Week 9 Standouts: Defense

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Highlighting some of the top defensive performances in week 9 of the 2024 season.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1116108' first='Beckham' last='Barney'], 2025, Mountain View – </strong>The Cal commit finished the 63-30 win over Mesa with 11 total tackles, three TFL, two PBU, and two QB hurries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BeckhamBarney/status/1848162515689099325","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BeckhamBarney/status/1848162515689099325 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1399755' first='Nathan' last='Jones'], 2027, Notre Dame Prep – </strong>The up-and-coming 2027 LB finished with three sacks, 2.5 TFL, eight tackles, one force fumble, one PBU, and nine QB hurries in the loss to Higley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/natej2508/status/1848430580729581688","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/natej2508/status/1848430580729581688 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB Cedar Haynie, 2026, St. David – </strong>Haynie filled the stat sheet on both sides of the ball in 66-14 win over Desert Christian. On defense, he finished with 10 total tackles, two TFL, and a PBU. At RB, he took 13 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He's been a huge contributor on St. David's run to a 8-1 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB Greg Webb, 2026, Marana – </strong>The junior finished with 11 tackles in the 29-7 win over Cienega, his highest tackle total of the season so far. Also had four TFL and three sacks. On the season he has 17 TFL and 10 sacks. Marana stays undefeated with a 8-0 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB Brody Johnson, 2025, Liberty – </strong>Another big game for the Montana State commit finishing with 11 total tackles in the 43-24 win over Salpointe Catholic. Added 3.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LibertyFBLions/status/1848084831218856335","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LibertyFBLions/status/1848084831218856335 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1353900' first='Jayden' last='Ridley'], 2025, Horizon – </strong>In his second game back after sitting for transfer rules, Ridley finished with nine tackles, six solo, three TFL, two sacks, and a PBU in the 21-10 win over Desert Mountain. In two games he has nineteen tackles, five TFL, and three sacks. Holds an offer from Utah State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JaydenRidleyAZ/status/1848168629596197234","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JaydenRidleyAZ/status/1848168629596197234 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1177552' first='Khalil' last='Bender'], 2026, McClintock – </strong>Bender had three interceptions in the 47-7 win over Gilbert and returned one of them 65 yards for a pick six. He's got four picks on the season and McClintock remains undefeated this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KhalilBender5/status/1848871377807589732","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KhalilBender5/status/1848871377807589732 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1303056' first='Aeden' last='Calini'], 2025, Highland Prep – </strong>Calini continues to be a ball hawk in the Highland Prep secondary pulling in two more interceptions in the 16-28 loss to Kingman Academy. Also forced a fumble. He leads the state in interceptions with 11 and has had five games with multiple picks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->