Unstoppable force in the middle of it all

Who were these guys?

They allowed three touchdowns in the final five games. They looked quicker to the ball, even tenacious at times. They were actually forcing turnovers.

And this was largely the same Sebring team that surrendered 35.2 points per game in an otherwise inglorious 2008 season?

"We noticed it from the first game," Zac Morris said, "when we shut Gateway Charter out and started realizing that we had the opportunity to be special this year."

Still, no one could have foreseen this: The most significant turnaround in the Jared Hamlin era was spawned from the emergence of one of its smallest talents.

Morris, all 5-foot-10, 180 pounds of him.

Yep, he plays a big man's position - middle linebacker - with the physique of a cornerback.

"It's tough," Morris said of taking on offensive linemen sometimes 60, 70, even 80 pounds heavier. "But I use my brain and my technique to get around them."

Brain over brawn: Morris used that philosophy to - literally - wrap up the 2009 Highlands Today All-Heartland Defensive Football Player of the Year.

The junior recorded 99 tackles this season - a whopping 36 more than the next Blue Streak defender, lineman Tevin Toney. Morris also forced a team-high four fumbles and tallied two sacks.

"It could have still been better," Morris said, unhappy he didn't break the 100-tackle mark this year. "Still had some missed tackles and missed opportunities to make plays."

Compared to what Sebring suffered through last year, however, no one else was complaining.

During the Blue Streaks' 3-7 season in 2008, the defense surrendered 28 points or more in seven straight games, all losses (opponents scored 48 points or more in five of those seven).

"Last year we had poor tackling percentages," said Morris, who predicted that Sebring had about a 60 percent tackling efficiency (good teams are around 80). "This year we focused on that and film study, knowing what teams do before they do it."

That extra time in the film room seemed to pay off, as Sebring held its first two opponents to six total points.

But the affirmation, Morris said, came against Auburndale on Oct. 30. The Blue Streaks shut down the entire Bloodhounds offense, stuffing the run, pressuring the quarterback - until they were caught flat-footed by a QB draw, which went for a 78-yard touchdown.

Its playoff aspirations fading, Sebring hunkered down and held Auburndale to less than 50 yards in the fourth quarter, allowing quarterback Matt Grubb to throw a game-winning touchdown pass with 5 minutes left.

"We knew we had to stop them two more times to try and keep it going," Morris said. "They expected us to come in like last year when we'd get down and roll over."

Not this year. Not with someone like Morris in the middle.

THE TEAM

DL Tevin Toney, senior, Sebring

Toney was a force at defensive end, recording 63 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Despite also playing left tackle, Toney had a constant motor and loved getting after the quarterback. His efforts were rewarded at the end of the season, when he was named the team MVP during the South-Central All-Star Football Classic earlier this month.

DL Taylor Price, senior, Lake Placid

Price was a one-man wrecking crew for the resurgent Lake Placid football team, tallying a team-high 11 sacks for the Green Dragons. Price was one of the cornerstones of the Green Dragons defense, which forced several turnovers and sparked the team's dramatic turnaround. After a 1-9 record in 2008, the Green Dragons finished 6-4 this year and challenged for a playoff berth until the last few weeks of the season.

DL Gus Williams, senior, Sebring

Playing opposite Toney, Williams had a monster year for the Blue Streaks. He posted a team-high 7 sacks coming off the edge, including 20 tackles for loss. In the South-Central All-Star Football Classic, Williams sacked prized quarterback Kyle Midgett twice and was credited with a first-quarter safety.

LB Dwayne Council,

senior, Avon Park

Despite playing supreme competition during their 3-7 season, Council was the Red Devils' best defender this year, recording 89 tackles - including 14 for loss - with three sacks. He also caught passes and was another option for quarterbacks Tekovan Miller and Teddy Allen throughout the season.

LB Navahri Holden, senior, Lake Placid

Holden, also a fullback, was the Green Dragons' main run-stopper in the middle. One of the most outstanding senior defenders in the area recorded 92 tackles and intercepted three passes for a defense that allowed 18 points or fewer in five of the team's 10 games. He also was named to the South-Central All-Star Football Classic.

CB CJ Massaline, senior, Sebring

A cover-cornerback who wasn't afraid to take on a running back, Massaline had a breakout season for the Blue Streaks, who allowed three total touchdowns in the season's final five games (all wins). He had three interceptions and 27 tackles.

CB Anthony Gonzalez,

senior, Lake Placid

Gonzalez may not be the tallest defender - listed at 5-foot-6 - but he was a ferocious tackler for the Green Dragons this season. He came up from his safety spot to make a team-high 97 tackles, as well as two interceptions. Forced to play both ways because of the small rosters in Class 2A, Gonzalez was also a key contributor on offense at wide receiver.

CB Devonte Pough, junior, Sebring

Pough forced three turnovers during the Blue Streaks' wild 29-21 win over Lake Region. His six interceptions were easily the most on the team (next closest was three). He also had eight pass deflections and 28 tackles.

HONORABLE MENTION

CB Michael Grimes, senior, Sebring

Grimes, who played opposite CJ Massaline, had 32 tackles and three interceptions for the Blue Streaks this season. He also was selected to the South-Central All-Star Football Classic earlier this month.

DL Erroll Nicholson,

senior, Avon Park

Nicholson is a small defensive lineman - at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds - but he was one of the key run-stoppers for the Red Devils this year. The defense gave up a lot of points against some of the best teams in the state, but Nicholson was a constant force inside and was adept at putting pressure on the quarterback.

DL Michael Hankerson,

senior, Sebring

Sebring will have a difficult time filling the void left by its trio of defensive linemen - Gus Williams, Tevin Toney and Hankerson. Each had great football instincts, could rush the passer and stop the run. Hankerson, in particular, was a force inside, recording 51 tackles, including 14 for loss. He also posted 3.5 sacks.

CB Tekovan Miller, junior, Avon Park

Miller played both sides of the field for the Red Devils. He was the quarterback to start the season before breaking a few ribs and easily the best cornerback on defense. Miller had 1,100 yards of total offense and two interceptions.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jason Holden's first year at Lake Placid was forgettable. He went 1-9. His team lacked tenacity. His message went unheard. Then, behind a strong core of senior leaders, Holden was back on the sidelines this year for the Green Dragons' first winning season since 1998. And suddenly, Holden has revitalized a program that struggled to win even a few games for the past decade.