The Knights’ defense was expected to slip some after losing four players who signed with FBS schools, but opposing offenses have found the going as tough against Steele this season as they did last year.
Anchored by four returning starters from a team that finished 14-2, the Knights’ defensive unit has been a model of consistency and cohesiveness in helping Steele extend its winning streak to 25 games.
Steele (12-0) plays Laredo Alexander (12-0) in the third round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at the Student Activity Center in Laredo.
“We have great leaders on defense this year,” Steele defensive coordinator Mark Pavlovsky said Wednesday. “Last year, we had great playmakers, great players. The group this year, all of it has taken a leadership role in some form or fashion.”
Senior linebacker Devere Carrington, junior strong safety Erik Huhn, senior linebacker Ross Luensmann and senior end Eric Maus, all starters last season, define that leadership with their commitment to playing sound team defense.
“Those four guys have taken it above and beyond,” Pavlovsky said. “They’ve done a great job all season.”
Luensmann and Carrington, both outside linebackers, are first and second on the team in tackles with 127 and 122, respectively. Carrington has three sacks and Luensmann has two.
Maus, who has committed to play at the Air Force Academy, has 50 tackles, including 21 for a loss, and eight sacks. Huhn leads the team in interceptions with six, and has made 62 tackles.
The Knights are allowing 12.9 points and 240.5 yards a game, 154.2 rushing and 86.3 passing.
“We have great team chemistry and we all know what it takes to get to the state championship,” Carrington said.
The Steele-Alexander winner plays the Reagan-McAllen Memorial survivor next week in the state quarterfinals. Reagan plays McAllen Memorial at 3 p.m. Saturday in McAllen.
Two other San Antonio 5A schools play Division I third-round games this weekend at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi.
Madison (8-4) faces Laredo United (9-3) at 6 p.m. Friday, and Warren (11-1) goes against Harlingen (12-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
In the only game involving an area team scheduled in San Antonio this weekend, Kerrville Tivy (10-2) plays Port Lavaca Calhoun (12-0) in a 4A Division II matchup at 8 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome.
The Steele defense has held the line despite losing tackle Marquis Anderson (Oklahoma), free safety Shane Huhn (Texas-El Paso), end Alex Lincoln (North Texas) and middle linebacker Ryan Simmons (Oklahoma State) to graduation.
“We had a good season last year and had some great players, but we wanted to prove we could win it again,” Huhn said. “We just come out and practice hard every day.”
Maus, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, has made a smooth transition to defensive end after starting alongside Anderson at tackle last year.
Maus described the Knights’ defense as “a well-oiled machine” that has improved steadily throughout the season.
“Everybody does their part,” Mau said. “That’s how we make plays. It’s not so much individual effort. It’s more of a team effort.“We have players with experience at every level of our defense – the line, linebackers and in the secondary – and that really helps. We’ve told the younger guys that it gets better with experience.”
Carrington, Huhn, Luensmann and Maus all have started 28 consecutive games, nearly the equivalent of three regular seasons.
“I think experience really sets you apart from everybody else on the field,” Luensmann said. “Talent is important, but experience is the one thing that helps you out there.”
Luensmann and Maus were moved up to the varsity for the playoffs when they were sophomores. Carrington transferred from Houston his sophomore year and played on the junior varsity that season.
Luensmann said he and Carrington learned a lot from Simmons, who was named the most valuable defensive player in last year’s state final. Junior Jalen Maddox, who has 98 tackles, replaced Simmons at middle linebacker.
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