Top 6 Defensive Performers: St. John's vs. Good Counsel

Both teams showcased standout offensive performances in a WCAC matchup between St. John's College and Good Counsel. This article highlights the top six defensive performers who made the most significant impact in the game. Good Counsel won the game by a score of 28-14.    [player_tooltip player_id='402024' first='Tariq' last='Boney'] was an absolute menace against Good Counsel. He made multiple tackles throughout the game, including a seven-yard sack in the first quarter—his ability to disrupt the passing game and generate pressure kept Good Counsel's offense in check early. Despite the loss, Boney was probably the most impactful defensive player in the game. He was disruptive against both the pass and rush. As a pass-rusher, he had at least two sacks. One for a 7-yard loss in the third quarter led to a third-and-long and eventually a punt. Another one was late in the third quarter, which stalled Good Counsel's offensive drive. Against the run game, he had a couple of tackles for a loss and made other tackles near the line of scrimmage. His ability to set the edge and contain the outside run helped limit Good Counsel's ability to bounce runs outside for big gains. Maryland, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M are among his 15-plus FBS offers.     [player_tooltip player_id='1262263' first='David' last='Jackson III'] is a name that I am now familiar with. It's the first time I've watched Good Counsel in person, and he stood out among their front four. He was influential in both helping to stop the run and applying pressure to the quarterback. His 14-yard sack of the St. John's quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='477500' first='Nyeem' last='Woods'] helped push the Cadets out of field-goal range in the second quarter. Jackson made multiple tackles in the run game. His hands are always active, and he does an excellent job keeping offensive linemen from controlling the point of attack.   There was one play where he used both hands to slap away the offensive lineman's hands as he tried to reach block him, and then made the stop on the running back at the line of scrimmage. He had a crucial sack in the second quarter as St. John's College faced a 3rd-and-10 at the Good Counsel 32-yard line with 57 seconds. After the snap, Jackson faked going to his left, which caused the center to move in that direction. He then quickly cut back to the right and ran through the blocking attempt of both the center and running back to get to the St. John's quarterback. The 15-yard sack by Jackson effectively killed the drive, and Good Counsel went into the half with a 7-0 lead. His early offer list includes Akron, Marshall, Miami, and Toledo.     [player_tooltip player_id='272349' first='Grant' last='Grayton'] provided solid coverage, which led to a few incompletions on both long passing attempts and in the red zone. His hit on a St. John's running back was probably the hardest one of the game. Grant had a few key stops in the running game, and even if a receiver caught the football, he could make the tackle in short space. At 6-foot-3, 197 pounds, his size and length were a problem for any wide receiver he went up against. The Minnesota football commit is an asset to Good Counsel because he can be an effective defender against both the run and the pass.     [player_tooltip player_id='273395' first='Faheem' last='Delane']'s presence against both the pass and run probably wouldn't be noticeable in the stat sheet. However, if you watched the game, his sure tackling at the second level helped prevent good gains by the St. John's running backs, not become bigger ones…like touchdowns. Delane's hybrid role as a pass/run defender, due to him being lined up in the box, helped him impact multiple game phases. He's an Ohio State football commit.     St. John's College safety [player_tooltip player_id='273398' first='Tariq' last='Hayer'] had multiple tackles throughout the game, including key stops on run plays in the first and second quarter (while the game was still close). He was also influential in pass coverage and forced incompletions occasionally. Hayer's tackling ability and physical presence in the run game helped limit Good Counsel's running attack to get those explosive plays (15-plus yards). He also ran the football a few times on offense. Hayer is a Rutgers football commit.     [player_tooltip player_id='1084511' first='Ashton' last='Chiles'] is another name you will become more familiar with for the next few years. After watching him against St. John's, it becomes obvious why in-state school Maryland was the first to offer him. At this point of the season, Chiles has already been battle-tested. However, the fact that he's only a freshman and is a varsity starter on one of the top teams in the region and the nation at one point is impressive. Chiles recorded a sack (resulting in a 7-yard loss) in the first quarter that forced St. John's to punt.

Both teams showcased standout offensive performances in a WCAC matchup between St. John's College and Good Counsel. This article highlights the top six defensive performers who made the most significant impact in the game. Good Counsel won the game by a score of 28-14.