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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gonzaga Prep defense ranks among best

Gonzaga Prep’s Conor McKenna got the Bullpups off to a fast start last Saturday with this blocked punt. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

The six seniors who start on the Gonzaga Prep football team’s defense span the range of colorful personalities – from energetic, intense and outspoken contributors to the humble and quiet.

“There are some characters for sure,” defensive coordinator HT Higgins said.

One could liken the defense to a stew. It takes many ingredients to make a tasty stew, and that’s true of the Bullpups.

Each senior has had a significant impact for the 11-0 Bullpups, who entertain Woodinville (7-4) in the State 4A quarterfinals Saturday.

Higgins, a Gonzaga Prep alum who has coached at his alma mater since 1981 save for an eight-year stint at Ferris, has been around some outstanding defenses. He doesn’t know how the 2015 defense stacks up all time but he knows it must be included in the conversation of the best.

He returned to G-Prep in 2007 and took over as defensive coordinator the following year when Dave McKenna became head coach.

“This is the best defense since I’ve been back,” Higgins said.

The Bullpups have allowed 11.5 points per game. Take the season high 28 G-Prep gave up in an overtime win at Bellarmine Prep and the average falls below 10.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach some great kids,” Higgins said. “In 1986, when we won the state title, that was a wonderful group of kids, selfless kids. This group of kids is a really special group not only from an athletic standpoint but their true commitment to being selfless and putting team first.”

Easily the most valuable player and the one who strikes the most fear in opponents is senior defensive end Evan Weaver, who is headed to the University of California. The other five senior starters – defensive end Jack Machtolf, linebacker Conor McKenna, nose guard Josh Condon, linebacker Michael Chan and defensive back Reid Kincaid – have been largely overlooked because of the large shadow cast by 6-foot-4, 245-pound Weaver.

Look a little closer and Machtolf (6-0, 215), McKenna (6-1, 205) and Condon (6-0, 210) have had MVP-type seasons.

Understandably favorable to his own, Higgins says McKenna was the best linebacker in the GSL this season.

“He’s the calming influence out there,” Higgins said. “From the start as a sophomore through his senior year, he’s shown an amazing amount of grace with how he’s handled being the head coach’s son. He’s our quarterback on defense. He never takes a down off.”

McKenna kick-started G-Prep’s 42-14 win last Saturday by blocking a punt that was recovered for a touchdown. He’s blocked three punts and two field goal attempts.

He knows why the defense clicks.

“It’s the brotherhood that we have,” McKenna said. “We’re all so close. Sometimes we argue, just like (blood) brothers argue. And we’re very tight with the offense.”

McKenna, a 2 ½-year starter, leaves the boisterous stuff to his teammates.

“I yell when it’s needed but I’m not necessarily the one who is jumping around hooting and hollering,” McKenna said. “That’s not me.”

Machtolf, a three-year starter, plays opposite Weaver and is the perfect complement in G-Prep’s three-man front.

“In my humble opinion, Jack is MVP 1B,” Higgins said. “Jack is a difference maker. He’s got an amazing amount of energy. He’s like the Eveready bunny.”

Machtolf often jumps in when the scout team frames particular schemes for the offense. That’s generally a responsibility for the backups.

“Jack wants to be there and go full speed all the time,” Higgins said. “He’s developed the ability to take his high energy and corral it enough that it’s not a detriment to him or the team.”

Machtolf has blocked two punts and two field goal attempts including a key field goal attempt in G-Prep’s 13-10 win at Richland in the season opener.

“The thing I enjoy the most is the chemistry that we have,” Machtolf said. “It’s something I’ve never been part of before with my other teams. We all have deep trust for each other. It’s amazing to see. Everyone is treated the same whether you’re a three-year starter or don’t see the field. It’s more than the 11 starters each week.”

Condon, a two-year starter, agrees.

“I’m there to do my job whatever the play is,” Condon said. “If we all do what we’re coached to do, we’ll make the plays that we’re supposed to make.”

Higgins said Condon is a technician.

“He’s really been the forgotten lineman on our team,” Higgins said. “He doesn’t say a word in practice and does whatever you ask. He’s never in the wrong position. We ask him to do a lot of things that we normally wouldn’t ask most kids to do because he’s so advanced in his technique.”

Higgins has had much to smile about this season.

“The nice thing is they all have different tools in their tool box,” he said. “They’ve figured out how to mesh those tools for the maximum benefit of the group.”

The good news is the Bullpups aren’t satisfied with how they’ve played.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best yet but we’re getting there,” Conor McKenna said. “We’ve shown in bits and pieces what we can do.”