Shawnee Mission West the Latest Hammer Time Defense

At first glance, the Shawnee Mission West defense may not look like a typical "Hammer Time Defense". They haven't won often over the last decade and in particular the last three years have been a challenge.   But, as mentioned before, hope may not be a good action strategy but where there is drive and determination, it continues to spring eternal.   Get the right people energized, coach them up, believe in them and then watch the barbarians storm the gate.   The Vikings return a solid nucleus of defensive ballers and behind the rallying cry coming from upper-class leadership, there is a different outlook on the upcoming season.   The players are in lock step and intend to change the narrative this fall and in looking into their situation, it was a compelling one indeed. On paper they are not one of the top returning defenses, but that is one of the beauties of the game. A team strong on the intangible side of the scale can sometimes achieve results most people considered almost impossible to achieve.   This year, for a difference, the Vikings have a strong core coming back and are going into the season knowing they have the ballers at all three levels to compete and are more determined than ever to flip the script and get the program back to winning.   In this report, we will take a deeper dive into the defense, discuss the background years leading up to this point, take a look at how they line up as well as scheming, approach and stats, and then wrap up with key players and the positions they play.   So, without further adieu, let's take a look at what these guys have been doing to get ready for this fall:   Head Coach: Craig Lewis, 1st year head coach; school last season 0-9; last school state championship, 2012; last school winning season 2016.   League: SMW plays in one of the most brutally-difficult conferences in the state, the 14-team strong Sunflower League. A conference that features the Shawnee Mission and Olathe schools, as well as recent state-champions Mill Valley and Gardner, and both Lawrence teams. Talk about running the regular-season gauntlet - yikes!   Stats: in keeping with the metric that I used as a part of my overall assessment for the other hammer time defense candidates, when applied to the Vikings they return an above-average 60% of the total tackles made last season. As reminder, 50% is usually acceptable, 60% good, 70% great.   BACKGROUND:   Since 1971, the Vikings have been to the state championship game an impressive eight times, winning the title three times - 1972, 1985 and most recently 2012. In between championship runs they have had an up and down journey, particularly in the 90's before they hired Tim Callaghan in 2003. He didn't change things immediately, but the change was underway. In his fourth season they went 12-1. Fast forward to season 10 and the Vikings would go 12-1 again and this time win the state championship.   Unfortunately, the positive vibes didn't last long...   The following year they not only finished with a losing record but tragically, star DB/WR and KU commit, Andre Maloney* had a stroke and collapsed on the sidelines in a mid-season game right after returning an interception 63 yards for a TD. He was taken to the hospital where he died the next day, October 10, 2013. From there the wheels started to come off the program. The last winning season was 2016 and over the last eight years they have won only eight games. There have been three head coaches since 2023, which was Callaghan's last year, followed by a one-year 0-9 stint by Jeff Tolbert last year and with Craig Lewis taking over coming into the 2025 season.   To crawl out of a deep hole like this takes the right mix of leadership from the top supplemented heavily by a core group of driven upperclassmen determined to change the culture and make themselves winners once again. It appears those pieces are in place as we roll into this fall.   BREAKDOWN:   The Vikings run a base 4-3 defense but are versatile enough to bounce around in different odd and even-front looks depending on the offense being faced. They have the personnel up front to clog running lanes as well as pressure the quarterback. The trench warriors move around and eat up space while they keep the offensive line occupied and off of the three linebackers behind them. The secondary is versatile mixing man and zone and utilizing skill sets at corner and both safeties. They play with great physicality, specifically looking to force turnovers and flowing to the football lightning fast.   DEFENSIVE LINE:   The defensive line is going to be one of the strengths of the defense as they have some serious size and athleticism up front in the trenches. They can anchor the middle between the tackles mashing all the inside gaps while also having the personnel to apply pressure from the edge. In short-yardage situations or goal-line stands they can line up an immovable front that averages a bone-crushing 320+ pounds across the d-line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1418868' first='King' last='Lawson'], 6'4, 325, OL/DL, '26. The man-mountain in the middle is the King himself, who transferred to West last year and had to sit out due to transfer rules. He used that break in the action to get bigger, faster and more determined than ever to help lead the team back to prominence. With his powerful base, weaponized hands and surprisingly quick feet for his size, he is a pile-driving blocker on offense while rotating in as a dominating defensive tackle. He can also bump down and anchor the middle as a NT, or just line up and overwhelm and dismantle whoever he is head-up on. With his high-motor drive, determination and leadership, this guy makes things happen and is going to be one of the best in the state in the trenches this fall.   Wyatt Otto, 6'3, 215, DE/LB, '26. He is athletic enough to play a hybrid position where he can rush the passer, cave in the run game or sink in zone and provide coverage, and is the top returning tackler on the team with 51 tackles and a pair of tackles for loss last year. With his strong frame, wingspan and heavy hands he hammers blockers in the run game or bull rush over the OT coming off the edge to get to the ball. He is also a standout baseball player, as a hard-hitting catcher/centerfielder.   BlakeThomas, 5'11, 210, DE/LB, '26. One of the bookend defensive end/edge rushers who can also play any of the linebacker positions as needed. He has the second-highest number of returning tackles from last year with 45. He is going to be counted on once again to play multiple positions within the Viking's 4-3 base scheme, as well as owning the perimeter on his side of the formation.   Amani Green, 6'2. 245, DL, '27. He is another versatile trencher who has the size, strength and instincts to jam the middle in the run game from a 5-tech, but can also bounce outside and scorch the edge as needed. He gets off the ball with good pad level, blows up double teams and moves well laterally to the ball. Get this guy on your watchlists.   Devin Harden, 6'0, 285, OL/DL, '26; he is a two-way baller who can play multiple positions on the offensive line and is particularly effective as a pulling guard kicking out the DE. On the other side he is a penetrating defensive tackle who is going to be a big part of the interior defensive line rotation after a strong off-season.   Darian Freeman-Allen, 6'0, 370, DL, '27. Another large and in charge baller in the trenches, he can be deployed as a nose tackle or plugged in on short-yardage situations to help put up the stone-wall defense against the run. He has agile feet and quickness for his size and is getting ready for a big junior year.   LINEBACKERS:   The Viking defense is spearheaded by a trio of headhunter linebackers flying to the ball. They are all athletic, two-way ballers who can cover a lot ground while attacking the ball as soon as it is snapped. With the flexibility to cover, blitz or stunt, as well as apply quick lateral support at the point of impact, these guys arrive in a hurry and with an attitude.   Trey Ayiki, 5'11, 200, LB, '26. He is a senior LB who has had a strong off-season, setting PR's in all the major lifts and will be playing one of the outside LB spots this fall. He returns with the fourth-highest number of returning tackles with 31 and also had three TFL. He is primed for a breakout year this fall.   Henry Blaylock, 6'1, 210, LB, '27. He is a versatile two-way player who can play TE or a hybrid-WR or even as an H-back on offense as well as a LB with good read and react skills who flies to the football on defense. He is also a heat-seeking missile on kickoff coverage. He is going to be an asset on both sides of the ball this fall.   Will Berki, 5'11, 205, LB, '27. He is a multi-positional player who can operate as a dual-threat quarterback on offense and also handle kicking duties for the Vikings. He is an athletic LB as well who lines up on the outside and using his read and react skills and closing speed to deliver a blow on arrival. In the off-season he is an excellent multi-positional baseball player as well.   DEFENSIVE BACKS:   With a standard four-deep secondary, the Vikings operate with a couple of ballhawk cornerbacks, a strong safety who plays to the offensive formation strength and a roving free safety over the top. They can slip into nickel or dime as needed depending on the competition and have the personnel to line up with anyone.   [player_tooltip player_id='1215162' first='Braylon' last='Wilson'], 5'10, 175, DB, '27. Leading the back-end of the defense, this junior corner can play anywhere in the secondary but has been most effective as a lock-down corner who can take out the other team's best receiver and also collapse down on the run and make the big hit. He was also one of the top returning tacklers on the team with 41 a year ago. He is ready to make some noise this fall.   Jermaine Avery, 5'10, 170, DB, '26. He is the corner on the other side who showed glimpses last year as a tough, smothering CB who can get in the receiver's grill, flip hips and run or cut off the perimeter in the run game. He is another aggressive corner who will deliver a blow on the perimeter and returns after racking up 27 tackles last fall. He is also a receiver on the other side of the ball. Get this guy on your watchlists.   Darius Gordon, 6'1, 180, DB, '26. He can play either safety and with his reach and athleticism has all the skill sets for the position. He is also a dangerous receiver on offense. This guy is ready to roll.   Jaylen Powell, 6'0, 170, DB, '27. He is another athletic safety with good length and a nose for the ball who is looking for a big junior season this fall. This guy is getting ready to take the next step.   In conclusion, get out and see these guys in action – you can say you were there when the Vikings turned all those earlier setbacks into one big comeback for the ages this fall. You will not be disappointed.   And, as usual…   Keep grindin'...     <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>*KC Update: it was recently announced that the Andre Maloney Memorial Award has been established to recognize the most outstanding defensive back in the Kansas City Metro Area. Note: his death was eventually attributed to "congenital heart abnormality."</li> </ul>

At first glance, the Shawnee Mission West defense may not look like a typical "Hammer Time Defense". They haven't won often over the last decade and in particular the last three years have been a challenge.