As the Tigers’ defense kept shutting it down, the Tigers’ offense kept pouring it on as Battle Ground rolled right over the Mountain View Thunder in a 48-7 win on Friday, Sept. 12.
The Battle Ground Tigers move to 2-0 on the fresh season as the offense has been solid, but it has been all about the defense for the Tigers. Defensive Coordinator Clint LeCount has brought a fresh life to the Tigers’ defense with blitz schemes and coverage that allows the defensive backs to ball-hawk as they’ve made tremendous reads to pick the ball off in back-to-back weeks. Battle Ground’s Bryce Simmons had three interceptions against the Mountain View Thunder.
Battle Ground Head Coach Mike Woodward said LeCount is relentless and intense, and the play on the field shows it.
In week one, the Tiger defense held Eisenhower High School to negative yardage in the win. Then, in week two, they held the Thunder to under 100 yards and caused five turnovers.
One aspect that helps the Tiger’s ball-hawking defense is how fast they manage to be in the backfield and make it hard for a quarterback. Woodward compared it to the Green Bay Packers' defense against the Washington Commanders in the National Football League the night before Battle Ground’s Friday night game.
“The secondary looks so great for the Packers because there’s just pressure, you know what I mean, just a constant pressure on that quarterback,” he said. “That’s how we felt both weeks here as our DBs have been able to make plays. Even if we’re not getting sacks, there’s still pressure, you know. There’s that constant pressure.”
WIth Simmons’ hat trick of interceptions all coming in the first half, Woodward highlighted his ability to overcome the naysayers.
“We love that kid, too, because he’s been told he’s too small, you know. He can’t play corner in the big leagues,” Woodward said. “And he showed tonight that he’s ready and he can do it.”
During practice, the Tigers are popping pads, Woodward said.
“It’s not light at our practices,” Woodward said. “We’re getting after it, and it’s risky because we don’t have a ton of depth, but our feeling was we look back at the years, you know, we at times, we just were not good enough tacklers. You have to be able to tackle in space and make plays and so you have to practice that. You can’t show up on Fridays and expect to do it. And our guys are doing it all week long and then on Fridays.”
Now the Tigers are on a collision course with the Prairie Falcons for the inner-school district rivalry featuring both teams being undefeated into week three. Battle Ground will look to regain an all-time series tie at 26 apiece. The Falcons will have to go through the Tigers’ defense to go back-to-back against the Tigers.
The rivalry game will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, at District Stadium.
