RON SEIBEL: Lee County’s defensive calling card louder than ever

LEESBURG — In one play Saturday against Dr. Phillips of Orlando, Baron Hopson epitomized the level at which the Lee County defense can play.

During the second half, the sophomore linebacker had a good angle on the Dr. Phillips quarterback. He put a good hit on him, jarring the ball loose.

A Dr. Phillips player scooped the ball up and went to the outside, trying to find an open lane. But who was there to stop that runner for a tackle for loss? Hopson, who popped right back up after his meeting with the QB.

That’s the sort of speed, strength and hustle Lee County defenses have been known for under head coach Dean Fabrizio.

“We’ve got a tough defense,” said Hopson, who received a scholarship offer alongside fellow sophomore Chauncey Magwood from Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh last fall. “We’ve got a lot of leaders. We’ve got a lot of bark.”

So far this season, that Lee County defense seems to be playing at an even higher level.

In the season opener, a 47-6 win over Dougherty, the Lee County defense held Dougherty to minus-70 yards — no, not a misprint — and did not allow an offensive score. Granted, Dougherty’s offense was taking part in its first game under new head coach Damien Gary, but Lee County’s defensive efficiency was strong.

Saturday’s Dr. Phillips game, a 35-3 Lee County victory, provided more of a challenge. Lee County’s offense and special teams had three first-half turnovers in Trojans territory, with one of those turnovers coming inside the Lee County 10.

Fumble three times on the minus-side of the field against a large-school state champion from Florida, and that’s just asking for a bunch of points to go up on the board.

Lee County’s defense, however, was up to the task. The only points that hit the board came from a short field goal.

While Dr. Phillips had heavy graduation losses on offense, getting out of that sort of field position situation and surrendering just three points is impressive.

“We saw what we thought we were going to see, and that’s the best defense we’re going to see all year,” Dr. Phillips head coach Rodney Wells said. “It’s ugly right now and the kids feel bad, but after playing a defense like that, we won’t see another one like that in the state of Florida.”

Strong defense is a Lee County calling card. The unit’s top players, like Aubrey Solomon (Michigan) and Otis Reese (Georgia), go on to anchor defenses at big-time programs. This year’s defense already has one Big Ten commitment (DeAngelo Carter, Minnesota) and likely will have at least two more (Tay Mayo, Jammie Robinson) commit to power-five programs.

Without allowing a defensive touchdown in two games, Lee County’s defense is setting a high bar early on. An even bigger test awaits this Friday when Peach County, a team with a high-powered offense that finished as the Class 3A runner-up last year, travels to Leesburg.

Then, of course, there’s the whopper of a region schedule that awaits Lee County, with state-ranked Coffee, Valdosta and Northside-Warner Robins waiting later on this season.

Plenty of challenges are ahead. So far, Lee County’s defense is up to answering them.

“I think by the end of the season we could be better (than last year),” Hopson said. “It’s just the way we work. It’s not the personnel. It’s just the players’ hearts we have, the way we just keep getting better every day.”

Contact sports editor Ron Seibel at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RonSeibel.