Football: Defense headlines dominant start for state-ranked Jordan
Football: Defense headlines dominant start for state-ranked Jordan
Talent, depth, experience make Warriors' defense a force to be reckoned with
Mike Rabe is in his 19th year as a head football coach, with stops spanning Ganado, Waco Connally, Mayde Creek and, now, Jordan.
He has never had a defense like the one this season.
“This is probably the most talented defense that I’ve had,” Rabe said after Friday’s 52-12 win over Cinco Ranch.
Jordan 52, Cinco Ranch 12: Game recap with Jordan player interviews
Who’s to argue?
Through six weeks, Rabe’s undefeated Warriors (6-0, 4-0 19-6A) are the stingiest bunch in District 19-6A. No. 20 state-ranked Jordan allows 11.2 points on 165.2 yards per game and has 13 takeaways. All numbers lead 19-6A.
Against a prolific Cinco Ranch offense averaging 29.2 points on 375.2 yards per game, Jordan limited the Cougars to two touchdowns on 171 total yards.
The Warriors held Cinco Ranch to 3.2 yards per play—4.1 yards per pass attempt, 2.2 yards per carry.
“Just dominating,” senior middle linebacker Brayden Coffie said. “It’s our mindset every week. That’s what we’ve got to do. Our scheme has gotten better because (defensive coordinator) Coach (Chris) Babin goes to work every single day. That’s what it is.”
Coffie said the defense’s M.O. is to “be violent.” They are. Through six games, the Warriors have 17 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and five fumbles caused.
Violence is something the defense prides itself on. It can be a gift and a curse.
Penalties, in particular the unsportsmanlike variety, can too often be the Warriors’ undoing. That has been the case dating back to last season.
Rabe said his defense plays with emotion, trains with emotion. The Warriors feed off feelings, and any slight perception of disrespect is catnip.
“Our offseason is emotional,” Rabe said.
Rabe said his players understand there is a delicate balance between playing with violence and making sure they “toe the line.”
“It’s definitely a talking point every week,” Rabe said. “They work on it constantly. They’re giving their best effort when they’re out there to do that, but they do play with a lot of energy.”
Coffie said it comes down to working on focus.
“Getting our mental toughness right,” he said.
When the defense isn’t getting in its own way, it is elite.
Lineman Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu (11 tackles for loss, 8 sacks) is one of the top recruits in the Class of 2026. Coffie (7 tackles per game, 2 sacks, 2 fumbles caused) and senior lineman Jason Lee (2 sacks, fumble recovery, fumble caused) are prominent stat-stuffers who will be playing collegiately next fall.
Junior cornerback Zachary Taylor (interception, 5 passes defensed) is an emerging star. Junior defensive back Jeremy Alo-Perry (30 tackles, 2 interceptions) and senior cornerback Avery Milligan (8 passes defensed, interception) have tremendous ball skills.
“We’ve got a bunch of dawgs on our team,” Coffie said.
But what separates this Jordan defense from most great high school defenses is the depth.
Guys like senior defensive back Rocky Alo-Perry, senior defensive back Roc Tenpenny, senior linebacker Mason Baird, junior defensive back Austin Baird.
The list goes on.
Senior linebacker Owen Lindsey. Senior linebacker Carlos Bravo-Farias. Sophomore defensive lineman Elijah Wright.
“You saw extra secondary guys get in there and do well,” Rabe said after the Cinco Ranch game. “You see we can rotate our linebackers and rotate our defensive line, and there’s no real drop-off in it. It’s impressive what Coach Babin and his staff have done with our defense.”
Cinco Ranch entered last week’s game against Jordan boasting 19-6A’s top quarterback in Charlie Adamoli and two of its top five receivers in Scott Eckel and Drew Tureau.
The Warriors did not play zone. They went press man, daring the Cougars to try and beat them one-on-one.
It didn’t happen.
“We have trust in everybody,” Taylor said. “Our coaches trust us. We’re fast, we’re athletic. We know we can keep up with those types of receivers. We held our own. We were very comfortable.”
Natural talent and skill? Check.
Depth? Check it.
Scheme flexibility? Check.
Experience? In spades.
“Especially against Cinco Ranch, you could see we understood the schemes,” Coffie said. “We were calling out plays from the jump.”
The Warriors’ defense returned seven defensive starters from last year’s team.
“We know each other,” Taylor said. “We know how each other plays. So, we really know how to play as a team.
“We know we’re good. We have a lot of confidence and we know how to win.”
Coffie was a freshman when the school opened in 2020. He has seen the program go from nothing to one worthy of a top-20 state ranking.
Some—most?—of Jordan’s growth this season is natural evolution. Coaches and players maturing year by year, getting more comfortable with themselves and each other.
Playing for one another.
“Ever since I was a freshman, everyone has been getting better and better,” Coffie said. “We’ve all grown together. We’re all closer together. We have a tight family going on here, and we’re just going to keep that going.”