The St. Joseph High School varsity football team won its first round of CIF Southern Section playoffs against Eastside High School on Nov. 14. The Knights tamed the Lions 24-9 on their home field thanks to their defensive stronghold that crippled the Lions’ running game.
The Knights’ defense, known as “the Shield,” was almost impenetrable. They allowed only one first down in the first half and no touchdowns the entire game. The only touchdown the Lions scored was off an interception made in the fourth quarter.
One of the Shield’s strongest components is junior Mateo Becerra, No. 22, who plays safety. He made eight tackles against the Lions, including one against the outside running back for a one-yard loss.
On Nov. 17, Becerra and four other defenders from SJHS were taken out for a “roundtable” lunch, where they and other local athletes were recognized for outstanding performances in recent games.
Becerra, who’s 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, is above the national average with 28 total tackles, 22 of which were solo tackles.
“He’s been solid all year,” head varsity coach Dustin Davies said.
Becerra made two solo tackles against the Lions and batted down one pass. The junior ripped through the blockers and made a tackle on a screen pass at the line of scrimmage.
“I have good vision on the field,” Becerra said.
He watches the runner’s hips to see what route his opponent will take, he said. Part of what makes Becerra an effective defender is the fact that he plays both directions of the game. Along with being the team’s safety, he goes in as a relief running back.
Becerra had three carries against the Lions for 11 yards. He averages 5.2 yards per game, which is also above the national average.
Since he’s used to seeing the game through the eyes of a defender, when he plays on offense he sees cutback lanes faster, hits the hole harder, and gets up field, he said. Playing both offense and defense also helps him read pass blocking and anticipate when the linebacker is positioned to blitz.
“It’s helpful all around the field,” the 17-year-old said.
The Knights are 7 and 4 overall and 3 and 1 in the Los Padres League. During the season they lost three games in a row, but after their third loss the defense decided to step it up.
The coaches put in new blitzes and better disguised their coverage, Becerra said. Their adjustments worked and at the next game, they shut out Santa Maria High School, 63-0.
“We were a lot more committed,” Becerra said.
He moved up to varsity his sophomore year. He had a breakthrough moment last year when he came in as a safety in a game against Paso Robles High School, he said.
Also last year, SJHS alumni gave him the Lunchbox Award at the school’s homecoming game against Atascadero, which is like saying he was the team’s MVP.
Becerra has been playing football since the second grade and also plans on running track this year. His biggest inspiration is his family members who played football before him, he said.
“I want to carry on the tradition of how well they played and make my parents proud,” he said.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2014.