Strong bonds within team has led to
plenty of successes for Shiner St. Paul
Friday, December 4, 2015
by Tony Tsoukalas, Advocate Sports Writer
AdvoSports.com Article | St. Paul Cardinal Football | St. Paul Cardinal Sports
SHINER - Meet the Great Wall of Shiner St. Paul.
Shiner St. Paul's Conor Kresta, left, and Ryan Geiger, right, put pressure on the pass during the Cardinals' practice Wednesday at the St. Paul practice field.
[ NOTE: click on photo to enlarge ]all photos by Jaime Carrero for The Victoria Advocate
The St. Paul defense is not best measured in its size, but rather in the pile of frustrated offenses that have been unable to get past it.
"We aren't the biggest, but we're the most physical," said St. Paul defensive lineman Reagan Beal. "We come out here for however long we are out here, and we hit each other. We like it. We like to hit people hard, and we take joy in it."
The Cardinals, who travel to Bastrop Memorial Stadium in Cedar Creek on Friday to play Cedar Hill Trinity Christian in the TAPPS Division III state final, have allowed 60 points in 13 games this season - an average of less than a touchdown per game.
St. Paul (13-0) has recorded eight shutouts this season, including a five-game span from Sept. 18 until Oct. 23 which saw the Cardinals outscore their opponents 209-0.
"It just shows how much of a team we are and how complete we are," said T.J. Bell, who plays running back as well as defensive end for the Cardinals. "We showed that we can score points and our defense can make stops."
Ryan Geiger leads the Cardinals with six interceptions, while Conor Kresta has a team- high 120 tackles to go with five fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Jed Janecek is second in tackles with 118 and has a team-best 12 tackles for a loss.
"This has been our best defense since I've been here," said St. Paul head coach Jake Wachsmuth. "I just think they play well together. I don't know if we have a standout. We have good players, but our players just play great together. They play for each other, and they don't care who does what."
One big family
TAPPS DIVISION III STATE FINAL
SHINER ST. PAUL VS. CEDAR HILL TRINITY CHRISTIAN
7:30 pm Friday, 12/4/2015
Bastrop Memorial Stadium, Cedar Creek
Radio:
KKYM, 94.3 FM
Webcast:
TexasThunderRadio.com
Twitter: @Tony_Tsoukalas
While the Cardinals might not have one star defender, they aren't in too much of a hurry to find one.
A self-described brotherhood has created a team-first identity among St. Paul players, who are far more likely to pass praise than revel in their own accomplishments.
"We are not selfish," Geiger said. "We all work together, fly around to the football and just play hard. That's really what I think has helped us this year."
Just like brothers, the Cardinals dish out a friendly knock to each other from time to time. While Bell spends much of practice playing alongside the defense, his teammates are quick to remind him what he's missing out on during his reps at running back.
"Even when I'm going up against them, they still hit me as hard as everybody else," Bell said of the defense. "I don't like getting hit by them, so I know the other team doesn't like it. I know they hit them harder."
Pride on the line
St. Paul will look to add its fifth state title Friday when it takes on defending champion Trinity Christian (10-3).
However, the Cardinals will be playing for much more than a trophy.
For the roughly 2,100 residents of Shiner, the local football teams invoke just as much pride as the Shiner Bock beer brewed down the road. St. Paul shares the town with fellow unbeaten Shiner (13-0), which faces Refugio on Friday in the Class 2A, Division I quarterfinals.
Players don't have to go far to realize how much success means to the community. Signs supporting both the Cardinals and the Comanches are plastered all around town, and football is the main topic of conversation in the always busy Friday's Fried Chicken restaurant.
"It never really leaves your mind," Geiger said. "It's kind of hard to explain, it's anxiety. I've been thinking about it all week.
"There's always homework, but that's pretty difficult to do this week. You try not to think about the game and all. I try, but it's still there."
St. Paul players visited Shiner Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Thursday, spreading smiles while teaching residents the Whip/Nae Nae dance. A win Friday night will have the Cardinals dancing all the way back to Shiner.
"It's going to be big," Beal said of the game. "It's going to be loud, but we are going to be ready for it."
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Shiner St. Paul defensive back Ryan Geiger keeps an eye on the run during Wednesday's practice.
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Shiner St. Paul quarterback River Haynes looks to pass during practice Wednesday.
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Shiner St. Paul head coach Jake Wachsmuth makes a point to linebacker Cole Brown.
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