Smyrna defense lives up to hype during shutout over rival La Vergne

Michelle Burke
For The DNJ
Smyrna's Blake Watkins looks for running room during Friday's game against La Vergne.

Most felt the Smyrna football team would showcase a stingy defense in 2018.

So far, so good for the Bulldogs.

Smyrna didn't disappoint fans at Robert Raikes Stadium Friday evening in a 41-0 rout over 5-6A and crosstown rival La Vergne during Week 1.

Smyrna senior defensive lineman Marlon Alexander, a Gardner-Webb commitment, credits the Bulldogs' tough off-season workouts for their dominating performance. 

“We wanted to come out of the gates swinging,” Alexander said. “Last year, we didn’t do that and had to come down the field and win at the last second.”

Alexander said preparation has been a big key for the Bulldogs.

“We work out day in and day out," he said. "We want to hold the other team to a minimum amount of yards. The coaches prepared us with a good game plan and we had to focus on their quarterback who is really quick.” 

Smyrna wreaked havoc on La Vergne and junior quarterback Isaac Ridley.

Smyrna cornerback Da’shaun Moore, a diminutive 5-foot-5, saw plenty of action.

“Yeah, every other pass seemed to be coming my direction," Moore said. "They see that I’m short and they want to pick on me. I take it personally.

“I work as hard as I can every day and I play like its my last day.” 

Both Alexander and Moore mention the weight room as being a major part of achieving their team goals of winning the district and making a deep playoff run for the state championship.

La Vergne quarterback Issac Ridley fires a pass during Friday's loss at Smyrna.

Overseeing their workouts is Strength and Conditioning Coach Gabe Villareal, in his eighth-year with the Bulldogs. He also fills the defensive coordinator and linebacker coaching positions.

“Gritty not pretty,” said Villareal. “We may not be the biggest, fastest, or strongest, but we will not be outworked by anyone. We didn’t want to focus on aesthetics, we want to be a gritty ball club who is willing to fight and not care about anything else.

“De’shaun has been here all four years and has the heart of a car battery. He is relentless in his pursuit of technique. That is why he can go up against a 6-1 or 6-2 kid. He sticks to them like glue. And Alexander is going to have a break out year. He had a super solid, tremendous off season. He should dominate, and we expect that from him.”

Although the Bulldogs began the season with an impressive offensive output, the defense will ultimately have to win multiple games in the trenches. 

“We will never be outworked,” said Villareal. “I believe in the program that I put in front of them. We challenge them everyday to change them and make it difficult. They are stronger and more capable than last year. And they believe in the process.” 

The Bulldogs will travel to Wilson Central next week and La Vergne will host Franklin County.