OVFL: Defence acting as Grenadiers’ pulse

Another week, another win for the Kingston Grenadiers.

The team stayed hot and picked up their fifth win of the season behind an impressive performance from their defense who – barring the teams that have only played five games – has allowed the second-least points in the OVFL.

And that has clearly been a driving factor for their success this season.

Head Coach Mark Magee has previously mentioned that the team encourages a “one play at a time” philosophy, but as the weeks progress, it has become undeniable that winning goes through the Grenadiers’ defense.

In the game preview, the team’s effectiveness against opposing offenses was highlighted. Namely, their average of points allowed per game (seven), their conference-leading fumbles (eleven), and the front-seven’s notable work in stopping the run.

But what has often gone overlooked is their suffocating secondary. In six games, they have picked off rival quarterbacks at least once, and on the season, they tally up at a total of 17 interceptions. For some perspective: that’s 3 interceptions per game on average.

The offense fares well, too. But time and again it has been the defense that acts as the anchor for the Grenadiers. Quarterback Tanner Dejong has experienced plenty of success this summer, throwing for just under a thousand yards and holding a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but in games where he’s lacked efficiency, the defense has picked up the pieces.

In Week 3, when Dejong threw for just 79 yards, the defense let up a total of 3 points. And while they allowed 257 yards passing, they clogged up the middle and limited the opposing team’s run game to 34 yards. Again, as Magee has said, the Grenadiers simply find ways to win by “taking what the other team gives [them] and trying to find holes in [the opposition’s] plan.”

Against the Wildcats, in Week 6, Dejong again threw for under one hundred yards and the defense recorded their first shutout. They had four sacks, two fumbles, two batted balls, an interception, and even a blocked kick.

When the offense plays well, the Grenadiers win easily. In the four games Dejong has thrown for at least 150 yards, the team’s record is 3-0-1. But when they struggle, the defense’s importance is emphasized that much more because they need them to win.

The Grenadiers pride themselves on being balanced – and in many respects they are. But teams around the league should take note: if they want to get past the Grenadiers, they will likely have to beat a defense that isn’t beat often.

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