PREP FOOTBALL: Auburn High’s stout defense starts up front

In Tim Carter’s mind, the defense starts with the line.

And, for most of Auburn High’s opponents this season, that’s where it has ended, as well.

Of the 530 plays run against the No. 1 Tigers this season, 74 have ended behind the line and 110 have been incomplete passes.

On any given play, Auburn’s opponents have a 35 percent chance of getting absolutely nothing. That number’s probably even higher if you’re talking about snaps the first-team defense takes.

Defensive end Julian Holloway said it’s a state of mind.

“Coach (Don) Dunn, he’s just been training us to push hard and telling us that we’re the best in the country,” said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior, who has 12.5 tackles for a loss this season. “It’s a mindset. They tell us every game, ‘If it’s up to the defense, it’s up to the D-line.’

“We just bring it all together. We just push and strive.”

Holloway is one of about five bodies that the Tigers cycle in at the two end positions, along with James Ponder, Spencer Ramsey, Kevin Griffin and LaMichael Fanning.

But the middle belongs to 295-pound JaMichael Payne and 270-pound Rodney Thomas.

“They’re not just big, they’re good players,” Carter said of his tackle duo. “And they’re a little more mobile than people think they are. JaMichael was a basketball player up until the 10th grade, and he’s got great feet. Rodney runs a 4.75 (40-yard dash), which is not common for a 3-technique.

“They move well, they’ve got good upper body strength and they play hard every snap.”

Not bad.

Now comes a quarterback who could present one of that front four’s stoutest tests this season tonight at Duck Samford Stadium.

Wetumpka junior Jamal Golden has put up nearly 1000 yards running and passing, benefitting greatly from a second year in the Indians’ offense.

Holloway said this is not the same quarterback the Tigers’ saw in their 49-21 win over Wetumpka in the second round last season.

“They’re using him a whole lot more than last year,” Holloway said. “They tapped into his ability as a running quarterback, and a lot of teams can’t stop that. They’ve found out what their key is.”

When Carter sees the elusive, deceptively speedy Golden — who can also throw the ball when he needs to, by the way — and how Wetumpka uses him in its offense, one thing comes to mind.

Calvin Jenkins.

“He’s extremely elusive and can beat you a lot of different ways,” Carter said. “That presents a lot of problems for a defense, and that’s what can make a spread team special. That’s what we pride in Calvin, and they’ve got that in Jamal.”

Fortunately for Auburn’s defense, it gets to go against Golden’s unique skill set in practice when it lines up against Jenkins.

So planning for it should be a cinch. Stopping it is easier said than done.

“Two things you’ve gotta do,” Payne said, enumerating them on his fingers. “You gotta be disciplined, and you’ve gotta wrap up and tackle very good. He’s very fast, and you know that he can get away.”

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Wetumpka (7-4) at No. 1 Auburn High (11-0)
Wetumpka Key Players: LB/RB Marquiz Buycks (Sr., 6-0, 225); QB Jamal Golden (Jr., 6-0, 180); LB JaMichael Taylor (Sr., 6-0, 235)

Auburn Key Players: RB Augustus Brooks (Sr., 5-10, 175); QB Calvin Jenkins (Sr., 6-0, 180); DL JaMichael Payne (Jr., 6-0, 295)

Stat Pack: Auburn is rushing for 242 yards per game ... The defense is allowing 191 total yards per game ... Jenkins has accounted for 2103 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Series Information: Auburn beat the Indians, 49-21, in the second round last year. The Tigers have won the past four meetings.