Mark Heindl knows that the New York offense has its strengths.
However, in leading the Pennsylvania defense into Saturday’s Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic, Heindl is more focused on his unit’s assets than those of its opponent.
“It’s the strengths of our kids,” Heindl said. “We don’t know a lot about (New York). We just try to prepare our kids the best that we can against formations and things that we think we may see. That’s kind of what we’ve focused on.”
One advantage that Heindl hopes his defense provides in the game? The creation of turnovers.
Winning the turnover battle, he said, could be a way to win the game from a defensive standpoint.
“We’re going to try our best to force some turnovers and put New York in some uncomfortable situations,” Heindl said. “We know that we’re going to see their top game, and hopefully we can give them our best defensive game, as well.”
To do so, Heindl and his Ridgway staff will rely on a group effort from each of the 11-man units that will split time on the defensive side for PA. The strength of the team’s defense relies on the teamwork of those groups, not individual efforts, he said.
“To play defense, one guy needs to do their job and trust the other 10 guys around them,” Heindl said. “That’s one thing that we’ve seen big time. The kids are just focusing on what their responsibility is, and if all 11 are in sync, they can be a pretty dynamic defense and force in the game.”
The unit will feature eight defensive linemen, six linebackers and seven defensive backs, allowing most players rest as the side rotates between an ‘A’ and ‘B’ group each possession.
Ryan Hughes (Bradford), Justin “Rudy” Young (Port Allegany), Austin Scruggs (Ridgway) and Adenn Stevens (Smethport) will anchor the tackle positions while Gus Traugott (Kane), Zazeric Bell (Otto-Eldred), Bryan Schatz (Elk County Catholic) and Kameron Rounsville (Smethport) will man the ends.
Outside linebackers Nick Crisp (Elk County Catholic), Jared Beers (Eisenhower), Braedon Johnson (Smethport) and Connor Bressler (St. Marys) will flank inside linebackers TJ VanScoter (Otto-Eldred) and Ricky Delhunty (Ridgway).
Dominic Cherry (Ridgway), Jake Merry (Otto-Eldred), Ryli Burritt (Smethport) and Ricky Williams (St. Marys) will provide coverage from the cornerback position while Zane Alexander (Eisenhower), Bobby Rumcik (Kane) and James Davis (St. Marys) provide help over the top at safety.
“You get two weeks to try to install the watered-down version of what you’re trying to do on defense,” Heindl said. “Being that it’s the Tuesday before the game now, just to watch the growth of these kids from last Monday to now is amazing. I’m excited to see the growth that we’ve seen on the practice field and what it’s going to translate to on Saturday night.”
Heindl noted that his staff knows little about New York’s potential offensive plan of attack. A noteworthy quarterback group and a big offensive line has caught PA’s eye, however.
Recent Big 30 games have tended to favor offenses, as it has been six years since a team finished with a single-digit scoring number (PA was held to eight points in 2015). Each team has scored 20 points or more in each of the last four games, including a 48-30 shootout in 2017.
Will the defenses get the upper hand this year? In an all-star format, Heindl said, it’s hard to tell.
“I personally like a defensive battle,” he said. “But with what you see on both sides of the ball on both squads, anything is possible.”
