Multi-faceted players highlight elite football team

Defenses have become more complex at all levels, including high school. Coaches are asking their athletes to be multi-dimensional in all facets of the game.

Many players on The Ottawa Herald all-area defensive team fit that mold.

Here are the 2007 defensive team members:

Billy Looker, senior

Anderson County, linebacker

Looker was a player offensive coaches were aware of. Stopping him was another chore.

Looker averaged 8.1 tackles this season. He had 20 solo and 53 assisted tackles and an interception.

Izaak Winter, senior

Anderson County, linebacker

Winter and Looker gave the Bulldogs bookend linebackers. Winter made plays all over the field.

He led the Bulldogs with 8.4 tackles per game. He made 18 solo and 58 assisted tackles. He also had four fumble recoveries.

Vince Croci, junior

Central Heights, linebacker

Croci was a sure-tackler. He could lower the boom on opposing ball carriers. He also had a bit of speed to run them down.

The Viking junior finished with 34 solo and 58 assisted tackles. He also had four quarterback sacks.

He was a big cog in the Viking offense, blocking for Bob Wolfe at fullback.

Jeremiah Wingate, senior

Central Heights, linebacker

Wingate was a game changer wherever he was on the field. On defense, he was a finisher.

He was also opportunistic. He returned an interception and a fumble for a touchdown. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the playoff win over Galena.

He finished with 20 solo and 24 assisted tackles.

On offense, he caught 11 passes for 253 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Jareb Matney, senior

Ottawa, linebacker

Matney’s mobile frame allowed him to be in pursuit of opposing ball carriers.

The Cyclone finished with 13 solo and 33 assisted tackles. He has one quarterback sack. He also was a stalwart on the offensive line.

Brandon Turner, senior

Ottawa, linebacker

Turner was another playmaker. He was put in the middle of the defense to be a ballhawk.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound linebacker led the Cyclone defense with 19 solo and 40 assisted tackles.

Turner also was counted upon to make plays on offense. He even made the move to running back for a couple of games.

He rushed for 55 yards and scored a touchdown. As a receiver, he caught four passes for 59 yards and scored a touchdown.

Turner is a repeat selection from 2006.

Chase Jones, senior

Wellsville, linebacker

Jones was all over the field for the Eagles. He led Wellsville with 101 tackles.

He also had three fumble recoveries and an interception.

Chase McCullough, junior

Wellsville, defensive back

McCullough headed up the defensive backfield for the Eagles. He had four interceptions and was the third-leading tackler for Wellsville.

Vince Ryburn, sophomore

Wellsville, linebacker

Ryburn was another player who made plays from sideline to sideline.

The young Eagle was the second-leading tackler with 95. He also had two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Charlie Bollinger, senior

West Franklin, defensive back

Bollinger played much bigger than his 145-pound frame. He hardly came off the field for the Falcons.

He had an eye for the ball. He finished with 43 tackles and six interceptions.

The Falcon was a stalwart on special teams. He returned punts and kickoffs. He had a 20-yard kickoff return average.

Nathan Fine, junior

West Franklin, defensive line

Fine has become a fine lineman on both sides of the ball. He is a two-year starter on both lines.

He finished with 46 tackles this past season.

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com.