Friday October 20, 2006

McBryde Leading Way For Saints

Shiloh Senior Dominant At Defensive End

By Brandon Harris
Special To The Morning News

SPRINGDALE — Brandon McBryde has heard it all his life.

The 6-foot, 208-pound Shiloh Christian defensive end has been told ever since junior high that he was too small, too weak and too short to make a difference on the defensive line.

Now, as a senior, he's leading the No. 1 Saints (7-0, 4-0 3A-1 Conference) in sacks for the second straight season, and the critics are nowhere to be found.

"I've always been told I wasn't quite good enough, fast enough, tall enough or heavy enough to play," McBryde said. "I've always used that as motivation to work harder in the weight room, do a couple extra sprints and things like that."

But he's had to do more than just work hard — he's had to completely change his game.

McBryde spent his sophomore season getting dominated in practice by former Shiloh offensive linemen Matt Stewart and Guthrie Chapman, both of whom were substantially bigger and stronger.

"I was always taught to engage the offensive lineman and try to overpower them," McBryde said. "But (Stewart and Chapman) just picked me up, threw me down and were like, 'Dude, you're not doing that.'"

Then McBryde got a few words of advice from former Shiloh linebacker Jordan Lee, who suggested that McBryde try going to the outside and taking advantage of his speed.

It was some of the best advice McBryde has ever received.

"Most defensive ends are all about bulking up, but I'm more about trying to keep my lateral speed down to where I can get around people," McBryde said. "Now, I just try to get around (offensive linemen) fast enough so that they can't get anywhere or do anything because they're too slow."

And the results speak for themselves. McBryde led the Saints with six sacks last season and has already racked up four this year, including two in Shiloh's 49-48 victory over Class 5A Greenwood.

"In the second half of that game, we played really good defense, and Brandon was a big part of that," Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said. "He got some crucial sacks at some crucial times, and that's what you want. Big players need to make big plays."

Shiloh's defense has continued to impress, too, as the Saints have allowed just 14 points and one offensive touchdown in conference play. Another test comes tonight when the Saints host conference newcomer Cedarville (4-3, 2-2 3A-1) and its diamond-T offense.

McBryde said he must take a break from his role as a playmaker and stick to his responsibility of stopping the run between the tackles.

"If you do your responsibility as a linemen, (the other team) isn't going to go anywhere," McBryde said. "But the minute you start getting selfish, they start running the reverse, getting 20 yards and you start looking really bad."

Tonight's Ticket

Cedarville at No. 1 Shiloh Christian

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. tonight

RECORDS: Shiloh Christian Saints 7-0 overall, 4-0 3A-1 Conference; Cedarville Pirates 4-3, 2-2 3A-1

RANKINGS: Shiloh is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A in Arkansas by Hooten's Arkansas Football. Cedarville is No. 24.

HOOTEN'S LINE: Shiloh by 35