WILMINGTON, DEL — It seems part of the middle linebacker’s credo, a part of their DNA. Maybe it is why Nick McGlynn wears that I’m-going-to-stomp-you squint behind his facemask. It serves the St. Joseph’s Prep senior well. If you have the ball, McGlynn has no problem openly admitting, he will find you, then pound you.
That is all McGlynn has been doing the first two weeks of the season. Against IMG Academy in the Hawks’ season-opening 17-14 loss, he was arguably the best defender on a field filled with highly rated Division I prospects.
On Saturday afternoon in the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic football showcase at Salesianum School’s Abessinio Stadium, in Wilmington, Delaware, McGlynn was again wreaking havoc, this time on poor St. Peter’s, in Prep’s 42-0 whitewash.
Prep’s defense has been stellar so far this season, and much of that is because of the successful transition Army-bound McGlynn has made from strong-side linebacker to middle linebacker. He has been the violent eye of the Hawks’ storm. When McGlynn was awarded MVP of the St. Peter’s game, deservedly so, one of his teammates shouted out, “My God, McGlynn is smiling, his face is going to crack.”
“Yeah, I’m not too much of a smiler,” said McGlynn, who had three tackles for losses of minus-33 yards. “I was a strong-side linebacker last year. This feels a lot different (in the middle). Last year, I played a lot in space. This year, I’m playing more in the box. I’m playing more downhill.
“I like it. It feels more natural. It’s really my game. The Army likes me as an inside linebacker. This year, our defensive mindset on every play is we want to crush you. We take everything personally. As a unit, I would like to see us cause more turnovers and bigger plays.”
St. Peter’s finished with 28 total yards of offense. The Marauders ran off 36 plays, 11 of which were for negative yardage. McGlynn received considerable help from his buddies, defensive linemen Ivan Bailey-Greene, Sean McNulty, Maxwell Roy, and Alex Haskell.
But it has been McGlynn that has been the catalyst.
The Hawks’ defense rides on his example.
“If there is one thing Nick is, that’s consistent in his effort and consistent in his discipline,” Hawks’ coach Tim Roken said. “It’s who he is, whether it’s in the classroom, how he carries himself off the field and on the football field. Moving to the middle was an adjustment for him.
“It’s a different world inside for him, as opposed to the edge. He has shown the ability to play in space and inside. There’s talent within our defense. Our coaches do a phenomenal job of putting our players in a position to be successful. We still have some growing to do. As a defense, we have to go back to work and keep trying to play that perfect game.”
The St. Peter’s game was over by halftime. Well, more likely, by the opening kickoff. Prep senior back-up quarterback Jack O’Connor, starting in place of resting starter Samaj Jones, threw for one touchdown and ran for another. He showed a strong pocket presence and a smooth touch.
Isaiah West, Erik Sanchez, and Taj Dyches all rushed for touchdowns, giving the Hawks a commanding 35-0 lead by halftime.
Prep piled up 247 yards of total offense, while the real story of the game, and so far this season has been the defense.
The Hawks held St. Peter’s to minus-37 yards of total offense in the first half, pushing the Marauders back for eight negative plays of the 22 offensive plays St. Peter’s ran the first two quarters.
McGlynn and Roy combined for five tackles for losses for minus-38 yards.
Of St. Peter’s two first downs in the first half, one came from a penalty and the other generated by the offense. The Marauders crossed midfield once in six possessions.
“I think this year we’re a defense that wants to punch you in the face more,” said the Hawks’ McNulty, a two-year starter at defensive end. “Alex is 10 times better than I was last year and he’s just a sophomore, Ivan is better than anybody I know on that field, and Max has really developed as a great player. I knew coming into this season, IMG would be a challenge, but all of the work we put in is coming through.
“We’re seeing how much of a powerhouse defense we can be. I’ve been on varsity for three years. My older brother was on the (Prep) 2013 state championship team, and that was a great defense, so I can’t say this is the best Prep defense I’ve seen. But our box is the strongest it’s been in many years, and I’m proud to say that I’m a part of that.”
Scoring Summary
St. Peter’s (0-2) 0 0 0 0-0
St. Joe’s Prep (1-1) 21 14 7 0-42
1st Quarter
SJP – Jack O’Connor 2 run (Skyler Sholder kick), 7:26
SJP – Isaiah West 3 run (Sholder kick), 4:17
SJP – Erik Sanchez 61 run (Sholder kick), :04
2nd Quarter
SJP – Taj Dyches 5 run (Sholder kick), 7:01
SJP – Elijah Jones 7 pass from O’Connor (Sholder kick), 3:51
3rd Quarter
SJP – Khyan Billups 32 run (Ryan Miller kick), 5:20
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball.
