Gladiator Trio a Force to be Reckoned With

As linebackers, it's typical that Grant Brown and Tommy Welch are the leading tacklers on football team.

Surprising, however, are the tackle totals of Sam Arrington, Kirby Southard and Justin Grava, whose down lineman positions don't typically make them a team's third-, fourth- and fifth-leading tacklers.

"Those three aren't only doing a good job (of blocking), they're doing a good job of getting to the ball themselves," Gladiators coach Mike Cloy said. "It's the down lineman who usually just occupy the offensive linemen, leaving linebackers more freedom to get to the ball."

In Johns Creek's 50 defensive set, five down linemen play on the line of scrimmage, with linebackers behind them. The 6-foot, 250-pound Southard anchors the middle of the line as nose guard, flanked by the 6-1, 230-pound Arrington and 6-3, 225-pound Grava as tackles. Completing the front five outside of them are Matthew Gorst and Zac Disher, who sometimes drop back in coverage.

And as bodies crash at scrimmage every snap, Southard, Arrington and Grava – the three inner-most linemen – are charged with quickly deducing the offense's blocking schemes, plugging the holes running backs seek, and getting to the ball.

"They have to read (offensive linemen's feet and head movement), engage, fight through the block and be tenacious enough to get to the ball," Cloy explained. "It's not easy."

As the Gladiators (9-1) extend just their second varsity season in tonight's 7:30 first-round game of the Class AAAA playoffs against visiting Flowery Branch, linebackers Brown and Welch have 64 and 54 tackles, respectively. But somewhat surprising are Arrington's 54, Southard's 53 and Grava's 47. Arrington has made five tackles for losses, two quarterback sacks and has recovered a fumble. Similarly, Southard has three tackles for minus yardage, two sacks and a fumble recovery, and Grava has two tackles for losses and three sacks.

With Arrington, Southard and Grava at the center of it all, Johns Creek has allowed only 101 rushing and 118 yards passing on average, while Johns Creek's offense has been outscoring opponents by three touchdowns a game.

"We usually just find ourselves in the right place," Arrington said. "We read our keys real well and play fundamental defensive football."

"Sam and Justin have done a good job squeezing guys into the center, where I can reach them," Southard pointed out.

Grava said repetition in practice has helped the interior defenders better anticipate.

"In games," he said, "when an (offensive) guy makes a certain block, you know what's coming, which really helps."

Defensive coordinator Bill Waters, who calls defensive plays, commended Arrington, Southard and Grava for helping allow opponents only three yards per run.

"You always want to stop the run first, and those guys are vital to that," Waters said. "They've really worked hard on their technique, which has allowed them to get in position and make plays."

Cloy said Arrington has impressed everyone with his work ethic, as well as having bulked up from an undersized 155 pounds last season. The coach praised Southard, a long-time offensive lineman, for flourishing on defense, though initially reluctant to play there. Grava, Cloy added, is the most athletic of the three.

Himself a former lineman, Cloy has an affinity for guys in the trenches. He agreed their importance often is overlooked in favor of skill-position players, such as the offense's quarterback, running backs and receivers and the defenses' linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.

If there's a guy to sing linemen's praises, it's Cloy.

"If your defensive backs are your leading tacklers then we're not doing a very good job on the line of scrimmage," the coach said. "I was a lineman when I was growing up and have coached line for 41 years. I can tell you how important the defensive front is.

"Those guys are a big reason this team is where it is."