Poland has shut out its last three foes and allowed just 21 points all season

By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

POLAND

On paper, this season had all the makings of a rebuilding year for the Poland High School defense.

The Bulldogs’ defensive unit, which held opponents to 12.4 points per game a year ago, was hit hard by graduation. Gone were the likes of lineman Alec Catsoules, linebacker Nick Miller and defensive backs Billy Orr and Mike Diaz — all named to the All American Conference first-team unit last fall.

In all, Poland lost nine defensive starters from the 2017 squad which went 8-3 and advanced to the playoffs. With the exception of defensive end Scott Campbell and linebacker Eric Shipsky, the Bulldogs’ defense entered this season “with more questions than answers, and with a lot of learning to do,’ according to coach Ryan Williams.

Perhaps they are quick learners, or maybe it’s simply the result of “a defensive-minded culture within the program,” as senior linebacker Steve Bannon calls it. Whatever the case, the new-look Poland defense is producing the same stellar results as its predecessors.

Through five games, Poland (5-0) has allowed just 21 points. Poland surrendered a pair of touchdowns in its 17-14 season-opening win at Marlington. A week later, it gave up a second-quarter touchdown in a 34-7 victory at Niles. Since then, the Bulldogs have played 14 quarters without giving up a point, shutting out Jefferson, Howland and Alliance in the process.

“Where I come from [Boardman], and everywhere I’ve coached [Crestview, Cardinal Mooney, Austintown Fitch], it’s always been about defense first, about being able to stop the run,” Williams said. “That’s always been the cornerstone of Mahoning Valley football. When I assumed the head role at Poland, defense was my top priority.”

Williams served as the Poland defensive coordinator for 11 years before taking over the program in 2016.

“The success we’ve enjoyed this year, it’s been a total team effort,” Williams said. “This has been 11 guys all knowing their role, all playing for each other. We have a long way to go. We have some truly great teams still on the schedule, and we’ve made a million mistakes that need corrected. But yeah, it’s been nice to see how this unit has progressed.”

To this point, Poland has excelled at stopping both the run and pass. The defense has surrendered just 79.4 yards per game through the air. After giving up 193 passing yards to Marlington, the Bulldogs have since surrendered just 200 passing yards to their last four opponents.

The defense has been just as stingy against the run, giving up just 412 rushing yards (2.5 yards per carry) through five games.

The Bulldogs have recorded seven sacks and have forced 11 turnovers.

Shipsky and Campbell lead the team with 38 and 37 tackles, respectively.

“Because we had so many new faces on defense, we had to start out with some basic calls and coverages, and we really had to stress fundamentals,” said Poland defensive coordinator Rick DiNunzio. “What I’m truly impressed with is the intelligence of this group. Their football IQ, their ability and willingness to study the game, that’s what has really propelled our start.

“This is a very loyal group. They played behind a group of talented two and three-year starters. They waited their turn, and now they are taking advantage of their opportunity.”

DiNunzio said the success is also the result of a program which stresses continuity from the junior high program on up.

“This really is a tribute and a testament to our system,” DiNunzio said. “Coach Williams encourages our middle school coaches to attend our practices. They learn the same terminology, those younger players learn the same ideas and concepts we’re teaching the high school kids. They come to us ready to play.”

DiNunzio has coached at Poland for the past 13 years. He also coached at the school for three years under Paul Hulea beginning in 2000 when the Bulldogs started their tradition of handing out black shirts to defensive starters and some of the top backup players. The Blackshirt Defense has been a Poland staple ever since.

“I think the whole Blackshirt Defense tradition really did help create a culture, a mindset which has helped develop a defensive mentality in our program,” DiNunzio said. “From an early age, kids want to earn that black jersey.”

In fact, even though he has grown up in an era in which offense seemingly has been the focal point of the sport at every level, Poland senior safety Hayden Kaschak (1 interception, 2 forced fumbles) found himself striving to be a Blackshirt at an early age.

“Even as a little kid, I remember going to Poland games and I would focus my attention on the defense,” Kaschak said. “People around me would watch the quarterback or the wide receivers and running backs, and I’d be zeroing in on the D. I just always associated Poland football with having a great defense.

“Now that I’m part of this defense, I feel like I’m obligated to live up to the tradition. Our whole class is. There’s a lot of pressure, but that’s a good thing. It makes us work harder.”

Like Kaschak, senior linebacker Steve Bannon is a first-year starter on defense. Growing up, he played nearly every position on offense, from an offensive lineman to wide receiver. He even was a quarterback at the lower levels.

During his first two years as a varsity player, Bannon — now a team captain — accepted his role as a backup defensive player, patiently waiting for his turn to earn a black shirt.

“It was frustrating because as a player you want to be out there on every play, but at the same time I knew I was playing behind a great senior class,” Bannon said. “I just trusted the process. There is a right way and a wrong way to do things, and the coaches here at Poland always seem to know what’s right.”

Despite its lack of varsity experience, Bannon said he believed his defensive unit possessed the talent and drive to succeed this fall. He noted that the players “had grown up together, learned the system together, and bonded together from an early age.” Still, he admits that there were some anxious moments heading into the season.

“We had a great off-season, a great summer,” Bannon said. “But you never know what’s going to happen until you get into that first game. We felt good about how we played against a really good Marlington team. We gave up some yards, but made the stops when we needed to. Then against Niles, I think we realized that we were really starting to come together.

“We just have to keep improving because every team left on our schedule is really good. We have to keep getting better each week.”

The Bulldogs play at home tonight against longtime rival Struthers (3-2), then they play host to East (3-2) next Friday. They close the season with back-to-back games against Hubbard and Canfield — a pair of teams which are currently 5-0.

Canfield is the state’s top-ranked Division III school in the latest Associated Press poll. Hubbard is ranked third in the state in Division IV.

“We still have a long way to go, we still have a lot of unanswered questions,” DiNunzio said. “How will this team handle adversity? How will they react when they get behind in a ballgame? We’re going to face some major challenges. This group will be tested against the best the area has to offer.”

Still, DiNunzio admits he is happy with the progress of his defensive unit to this point.

“It’s always nice to see a group mature, to come into their own, especially one that had a lot of question marks before the season started,” DiNunzio said. “I think it says something about Coach Williams and the coaches before him who guided this program.”

Poland currently is ranked fourth in Division IV, Region 13. The Bulldogs are seeking their 11th playoff appearance in the last 12 years.