Denson key to SF defensive success
South Fayette led 20-16 in last Saturday’s WPIAL title game against Aliquippa, when Roman Denson lined up in coverage against Quips junior wide receiver Patrick Anderson late in the third quarter.
Denson, playing press coverage, closely shadowed Anderson into the back corner of the end zone with perfect positioning to make a play if Quips quarterback Darrien Fields tried to throw to his top target.
With Denson in front of Anderson, Fields forced a low pass that went through the hands of the South Fayette cornerback and into the hands of Anderson for the only passing touchdown on the day for Aliquippa.
While Denson is in his first year at South Fayette, the Gateway High School transfer has a plethora of experience playing one of the most important positions on defense at the highest level.
“As a defensive back, I know through experience that even if it’s a big play that’s made on me to bounce back and not worry about it because that play is over already,” Denson said. “I just try to focus on the next one and that’s what I did.”
It did not take long for Denson to redeem himself. On the first play of the Quips’ third offensive drive of the fourth quarter with South Fayette leading 34-28, Fields dropped back to pass looking to lead his team on a potential game-winning drive. Fields threw a pass over the middle that trailed his receiver on a slant route. Denson turned his hips slightly to the left before making a highlight reel, one-handed interception – his third of the season.
The play gave South Fayette the ball with over two minutes remaining in the Class AA WPIAL title game at Heinz Field after Denson had been recovering from injuries during the previous weeks. In addition to the interception, the junior recorded four tackles and broke up a pass against Aliquippa. Denson was a pivotal part of the Lions’ secondary which allowed only 149 passing yards to the Quips.
“I obviously wanted to make a play to help my team out but when I made the play, I didn’t even think it was going to happen,” Denson said. “It was just natural. I was reading the defense and the way the quarterback was looking and just read him. When I got tackled on the ground, everyone came over and that’s when it hit me when everyone was all on top of me. I knew I made a big play”
Transferring as a junior from one of the WPIAL’s premiere football programs to South Fayette was not a simple task for Denson. Learning the Lions’ defensive system, different coverage schemes and techniques took the 5-10 defensive back weeks to master. Luckily for the incoming upperclassmen, two of his defensive teammates made the transition of building trust and chemistry a smooth one.
Senior safety Conner Beck and senior defensive back Justin Watson invited Denson to lift weights with them in the beginning of the summer and the bond began to grow. While Denson’s athleticism and big-play ability brought an additional weapon on defense for South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi, it also allowed one of the Lions’ most important leaders to move to his natural position.
“Roman came back and toughed it out a bit from the injuries,” Rossi said. “He’s an infectious kid with a great smile. He’s been taking in new concepts from zone to man coverage. He is coming in as one of our corners. When he was able to transfer in, it allowed us to move (senior Hayden Orler) down and Hayden has been a key player with us.”
After South Fayette’s WPIAL semifinal loss to Washington High School in 2012, the Lions had 11 returning seniors, as well as a strong junior class. Despite the influx of talent, Denson had no idea that he would be joining a South Fayette team primed for its first state title run in three years.
“I didn’t know we were going to go this far, but after we came together before the season, I knew we had a great team,” Denson said. “There were games during the regular season where we did real good, executed well on offense and defense that showed we were going to make it far.”
Denson’s play against Karns City will be critical Saturday as the Lions and Gremlins face off in the PIAA quarterfinals at Clarion University with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
A first for everything: South Fayette is aiming for the school’s first state championship after the 2010 team, led by Christian Brumbaugh, fell to West Philadelphia Catholic in the Class AA PIAA title game, 50-14. West Catholic ran for 407 yards and more than 500 yards of total offense at HersheyPark Stadium.
Top dog: After defeating the state’s top-ranked team, Aliquippa, in the WPIAL title game, South Fayette has taken over the No. 1 ranking in state polls. The Lions jumped Imhotep Charter in the rankings, who face Catasauqua Saturday at Germantown High School.
Gremlins running wild: South Fayette’s opponent, Karns City, uses a run-heavy offense to set up a play-action passing game. The Gremlins’ backfield is led by senior Zach Moore (559 yards and nine touchdowns, senior Wyatt Everetts (502 yards and eight touchdowns) and the speedy junior Tristan Rhoades (589 yards and five touchdowns).
Quarterfinal magic: The Lions are looking to repeat the school’s last quarterfinal appearance when South Fayette faced Brockway on Dec. 3, 2010. The Lions defeated Brockway 62-28 at West Allegheny High School.