In the defense, they trust

There are a few things that keep the Mead defense together.

There’s their long history together. There’s the trust that has been built over the course of an undefeated season. And there are the charms that coach Sean Carty keeps close.

All of those will be tested Saturday at 1 p.m. in Albi Stadium when the Panthers host Woodinville (9-2) in the quarterfinals of the State 4A football playoffs.

“I just can’t imagine not playing with this group of people,” said senior safety Andy Mattingly, headed to Washington State next year. “We have such unity. We have played together so long.”

Long enough, Carty said, to act as if they’re all part of a giant reality show.

“We’ll be mad with each other for maybe a period, then we’ll have the next class and we’ll sit right next to each other and be fine,” Mattingly said. “We’ll just forget we were mad at each other.”

That tight-knit quality has been sewn together through the uncounted practices and games this senior group has experienced since the fifth grade.

It was tested late in the season when the Mead defense’s self-described heart and soul, inside linebacker Paul Senescall, missed time with a knee injury.

“I guess I took over a coaching inspirational role,” Senescall said of how he spent the four weeks. “I tried to coach up the young guys who didn’t think they would be ready to go. If I could do that, it would be better than just sitting on the sidelines, pouting.

“I was more nervous watching the games than playing.”

The Panthers’ persevered through Senescall’s injury (posting back-to-back shutouts) before welcoming him back for the play-in game versus Wenatchee.

“It was huge having him back,” Mattingly said. “Their offense was trying to run right up the middle, in his gap, and Paul comes in and he stuffs it.”

It’s that gap control that came in handy in last Saturday’s upset of top-ranked Southridge, an upset saved when Senescall, who will play at the University of Idaho next year, shot a gap in the Suns’ line in overtime. He tripped up running back Evan White for a 3-yard loss on a third-and-1 from the Mead 4-yard line, forcing Southridge into a fourth-down pass attempt that fell incomplete.

It was a play built on faith.

“There is just a lot of trust on the defense,” Senescall said when asked about the group’s strength. “I know when I get my read and leave my gap, I know that Bryan Lynch is going to be there to fill. I trust him to be there. I don’t have to try to overachieve, to do too much.

“For a while there, people were trying to do too much and it was hurting us. Now it’s more of a team thing.”

The team, after having contained Jason Munns, the Suns’ 6-foot-6, 220-pound rocket-armed quarterback, has to turn around and face the challenge of Jordon Greek, the Falcons’ 5-10, 159-pound rocket-quick quarterback.

“You know that (Greek) is a kid who can do things,” Carty said. “He’s shifty. The smaller (quarterbacks) actually scare me even more because they can run. They can get out of trouble. They are little tougher on our big front four.”

No matter what the challenge, the Panthers have weapons no one can defend. Before every game Carty makes sure he has a $2 bill (he wore the No. 2 in his playing days), a rosary he’s had since First Communion, an Irish worry stone and a Kennedy half-dollar in his pockets.

“This has to make the paper,” Mattingly said. “Now everyone in the city will know.”