In football, toughness and aggressiveness are the name of the game. Especially for Scottsdale Prep’s defense.

“The No.1 thing is that we are just way more aggressive on defense,” coach David Primavera said. “We have more experience and confidence on defense.”

Forced turnovers and made tackles from behind the line of scrimmage have come in greater bunches than last season.

“We’re playing more downhill,” Spartans defensive back Simeon Walther said. “Last year at times we would be pushed back and we would just figure out a way to tackle a guy to the floor.”

In 2017, Scottsdale Prep surrendered 70 points in its first game. Following the blowout loss, Primavera’s team allowed 40 or more points in six more games.

The Spartans finished the season at 0-10 but the struggles of last year are now a thing of the past. Scottsdale Prep is allowing only 21 points per game in its 4-1 start.

“(In) our first game our defense played exceptionally well,” Primavera said. “After that game, I think the kids started to believe in themselves.”

The Scottsdale Prep defense has been led by a host of players.

Leading the Spartans in tackles is sophomore Thomas Reinhardt who has 51 total tackles. Reinhardt’s ability to make plays on the Spartans defense is indicative of his personality and love for football.

“He has a strong family history in football,” Primavera said. “He’s one of those guys who loves watching, playing (and) just being around football.”

“He’s in on tons and tons of tackles,” Walther said.

The captain of the secondary, according to Primavera, has been Walther. As a senior, Walther has 33 tackles and a fumble recovery. Walther is also known as the most vocal player on the Spartans.

But the unsung hero of the Spartans is middle linebacker Clark Benham.

“He basically does anything you ask him to do on defense,” Primavera said. “The way he plays has allowed the other people to play with that same aggression.”

The improvement of the Spartans defense is likely to continue next season. Scottsdale Prep will bring back much of its defense from 2018.

Primavera’s defense will only lose four starting seniors on that side of the ball in 2018.

Even with an inexperienced core coming off of a winless campaign, the Spartans defense has exceeded all expectations in 2018.

“I think that our defense has greatly improved this year because of the coaching and because of the players,” Spartans starting quarterback Oscar Frias said. “What matters more is how we are mentally and I think that we have greatly improved in that way.”