Zero tolerance defines East Ridge football defense

East Ridge safety Sam Cobbs isn't happy when his defense gives up points.

After a recent game, a 35-7 victory by the Raptors, Cobbs told one of his coaches those seven points allowed would bug him all week.

"Our goal is to shut out every team," said Cobbs, a senior captain and three-year starter.

Cobbs and East Ridge haven't been disappointed often. Heading into last Friday's Suburban East Conference showdown with Mounds View, the Raptors — one of the top-ranked teams in Class 6A — allowed only 21 points in their six games, an average of 3.5 points per game. The total was the fewest allowed in Class 6A through six games and second only to Minneapolis North's 12 points allowed among teams in all classes.

East Ridge defensive coordinator Dave Fritze said he's tried to implement a disciplined defense. Three of East Ridge's four captains play defense — Cobbs, senior cornerback Jack Dwyer and senior defensive lineman Kyle Kilgore.

"We really emphasize being smart," Fritze said. "We teach technique football. We get guys in the right position and let them make plays."

Fritze, who was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March, is in his 31st year as a Minnesota high school football coach. He was a longtime assistant coach at Apple Valley before being head coach at Eagan for 16 years.

Starting the season 6-0, East Ridge recorded three shutouts, allowed only 115 total yards per game and a paltry 1.3 yards per carry on running plays.

"It all starts up front," said Cobbs, who leads the team with three interceptions. "Our run-stopping has been incredible. I've never been on a defense this good and this well-rounded."

Fritze said East Ridge's defensive line, coached by Bryce Jones, has been the heart and soul of the team.

The line is anchored by a big trio. The interior nose guard spot is filled by 6-1, 305-pound junior Logan Pantilla. Kilgore, at 6-3 and 245 pounds, plays defensive end, and 6-3, 285-pound junior Jo Jo Garcia plays defensive tackle. Garcia, who has scholarship offers from the Gophers, Michigan State and Western Michigan, is ranked as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the state for the 2016 class by some recruiting websites.

Fritze ran a 4-4 defense at Eagan, Apple Valley and in his first season at East Ridge. But after seeing a number of shotgun, pistol and spread offenses from opponents, East Ridge implemented a 3-4 defense, which gets quicker players on the field.

East Ridge entered the season with question marks at some positions, but those have been answered.

Though it returned three of four starting defensive backs, the Raptors lost their top two tacklers and their sack leader from the 2013 season to graduation. The void that been addressed by senior inside linebackers Taylor Wood and Dillon Gutenberg and junior outside linebacker Alex Johnson. Wood leads the Raptors with 24 tackles while Johnson has a team-high seven sacks and is third in tackles with 21. Gutenberg has 19 tackles, three sacks and an interception.

"The linebackers have been one of our biggest surprises," Fritze said. "We believed they could be good. But they've far surpassed our expectations."

Cobbs said it's been fun putting up good statistics on defense, but the only numbers he thinks about before or during games is the final score. Cobbs added the best might be yet to come.

"I don't think we've even reached our full potential yet," he said.