Bearcat defense returns to form when it matters most

Ruston's defensive dominance over the last two months shows there is something to the cliche of it's not how you start; it's how you finish.

In late October, Ruston lost back-to-back district games to Neville (21-26) and ASH (40-36), allowing 721 yards over the two games and a 14-22 third-down conversion rate. It wasn't what Bearcat fans, or players and coaches for that matter, had grown accustomed to seeing out of the unit. It was Ruston's low point, a time when some wondered if the Bearcats could recapture the juice it had during its state title run the year prior.

So much for those questions.

When it's mattered most, when the Bearcats (11-2) needed to lock in if they were going to make a state title defense possible, the defense has risen to the challenge and delivered week after week, including a near shutout win, 44-7, over Destrehan on Friday in the Division I nonselect semifinal to add to what's been an amazing run of defensive performances since the two-game slide.

From gut check to now a third straight trip to the Dome, Ruston's defense didn't waver to get here. Defensive coordinator Kyle Williams wouldn't allow it. Neither would head coach Jerrod Baugh.

"He and I are a lot alike. There's a line that we draw on what is acceptable as far as attitude about going to work and what your effort is. That line stays there," Baugh said. "He doesn't bend it. He doesn't make excuses. In my opinion, that's how we've built this football program. He falls in line with that.

"Obviously, the knowledge of the game that he and other defensive coaches bring is, in my opinion, probably second to none as far as the defensive staff. The expectations of what you expect kids to do on a daily basis and the kids respond to it because the coaches love them and we're doing it for them. That's what you get."

Since the loss to ASH, Ruston's defense has allowed 902 combined yards over its five-game win streak, with opponents going just 17-53 (32%) on third down. Destrehan, who came in averaging 39.2 ppg, scored a single touchdown, had two turnovers on downs, and punted before eventually finding the end-zone.

Destrehan running back Malachi Dabney, who scored 5 TD last week at Airline, managed just 44 rushing yards against Ruston on a night that saw the Wildcats do nothing offensively until backups were well into the game.

Williams credits the defense's turnaround to a reset in mentality and the ability to recover from what was a grueling non-district slate that eventually caught up to Ruston.

"I think if you looked and watching us play right there in the middle of the season, I feel like we hit a little bit of a wall. We didn't look like we were playing with the same snap and speed that were early in the season. There were a lot of factors. We push them really hard during the week and have physical practices. We went to Texas three weeks in a row, two Saturdays, and I think getting tired kind of mounted up on them," Williams said. "Our schedule just doesn't let up. We play really good football teams and we had a couple guys bumped up and we did some things practice wise down the stretch to try to keep them fresh and get their legs back under them.

"I think that's what we're seeing now. I think they've caught their second wind. They're in shape. They're healthy. They're ready to go."

Ruston's defensive leaders, Payton Bell, Zheric Hill, Aidan Anding, Zander Hayes, and many more, have shown up when it's been needed, including Friday night. Bell finished with 3 tackles, 2 TFL, and a sack. Hill had a TFL and 5 tackles. Hayes forced a fumble and Keegan Goldsmith recovered it. Trindon Moore picked off Jackson Fields. The timely playmaking is matching overall dominance in the playoffs.

In this playoff run, Ruston has faced high-powered Zachary, Southside, and Destrehan offenses - all coming into their matchups with Ruston averaging at least 33 points a contest. The results were nowhere close. Zachary scored 16 points off their average. Southside had a single touchdown and was 26 points off their average. Even Destrehan, who scored 60 points over its previous two games, was 32 points off its average when it came time to face Ruston.

Since the 2022 postseason (11 games), the Bearcat defense has held its postseason opponents to 16.4 ppg - 18.64 points off their average in those matchups as well. This third straight trip to the Dome has seen Ruston's defense hold opponents to five touchdowns while forcing five takeaways and seven punts in the playoffs.

"Whenever plays have been needed, those guys have always answered the call," Williams said. "Payton's always come up with a big play. Zheric has always played solid as a rock. Aidan Anding, Darius Woods stepped up tonight. Trindon Moore makes a big pick. We preach to them all the time that we have to be at our best when our best is required. You're playing in December. Your best is required. These guys have jumped on it. I'm really proud of them."

Ruston will try to put one more defensive clinic in the Division I nonselect state championship against Central-Baton Rouge.