2A Midseason Stat Leaders: Defense

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking at the defensive stat leaders from the 2A division midway through the season. All stats are from Maxpreps.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tackles:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Joey Allen, 2025, LB, Scottsdale Prep – </strong>Allen leads all of 2A with 80 total tackles on the season so far. He's averaging over 13 tackles per game and has added three TFL. Also caused four fumbles in the win over Madison Highland in week five.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Fabian Hernandez, 2026, DE, Bisbee – </strong>Hernandez has been filling the stat sheet every week totaling 64 tackles, seven TFL, and 10.5 sacks in the first five games. In week one, he had six sacks in the win over Madison Highland.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Anthony Torgeson, 2026, LB, Tanque Verde – </strong>63 total tackles through five games with 43 of them being solo. Best game of the season came in week one when he racked up 25 tackles and two TFL.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Thaine Cook, 2025, LB/RB, Camp Verde – </strong>The two-way playmaker has 52 tackles on defense with 40 of them being solo. Also has 461 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns. He had 15 solo tackles and two TFL against American Leadership Academy in week three.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Spencer Anthony, 2025, LB, Bisbee – </strong>The second Bisbee player in the top five. He has 55 tackles, 5 TFL, and 5.5 sacks.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sacks:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Fabian Hernandez, 2026, DE, Bisbee – </strong>He's ranked second in 2A in tackles and first in sacks with 10.5.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lamario Claiborne, 2025, DE, Heritage Academy – </strong>The transfer from California has had a big impact on the Heritage Academy defense. On the season he's racked up nine sacks, 38 tackles, and 18 TFL. Last week against Trivium he had 17 tackles, six TFL, and five sacks. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Malachi Morales, 2026, DE, Mountainside – </strong>Morales is third in sacks with seven total. Five of them came in week one in the 25-24 win over San Carlos. <br><strong>Aaron Whitten, 2028, DE, Phoenix Christian – </strong>The freshman is tied for third in 2A with seven sacks on the season. He also has 11 TFL.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>James Seoane, 2025, DE, Veritas Prep – </strong>6.5 sacks for the season. 18 total tackles, five TFL, and seven hurries.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Interceptions:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1303056' first='Aeden' last='Calini'], 2025, DB, Highland Prep – </strong>Calini is in the top five in several categories. He's #4 in receiving and #1 in interceptions with nine. He's had multiple in every game this season and returned three of them for touchdowns.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Baylor Arnold, 2026, DB, Veritas Prep – </strong>Arnold has been making plays on both sides of the ball for Veritas Prep. He has four picks on the season and five touchdowns as a receiver.<br><strong>Tyler Fry, 2026, DB, Mountainside – </strong>Two games with multiple interceptions bringing his total to four halfway through the season.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1211986' first='Troy' last='Barlow'], 2025, DB, Scottsdale Prep – </strong>Tied for second in interceptions on the season with four. Account for three turnovers last week against Veritas Prep when he had two interceptions and forced fumble.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->