackers are Hurricane's 'glue' on defense

To be a championship-type of team you need a good linebacking group, that's all there is to it.

They're like the skill position players on the defensive side of the ball, the ones making a good chunk of the defensive plays and racking up all the glory.

None of it would be possible without a complimentary defensive line and secondary, but the linebackers, and in particular the middle linebackers, are the core that hold a good defense together.

That's definitely the case with the Hurricane Tigers, who take on Juan Diego in the 3A championship game this Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 10:30 a.m.

"We are really a balanced team and feel we're good everywhere," said Hurricane coach Chris Homer. "But those guys are definitely the glue, without them it doesn't work. On the field, off the field, they're leaders."

The Tigers are lucky enough to have three quality middle linebackers, Fernando Sefita, Riley Pentico and Ian Gates, who get the job done.

Unlike the other two, Sefita is in on every defensive play. He's a big, bruising physical presence, a player coach Homer calls a wrecking ball. The other two don't spend as much time on the field defensively, but that's because they're also starters on the offensive line. Therefore, to stay fresh on the defensive side of the ball, Pentico and Gates rotate in and out at middle linebacker.

"All three of them could be starters, and they really get along, nobody complains," said Homer. "I think Pentico and Gates enjoy getting a little rest so they're better on the offensive side of the ball."

Despite his part-time duty, Pentico leads the team in total tackles with 90, whereas Sefita has recorded 69 tackles so far this year and Gates with 65.

The dynamic works so well because all three are unselfish and all three bring something different to the table. Sefita is a physical run stopper, a player whose tackles sound a bit different, and someone who has been asked to back off a bit in practice as not to injure teammates.

Pentico is the emotional leader of the defense.

"He brings a lot of athleticism, he can move from sideline to sideline and he can make a ton of tackles, and that's the kind of kid he is," said Homer. "He definitely tries to get the crowd into it and his teammates into it."

Then there's Gates, the junior in the bunch. He's the calm and cerebral one, the player the coach signals the defensive plays to.

"Those other two are too emotional, he's my level-headed one out there," said Homer.

Gates is also big and strong, and can move well too. He was the linebacker who laid a big hit on Morgan's quarterback in first half of last Thursday's semifinal victory.

The trio are complimented on the outside by Micah Anderson, Jaden Seely and even star running back Gordie Dotson when he comes on the field in red zone situations about six to 10 times a game. Without their help on the outside, Homer said, the inside backers wouldn't be nearly as effective.

Against an undefeated Juan Diego team this weekend, every single one of the linebackers will need to be on top of their game for the Tigers to have a chance.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com