Published: Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 / Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 12:51 AM

Rock Hill's defensive standouts might be small in stature, but they're big hitters

The football players on defense at Rock Hill High school have heard the buzz.

"They sure are quick. They sure can hit. They know how to close and cut off a play. The are on the quarterback before he can hand off the ball.''

What they don't hear as much after taking the state by storm and turning around two down seasons with an 11-2 record, is that they are really small.

That was known before the first snap of the regular season back in August.

But that assessment is so true. Kind of bears a resemblance to the old "Fire Ants'' defense years ago at the University of South Carolina. Most Class A school have bigger players, but it would be hard to find a defense in any classification that plays as hard and works as well together as the "Mighty Mites'' at Rock Hill High School.

The Bearcats are reaping the rewards, advancing to the Class AAAA Division I semifinals at Sumter on Friday. The winner plays for the state championship on Dec. 6 in Clemson.

The mastermind of the unit is defensive coordinator Mike Martin, who for years has taken the fastest 11 players he could find and put them on defense rather than big kids who might be a couple of steps slower.

Early this season, the Bearcats played with a pair of 5-foot-6, 160-pound (soaking wet Bearcats coach Joe Montgomery said) defensive tackles -- Dominique Cathcart and Ty Blackmon. Their top defensive back is Xavier McFadden, a little taller at 5-10 and a little heavier at 165.

"It's kind of funny,'' Cathcart said. "Me and Ty are so big that our teammates named us the 'Twin Towers.' We know going into every game that the other team's offense is going to be a lot bigger than us. The biggest guy I faced was from Blythewood, about 6-5, 300 and some change.

"Most of the time, the offensive lineman look at me and smile. They think it's going to be an easy night, but they find out it's not. I don't want those big guys touching me. I use my speed to get past them and into the backfield. But if I have to get physical, I can.''

Blackmon was moved to linebacker early on because Brandon Jackson was switched to the secondary. When asked how tall he really is, Blackmon grinned and didn't answer.

But no matter whom the Bearcats play or how big they are, opposing teams get to know Blackmon up close and personal. Cathcart and McFadden agreed that Blackmon is the team's hardest hitter.

Again, Blackmon leaned back and grinned upon hearing what he already knew.

"We're so small that all but one running back we played all season was bigger than me,'' Blackmon said. "The secret is we play together well. Other teams see us on film and can't believe we're so fast.

"And we do a good job adjusting. Last Friday, Irmo ran 10 straight plays to the side where me and Dominique were playing. Coach Martin called a time out and got us to switch what we were doing. He told us to keep two linebackers in the box and take it to them. After that, they didn't do much on offense the rest of the game.''

McFadden said when the defense is on the field, he doesn't see a lack of size. He sees 11 players filled with determination because they want to meet their goal of getting to the state championship. He sees an extended family and said everyone on the team is like a brother.

The biggest player on defense is nose guard Tae Hinton, the only player over 200 pounds at 5-10, 220. McFadden and DeLeon Boulware, who moved to tackle in place of Blackmon, are next at 5-10, 175.

Rock Hill has allowed only 148 points and 2,818 yards, averages of 217 yards and 11.4 points per game.

Cathcart has 101 tackles, 12 quarterback hurries, nine sacks, two caused fumbles, two recovered fumbles and blocked a punt he ran in for a touchdown.

Blackmon has 96 tackles, eight hurries, six sacks, six tackles for loss, a caused fumble and a recovered fumble.

McFadden has 70 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions -- one for a TD, a caused fumble and a recovered fumble.

Even with their record, No. 5 state ranking and being one win away from playing for the championship, they are not getting the respect they deserve. People seem to have forgotten that the Bearcats won state championships in 2002 and 2004.

It may be because South Pointe is 13-0 and Northwestern 12-1, and the Bearcats lost to both. The three Rock Hill teams are 36-3.

"We like being overlooked,'' McFadden said. "That takes the pressure off us and puts it on South Pointe and Northwestern. People have put us on the back burner, but we're still cooking.''

The pot is still being stirred, and McFadden said the Bearcats can keep winning if they live by what Carl Startsman, the defensive backs coach, drums into their heads.

"His pet peeve is big plays,'' McFadden said. "We swarm to the ball, strive not to give up big plays. That's one of the reasons we're still playing.''