Published: Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008 / Updated: Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008 12:50 AM

Trojans linebacking corps provides stiff test for foes

To be so mean and physical on the football field, Northwestern High's linebackers are about as quiet as the come.

Maybe it's just this week, and if so, who can blame them for being so focused?

On Friday night at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, the Trojans will line up against Rock Hill's newest kid on the block, the South Pointe Stallions. The game begins at 8 p.m. and will decide this year's Class AAAA Division II state championship.

You could see this one coming for weeks. South Pointe is 14-0, ranked No. 2 in the state, although if a poll were taken today the Stallions would be No. 1, and is nationally ranked.

Northwestern is 13-1, ranked No. 4 and likely would be No. 2 or No. 3 this week. The Trojans' lone loss was 28-7 to South Pointe in the regular season, and that's all the incentive Northwestern needs.

Everyone has heard of Jerel Miller and Hakeem Adams, a pair of linebackers headed to the SCADA North-South All-Star Football Game on Dec. 14 in Myrtle Beach.

But how about Tijah Green? And Brandon Williams? If it works out as the Trojans hope Friday night, everybody in the stadium will know their names.

"I don't care about being well-known or nothing like that,'' said Williams, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior. "All I care about is going out and playing my best because I know if I don't, the other three guys will have my back.

"This is not about individual players. It's about playing as a team and winning the state championship.''

When Adams talks, he sounds a lot like the character "Blue'' on that fantastic made-for-TV movie, "The Temptations.''

Adams is listed at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, but he plays bigger than that. He lines up at defensive end most of the time because the Trojans play a 4-3 defense. But when Northwestern switches to its dime package, Adams slides to outside linebacker.

Expect to see that a lot Friday night, because the key to stopping South Pointe's offense is stopping Stallions quarterback Stephon Gilmore. He can be deadly if an opponent gives him the corner.

"Our loss to South Pointe still hurts me to my heart,'' Adams said. "When it was 7-7, we didn't think they should have scored. And when they put up 21 in the fourth quarter, we don't think they should have scored at all. That's how a defense is supposed to think.''

All four have played outstanding this season.

Miller, a 5-11, 222-pound senior, leads the team with 163 tackles. He has 10 tackles for a loss, three caused fumbles, two recovered fumbles and a pair of sacks.

Green, a 5-11, 226-pound senior, has 102 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three caused fumbles, two and a half sacks and two recovered fumbles.

Williams, a 6-1, 190-pound junior, is right behind with 102 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

And there's Adams, whose numbers would be higher if he was at linebacker full-time. Adams has 88 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, six quarterback pressures, five sacks, four fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a caused fumble.

"I feel like I was born to play football,'' Adams said. "Our coaches tell us a lot of stories about the linebackers who've played here. We realize that on the field, linebackers at Northwestern have always been the heart and soul of the defense.''

Miller broke his somber mood and laughed when he said Northwestern is Linebacker U. He's made a good point.

"I like playing linebacker because I'd rather make a big hit instead of getting hit,' said Miller, a three-year starter. "When you think about all the good linebackers who have walked through these doors, it makes you want to go out and play as good as they did. We know the history, and there have been some great ones before us.''

One of the first good ones goes way back. Ray McCleod, who had one of the hardest punches for a small guy, coaches the Trojans linebackers along with Ernie Hughes. McCleod played on the Trojans' 1989 state championship team.

And there was Tee Grant. For years, players begged to wear his No. 8 jersey. Dexter Falls, Marco Hutchinson, Donte Talford, Will Massey, Denzel Hinton, Benjie Young and Anquan Gist. The list goes on forever.

The best group was Falls, Talford and Hinton in 1999.

The current group has a striking resemblance in the way they hit, run down the ball and approach the game.

"We know what's expected out of Northwestern linebackers, and that's why we play hard on every down,'' Green said. "Our coaches tell us not to leave anything on the field, to give everything we have when we're out there. Coach McCleod tells us to play smart and be aggressive.''

• Who: South Pointe Stallions (14-0) vs. Northwestern Trojans (13-1)

• When: Friday, 8 p.m.

• Where: Clemson University's Memorial Stadium

• Tickets: On sale at both schools for $8 each or $10 at the gate

• Parking: Free

Northwestern, South Pointe and Chester coaches discuss the state title games at