By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mount St. Joseph defensive lineman Eric Johnson could have walked away from football after graduating with a sociology degree in May. But the 6-foot, 300-pound Withrow product didn't want to squander a chance to anchor one of the stingiest Division III defenses in the country.

"I didn't want to turn my back on the game," said "Big E," who is earning a second degree, working part-time and harboring big football plans. "I stuck with it because of the potential I saw."

Two years ago, the Mount was 0-10. Going into Saturday's 24-0 win over Bluffton, the Lions boasted the No. 5 rushing defense in NCAA Division III, allowing 60.5 yards a game. Not only do the Lions have the No. 10 scoring defense (9.8 points a game) and No. 18 total defense (242.7 yards per game), but they're atop the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings and they've won a school-best six games.

Coach Rod Huber couldn't be more thrilled. He also couldn't be more cautious. As soon as the wins started rolling in, he told his players one thing: "Twenty-four months ago, you didn't win a game, so don't get cocky."

Huber, the Lions' former defensive coordinator, had hoped to initiate the complicated defensive schemes years ago. The personnel had trouble adapting, so Huber described himself as "a very boring guy" and stuck to a vanilla 4-3 scheme with no blitzing.

The current Lions, under coordinator Jim Hilvert, line up in an aggressive, blitzing 4-4.

"One thing I learned a long time ago is that if you want to win championships, you better build a defense," Huber said. "We're about that. We're putting a lot of stock in a lot of different players."

The Mount's strength begins in the trenches with ends Eric Schneider and Pat McAtee, and tackles Mike Holzinger and Johnson. Robbie Phillips, P.J. Volker, Brooks Klosterman and Andrew Ackerman lead the linebacking corps. Andy Ransick, Jeff Williams, Tyler Blair and David Sanders are among the go-to defensive backs.

Huber said the defense has a certain "magic" about it. He gets a kick out of the players' self-imposed nickname: The Dark Side. Besides wearing Dark Side T-shirts to school every Friday, the defensive players break their huddles with a resounding "Dark Side!" he said.

McAtee, the reigning HCAC defensive player of the year, laughed when asked about it. He said its meaning is hard to explain.

"We came up with it in practice one day," said McAtee, who has registered 40 tackles and six sacks this season. "I guess you could say it's like we're flying around in a dark cloud, coming after the ball carrier."

While the Mount's offense has its own gems - including quarterback Mike Dane and running back Ricky Story - the program hopes to ride its defense to the postseason.

Johnson, who's playing his last season with the Mount after transferring from a California junior college, said the Lions' defensive mechanics have finally come together.

"In other years, everyone wanted to win," agreed Klosterman, the team tackling leader. "Now we expect to win."

Others

University of Cincinnati senior Valerie King and junior Debbie Merrill were named to the preseason All-Conference USA Women's Basketball team.

• University of Cincinnati senior midfielder Tim Brown was named to the Soccer America Magazine National Team of the Week Wednesday for his game-winning goal in overtime against No. 5 Saint Louis.

• Four Mount Saint Joseph athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Players of the Week honors this week. Men's cross country runner Kurtis Smith (Elder) placed 24th in the Oct. 18 Ohio Northern Polar Bear Invitational, running the 8K course in 26:45.

• Defensive back Jeff Williams was named Defensive Football Player of the Week after making five tackles and two interceptions, defending five passes and blocking a field goal in the Lions' 17-0 win over Defiance Oct. 18.

• Jessey Spradlin (Northwest) posted game-winning goals in the women's soccer team's wins over Franklin and Bluffton.

• Outside hitter Jayne Kemphaus (McAuley) had 56 kills, 53 digs, eight blocks, two aces and one assist in the volleyball team's Fall Classic.

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E-mail srussell@enquirer.com