Posted on Sun, Dec. 16, 2007

Sheldon Hanks had seen his defense crumble too many times before.

So, when Ponte Vedra Nease recovered a momentum-building onside kick midway through the third quarter and was inching its way toward a potential game-tying touchdown, Booker T. Washington's defensive coordinator got louder than usual.

''Don't give it up! Don't give up six!'' Hanks shouted to his defense. ``Don't worry about field position. Don't worry about anything. Just go out there and don't give it up!''

The Tornadoes didn't. Like it has all season, the ''F-5 defense'' did its job at the Citrus Bowl and Booker T. Washington emerged with a 23-15 victory against Nease in the Class 4A state championship game Saturday afternoon because of it.

The defensive line put pressure on Wake Forest-bound quarterback Ted Stachitas, sacking him eight times. The linebackers shut down the Panthers' running game to a season-low 13 yards on 27 carries. And when it needed a big play, the usual senior leaders -- end Jonathan Jackson and Kambriel Willis or linebackers Winston Frasier and Tarvis Pullins -- were always there to make it.

''Our defense is why I'll be wearing a state championship jacket,'' said senior Brandon Harris, who moved from corner to safety late in the game to help Booker T. (14-0) preserve the win.

``When we lost last year at Tampa Plant [in the state semifinals], me and the guys who were coming back talked about what we needed to do to win. We knew it started with us. It started with defense.''

Jackson, a 6-3, 260-pounder with offers from FIU and the University of South Florida, netted 3 ½ sacks and was in on a safety. Willis, a 6-1, 210-pounder headed to FIU, finished with six tackles, including three for a loss. Pullins, a 6-1, 190-pounder who has drawn interest from FIU and Memphis, had seven tackles and was in on a sack. And Frasier, a 6-2, 210-pounder, led the team with 13 tackles, including the clincher -- a huge hit -- on a screen pass.

''Me and Jonathan, our whole mind-set was quarterback, quarterback, quarterback,'' Willis said. ``We played our hardest, our best, and in the end, we got the victory. We're the best defense in the country.''

Booker T. shut out eight opponents this season, including its first two opponents in the playoffs. The 15 points they gave up Saturday was plenty by their standards. But the body of work this season -- 66 points all year (an average of 4.7 per game) -- will go down as one of the best efforts in Miami-Dade history.

On Saturday, Nease threw a new wrinkle into its offense -- the screen play. It worked and frustrated the Tornadoes. But it didn't break them.

''We had to go to the screens,'' said Stachitas, who finished 19 of 30 for 172 yards with a touchdown and interception.

``They were getting up the field so fast, that's the only way you can hurt them. . . . you almost have to play perfect against them.''

For Hanks, who was the best man at coach Tim Harris' wedding and has coached with him since he started his career at Miami High in 1985, it was a victory that brought tears to his eyes.

''This is one of the greatest moments of my life,'' Hanks said. ``To be coaching high school for 20-plus years and finally win my first state championship; I'm so happy for my kids. It's one of the best defenses I've ever coached in my life. It's just one of the proudest moments of my life.''