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For New Albany, it is all about the defense, and it was that group that posted their second shutout of the year, leading the Bulldogs in their 14-0 win at Corinth on Friday.
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“We tried to tell everyone coming into this season that we’re going to rely on our defense and get what we can on offense, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” head coach Ron Price said. “We’ve scored enough to get the win, and our defense has played lights out. We want to put 40 points on the board like we did last year, but as long as we’re scoring more points than the other team, I’m happy with the win.”
The defense was tested early on after a fumble by Riley Alef set the Warriors up at the New Albany 33 yard line. New Albany would hold them to a field goal attempt, which was missed from 43 yards out, and Spencer Day later connected with Josh Hardin in the second quarter to put the ‘Dawgs up 6-0.
Corinth later missed another field goal with less than a minute before the half, and Day scored the Bulldogs’ second touchdown on a six yard run at the 4:37 mark in the fourth quarter, and after hitting Riley Alef with the two point conversion, New Albany was up 14-0.
“That’s a new position for me, playing fullback, but I enjoy it, and if it’s helping out,” Alef said of his offensive contribution. “I’ll do it. It’s fun getting the ball in your hands a little more, but the offense is going to pick it up by division time. We’ll be ready.”
“That’s Riley’s character and the senior class’ character,” Price added about the senior. “I’m so thankful that they all wear New Albany uniforms. Riley is dying to do everything he can for us, whether it be on defense or at tight end or fullback on offense, he’s the type of kid that wants to help in any way possible. He puts the team first, and he wants to do whatever he can. We have a lot of kids like that, and that’s why we’ve been successful so far this year.”
Boston Newsome led the offense with 153 rushing yards on 25 carries, while Alef had 13 tackles, followed by Brady Barnes with 11 and Jay Robinson with 10.
"Our team starts with those guys, and they're doing an outstanding job," Price said of the defense. "It's a team effort; everyone is making big plays. I'm so proud of them, and it's been two weeks now with no points. That's hard to pay the kind we had last week that threw the ball every play, then come out tonight against a football team with good players at the skill positions, and our defensive team had a great effort tonight."
"Shutouts are always special, for the defense," Alef added. "When they don't score, we can't lose, and that's even better. Even if the offense is struggling, we're putting up shutouts, and there's nothing they can do. We can't lose."
The win makes New Albany 4-1 heading into their final non-division game against Cleveland next week. Both Alef and Price hope the critics have been silenced, as they have so far posted successful wins.
“People have downgraded us, called us the underdogs, but 4-1 says it right there, and I think my class passed last years with most wins in our high school careers, so that’s a special one, too,” Alef said.
“When you’re a good football team, you expect good things to happen,” Price said. “That’s what these kids do. They don’t doubt themselves or what we’re doing, and they know sooner or later something big is going to happen. Like Spencer Day diving in across the pylon and the defense making big plays on third and fourth down. That’s just the team we have this year.”
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