The outline is simple, but executing it properly is just the opposite. The Buckingham County defense knows what’s coming at them on Friday in Gretna. By all accounts, the Region B finals between the Knights and Hawks boils down to Buckingham’s defense versus the Nick Miller show. But lost in the hype of Gretna’s perennial ‘amazing playmaker against the field’ storyline are the overlooked defenders that make up this Knights defense. Buckingham has won its games this year behind their defense, and the engine that drives it all is its linebacking corps.
With the defensive line filling the gaps up front and the defensive backs playing coverage against the deep threat over top, the success of Buckingham’s defense comes down to how many plays its roving, attacking linebackers can make. It just so happens that Maurice Taylor, Michael Layman and Tariq Bartee are ready and willing to handle everything that gets thrown their way.
“Everything is set up on defense so that the linebackers can get up and make a play of the ball,” Taylor said. “As linebackers, we find ourselves in a situation where our coaches, who run a great system, have us there and ready to make plays.”
With this set of linebackers the Knights have a little bit of everything. In Taylor they have a tackler with unbelievable speed that allows him to fly to the edge, flew out in coverage or zoom into the backfield on the blitz. Taylor’s speed keeps the Knights safe on sweeping runs and plays in the flat.
With Taylor Boyers out of the picture via graduation, Buckingham coach Craig Gill anointed Layman as his team’s new leader. The senior has not disappointed. In the middle of the field Layman’s large frame makes him a perfect fit. Layman’s football IQ has helped him make adjustments to the set before the snap. Tall and athletic, Layman can be a cog in the middle just as easily as that big target taking away the underneath passes, but timing and ability to find the ball carrier at just the right moment sets him apart. But he credits his abilities to make plays to those in front of him.
“As long as the defensive line is able to do its job, I’ll be able to do mine,” Layman said. “If they don’t shoot up field too far and fill their gaps, everything should stay inside.”
With Taylor and Layman being seniors, Bartee considers himself the new guy on the block, this just his second year playing varsity and he was just called up from junior varsity last year before the Knights went down to Gretna. With a big body and strength, Bartee does a solid job of staying at home and not over pursuing. His ability to step up and play at the same level as his senior counterparts has given Buckingham a defense that’s stout from sideline to sideline.
“I’ve really learned a lot since I made the move up,” Bartee said. “You have to. But I’ve learned so much from watching (Layman and Taylor) do what they do – everything the right way. I love working with them on this defense.”
Not many teams in Central Virginia have played in as many close games as Buckingham has these last three months, and even fewer have found themselves on the winning end of those battles as the Knights. Buckingham is 3-1 this year in games decided by seven or fewer points including last week’s 7-0 win over Clarke.
In a shutout win, it’s obvious that the defense got it done, but that’s the way it’s been all season dating back to week one against Appomattox, last year’s Group A Division 2 champion. In the first game of the year back to back interceptions wound up sealing the deal for the Knights in their first win. In eleven games Buckingham’s defense is allowing just 12.54 points per contest and has posted two shutouts. But perhaps the most impressive part of this defense is its consistency. The defense from Dillwyn has allowed only two teams to score more than 20 points – Amelia scored 21 in the Knights’ only loss this season, and Central Lunenberg put up 20 the following week. In four different games the defense has allowed just one score or less.
“We’re feeling pretty good right now,” Layman said. “Especially after a 7-0 win. That’ll make you feel pretty good.”
With a two-way threat like Miller at quarterback for Gretna, a sense of confidence is a good thing for Buckingham to have. The good news is that the Hawks aren’t unfamiliar opponents. Last year Layman, Taylor and Bartee were there when their team was considered an afterthought against the Hawks. Not only did the Knights give Gretna all it could handle, but Buckingham forced overtime before coming up just short of pulling off the upset.
“Right now we see the game coming down to who wants it more and who can execute,” Taylor said.
Last year the Knights had the will and came up just one play short. They haven’t forgotten that and they’ll be eager to correct that on Friday.
“It’s been 365 days,” Taylor said. “We been waiting for this.”
