Ryan Sykora is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Pinnacle High School for AZPreps365.com

Three hundred and twenty three.

That number certainly rang in the ears of the Pinnacle Pioneers defensive players over the spring and summer of 2022.

The number stands for what though?

It’s the total amount of points that the Pioneers gave up in the 12 games last season.

That’s an average of 26.9 points per game. When considering the talent Pinnacle has compared to its peers, that number had to change.

It needed to be lower.

“We run a different type of defense (to last year’s team),” said Brady Ponce, a senior defensive lineman. “I feel like we all have that same vision for where this team can go.”

A team captain, Ponce is one of the defense’s emotional leaders up front. That position of stature means he is well aware of what the defense needed to do and how it has improved this fall.

“We lost our whole starting linebackers [last year] due to graduating seniors,” said Ponce, who was a linebacker last year before making the move to the trenches.

Pinnacle (3-1) has made two major changes on defense. The Pioneers switched from a 4-3 to more of a 3-3-5 and are playing with more spirit.

“This year's team has way more energy than last year’s team,” said Jack Franklin, a junior defensive lineman. “Both sides of the line have improved too.”

On the surface, the move to 3-3-4 has worked.

Through four games this season, Pinnacle has allowed 19.5 points per game, that’s down an entire touchdown from 2021.This is with Liberty putting up 49 points on the Pioneers.

Liberty may very well be the best team in the state, as well as a Top 25 team in the country.

The defense has become more unique, more complex and attuned to what Pinnacle’s roster has.

“We have a smaller equipped defensive line,” Ponce said. “Doing a 3-3-5 allows us to shift and use our speed to our advantage.”

The Pioneers have 11.5 sacks through four games. At this same stage last year, they had nine.

Pinnacle got smaller up front, yet more effective in their pass rush, something that doesn’t often happen at the high school level.

The Pioneers also have more guys playing multiple downs, utilizing their unique shifts and formation to stay fresh and keep themselves in drives at all times.

Pinnacle has only forced two turnovers all season but have consistently weathered long drives to force stops on fourth down or missed field goals. The Pioneers forced Queen Creek off the field on 4th down on four separate occasions in a 39-13 win last month.

Pinnacle has been consistent in its defensive mentality on 3rd and 4th down.

Blitz.

“Having all the movement upfront,” Ponce said. “It tends to make it harder for the offensive line to pick up blitzes and keep a steady pocket.”

Ponce himself is the prime example of what this defense has done for the individuals within the team. A linebacker during his junior season, Ponce was playing both sides of the ball as an h-back/tight end for Pinnacle alongside his linebacker role.

The switch to a 3-3-5 forced Ponce to make a move to the front lines. He stopped playing tight end and fully moved his attention to being the best defensive lineman he could be in his senior season.

Ponce believes it has worked out for the better.

“I feel like it has really helped me out,” he said.

Everyone else on the Pinnacle roster feels like that, including the offense.

“I think one of the biggest factors in our success has been our defense,” Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Horton said. “They’ve done an incredible job as of late, setting us up with great field position and keeping the other team out of the end zone.

Success this year for Pinnacle might be registered in rings, not wins. It’s a welcomed return to the big time after two or so years away from the spotlight.

The whole group is synced up. The offense, always high octane under the likes of Spencer Rattler and JD Johnson, is back to its best with Horton and his dynamic targets on the outside, seniors Duce Robinson and Myles Libman.

Pinnacle's special teams is contributing well in the battle for field position, but the defense has made the biggest leap from one year to the next. 

“We’re clicking on all three phases of the game and if we continue, we are going to be tough to beat,” Horton said.