C.C. Thomas
Sports Scene
When watching the Nouvel Catholic Central football team this year, the speed and talent of the Panthers’ offense is very evident.
But coach Mike Boyd really wants fans to pay attention to his team’s defense.
“It’s been the key to our success this year,” he said. “We have weapons offensively, but the key to our success is our defense.”
This year, Nouvel’s defense held opponents to 67 total points. In their season finale, the Panthers shut out Freeland 37-0.
“We kind of fell off [defensive play] the last two years,” Boyd said. “The two big reasons the defense has improved, one is experience, and two is speed. You always talk about speed on offense. But speed is just as important on defense. Our ability to close with our speed and match other team’s offense with our speed has been a big reason we have been so successful.”
The speed and experience is all over the field for the Panthers, and it can be found in senior cornerbacks Gabe Augustin and Josh Buchalski. Augustin is a three-year starter and Buchalski is a two-year starter.
Senior outside linebacker Nick Hammis is a three-year starter on defense who also plays wide receiver on offense.
“We get after it and fly around,” Hammis said. “We all click as one, and we have so much speed out there that it’s not funny. So we just fly around and make plays.”
And they are smart.
“They are a very experienced group on that side,” Boyd said. “We have so many guys coming back from last year. They are very experienced and intelligent. We have guys that understand our defensive concept very well and recognize it and get into position to make plays.”
Hammis says that experience helps add a level of trust when the ball is snapped.
“We have a saying here at Nouvel — ‘TYT,’ which means Trust Your Teammate,” Hammis said. “That’s how we feel with this defense, we play as one.”
Boyd says it’s been a pleasure watching this group, and he hopes that he can watch it for five more games during the playoffs all the way to a spot at Ford Field playing for a state championship.
“Our first-team group has only given up three scores this year,” Boyd said. “I don’t know [if we’ll win a state championship]. I think we are experienced enough, but there are some good football teams out there. You have to have things go your way. We have had good teams in the past that haven’t done that.”
Hammis says the whole team is ready for a run at a state title.
“I think we can take it to the next level,” Hammis said. “I know we’re ready.”