SUN VALLEY — Slant patterns used to fool Michael Paynter.
“I used to bite on them,” the junior defensive back said, “but I didn’t bite on this one.”
On the opening play of the second half, Sun Valley Poly showed a Cover-3 look. Paynter, occupying the deep middle safety spot, read the route as Chavez High’s receiver broke it across the hash marks. Paynter jumped it, hauling in an interception.
Paynter couldn’t put his finger on one single alteration that has helped him to guard slants. He pondered that it might be because he listens more intently to his head coach Derrell Daniels. Daniels, though, credited Paynter’s mind for the improvement.
“He’s very instinctive,” Daniels said.
Paynter’s intuition was present when he jumped the slant. It was also a key factor in the play that sealed Poly’s 14-8 win on a Friday night where the Parrots defense made up for its lack of offensive production. The Parrots (3-1) gained just 41 total yards, in their opening East Valley League game, but forced Chavez (1-2) into four turnovers.
The most crucial was Paynter’s second interception. No slant pattern to sniff out, but his instincts were just as imperative.
Trailing 14-8 with 27 seconds remaining, facing fourth-and-26, Chavez tried to keep its potentially game-winning drive alive with trickery. Paynter and the Parrots weren’t to be tricked. Quarterback Abraham Campos threw a lateral to wide receiver Charles Cubias, who lofted a pass downfield, past the sticks, but right into double coverage and Paynter’s waiting arms.
A kneel down was all that was left for the Parrots. That play, which usually signifies the end of a ball game, resembled much of what Poly displayed on the offensive side on Friday. If not for the field position that defensive stops and forced turnovers offered them, they may have gone scoreless.
“That’s where the defense can help the offense,” Daniels said. “It’s easier to score on a 30-yard field than it is to score on an 80-yard field.”
Apart from its opening drive, and another one in the fourth quarter, Poly’s defense gave its offense positive field position each time.
On Chavez’s first play from scrimmage, Poly’s linebacker Jayden Cardines recovered a fumble, setting the offense up on the 42-yard line. Nine plays later, Damian Rosales trotted in for the opening touchdown.
“He’s a tough kid,” Daniels said about Rosales. “He runs hard no matter what.”
Rosales led the Parrots, gaining 40 total yards on the ground.
With 7:25 to go in the second quarter, Paynter broke up a post route which forced the Eagles to punt. The snap flew over the punter’s head and the Parrots took over on the 10-yard line. Rosales scored on the following play.
For the remainder of the night, the Parrots weren’t able to move the ball into the red zone. They put their defense at a disadvantage and gave Chavez multiple chances to capture the lead. The Eagles drove into plus territory twice in the final seven minutes, but were unable to capitalize.
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The first time, defensive end Demian Semaoya came up with a tackle for loss on a screen pass on third-and-7. The second time, the ball ended up in Paynter’s grasp on that fourth-and-26 prayer.
“We don’t do a lot defensively,” Daniels said. “It’s just line up, and play football.”
Paynter exemplifies that, trusting his instincts to corral a pair of interceptions and lead the Parrots to an ugly, but gritty victory.