Birmingham’s defense shines again in 42-6 semifinal victory

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I know I had a lot to say about RB Milton Knox’s performance, but it was the Birmingham defense that carried the Patriots to a 42-6 victory over Crenshaw in a Championship Division semifinal on Friday night.

The Patriots held Crenshaw to negative-2 yards rushing and kept QB Cameron Hart under control. Sure, Hart had a decent game, connecting on 11 of 35 passes for 174 yards and a TD, but if that’s all you’re giving up, then you’re going to win a lot of games.

‘The defense played great tonight,’ Birmingham Coach Ed Croson said. ‘I thought we really kept them in check the whole time.... I’m really happy with where we’re at as a team heading into next week.’

A few guys on Birmingham’s defense who raised my eyebrows were safety Okechukwu Meke and linemen Malik Jackson and Richard Garcia. Meke blocked a Hart pass in the end zone to prevent a first-half Cougar TD and Jackson and Garcia each had two sacks. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Jackson also swatted down a couple of pass attempts.

And it’s because of players like these that Birmingham is a lock for its second consecutive section title.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image from www.storyboardtoys.com