Prospect defense making big things happen once again

Big hits and big plays.

Everyone playing a big part.

It was the foundation for defensive success which personified Prospect's state title trifecta since 2001.

And the Knights continued to show signs of recapturing that defensive swagger in Friday night's 40-7 win at Rolling Meadows.

It was missing most of last year in a season that ended in the second round of the playoffs. But now the Knights appear to have found it again.

"We're going to get the ball and we're not settling for making the tackle 10 yards down the field," said Prospect senior defensive back Patrick Inserra.

Certainly not when the longest gain the Knights allowed in the first 45 minutes was 10 yards. At that point they had allowed only 68 total yards.

And everyone in the Knights' secondary went away with a takeaway when Joe Randazzo made a diving grab of a pass deflected by linebacker Grant DePalma.

Peter Bonahoom had the first on a deflected pass after two teammates drilled a receiver. Inserra made a leaping grab of a long pass and Ryan Ward weaved his way to an electrifying 70-yard return where he came up just 10 yards shy of a pick-six.

"We worked a lot this week on breaking to the ball and being disciplined," Ward said.

"We played much better as a total defense," Inserra said. "When everyone is working together things happen."

Last year everyone from Prospect, including coach Brent Pearlman, kept waiting for good things to happen. They did only on a few occasions en route to an uncharacteristic 343 yards allowed a game.

But everyone played their part Friday night to make big things occur. Defensive lineman Dan Panicko stuffed a pair of third-and-one situations with impressive hits.

"Part of it is they played really well and the other part is we didn't respond," said Meadows coach Doug Millsaps.

When Meadows sophomore quarterback Jack Milas couldn't find anyone open, Prospect linebacker Beau Zanca came flying in for a deal-closing sack. Panicko just missed an interception but was part of an impressive effort up front with Anthony Babicz, Austin Tixier and Mike Geweneger.

"It's a whole different mindset," Inserra said.

One that started to change after a season-opening 34-21 loss at York.

"We got together and decided if we were going to make a run, defensively we'd have to step up and play as a team," Inserra said.

"When we watched that film," Ward said, "there were a lot of plays we did right, but little details made a big difference.

"We're focusing every week on shutouts. We're focusing on putting a zero on the board."

That's a lot different from last year when the Knights almost had to put as many points on the board as they could.

"We're improving every week and we have kids making plays," Pearlman said. "But we know the defense is not where we could be."

But it's getting there.

"We definitely have room to grow," Inserra said. "We're trying to make that step to become something great."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com