What We Saw: Irmo’s Defense Dominates Ridge View

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLUMBiA |</strong> Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> has received the bulk of attention for undefeated Irmo's best start in 18 years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the junior had four touchdowns in the 38-6 victory over Ridge View, the outcome was more than just about the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View learned firsthand that the Yellow Jacket defense stings just as hard. In holding a fifth opponent in seven games to single digits, Irmo's defense overwhelmed the Blazers with their speed, size, and intensity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"They play hard, and they play extremely fast and extremely physical, and they do a good job," Blazers head coach Derek Howard said. "They're not doing anything overly complicated. They're just sitting back and saying, 'We're better than you.' So, hat's off to them."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Irmo punted on its first possession, the defense turned the game in Irmo's favor. On Ridge View's second series, Irmo cornerback <strong>Matthew Blocker</strong> got in front of the targeted wide receiver for the interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the first pick thrown all season by senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd']. Irmo capitalized with a scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run on fourth down by Brand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets would not punt again as Brand found <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142759' first='Caleb' last='Alexander']</strong> for an 11-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the first of two touchdown passes by Brand to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph']</strong> made it 21-0 in the second quarter, Irmo's defense added a score 43 seconds later. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142613' first='Marquel' last='Lewis'] </strong>(pictured) intercepted Boyd at his own 28 and sprinted all the way across the goal line for the score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"My heart was racing," Lewis said. "I saw him run the slant and I saw him jump and I was like ‘I'm either going to take his head off or I'm taking it to the crib'. I caught it and all I saw was green and grass and I was like I was out of here."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo head coach Aaron Brand said Lewis and fellow linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996940' first='Jylil' last='Favor'] </strong>had added motivation to play well against the Blazers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think [player_tooltip player_id='1142613' first='Marquel' last='Lewis'] has taken it upon himself, he and [player_tooltip player_id='996940' first='Jylil' last='Favor'], there's been a lot of (Ridge View linebacker) <strong>Myles Brown</strong> talk about who's the best player in the region on the defensive side," he said. "I think we've got an idea who's the best player on the offensive side. But there's been some question marks about who's the best on the defensive side and Marquel and Jylil, they've taken it to heart a little bit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"So [player_tooltip player_id='1142613' first='Marquel' last='Lewis'] especially is determined to make plays every Friday night. So don't count those ballots too soon."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Irmo added a 32-yard field goal by <strong>Jose Villaneuva </strong>to go up 31-0 at halftime, Lewis believed the defense had “broken” the Blazers' spirits. In the second half, [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] replaced Boyd at quarterback and was intercepted by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1085401' first='Telvin' last='Smith']</strong> to end the third quarter and was nearly taken out by edge defender <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong> as he found himself in his path on a blitz. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Bryant and Lewis credited the preparation and schemes developed by first-year defensive coordinator Raymond Jennings for the unit's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He's made a huge difference," Bryant said. "He's got us coordinated. He's just got the defense right. We went from a one-star to a five-star defense. No one can really score on us."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We've got the best preparation probably in the state," Lewis said. "We break down every team to the T. We watch film. We've got the most film study probably in the state. Everyone knows what to do. Everybody knows what they can do. People play to their strengths and since we trust each other, we've got this close brotherhood, we can come off assignment and make plays and trust each other to do so."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard led the Blazers on their lone scoring drive in the fourth quarter. The Blazers capitalized off a targeting penalty on Irmo to get a four-yard touchdown run by <strong>Siah Mack</strong> with 38.9 seconds left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->