PONTIAC - Big plays don't necessarily have to come from big players. The Pontiac High School football team is proving that with a typically strong defense populated with unusually small defenders.

"They're little runts," Indians' coach Mick Peterson says with obvious affection. "A bunch of little runts is what they are."

Despite having nine of 11 defensive starters at 175 pounds or less, Pontiac has given up just 35 points while winning its last four games.

Ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, the Indians (4-1 overall and in the Corn Belt Conference) meet No. 5 Central Catholic (6-0, 6-0) Friday in a 7:45 p.m. showdown in Pontiac.

"We've got a lot of solid players," said 170-pound senior cornerback Ryan Kelly. "Our line might not be very big, but they really play hard. Our secondary really flows to the ball well. We get a lot of gang tackles. I'm not sure it's our speed as much as our aggressiveness."

Pontiac's leading tacklers are inside linebackers Tyler Sweitzer (48) and Alex Smith (41). Sweitzer is 5-foot-7, 155 pounds and Smith checks in at 5-7, 175.

"Everybody knows their job and we get it done," Smith said. "We play with a lot of heart and a lot of aggression. What we lack in athleticism and size, we come back with heart and intensity."

The defensive line features 6-4, 240-pound Kody Strong and 5-9, 200-pound Nate Weber, but is filled out by 155-pound B.J. Carter and 175-pound Eric Davis.

"We really run to the ball well. We scheme teams pretty well. It's hard for me to figure out what Dave is doing," Peterson said of defensive coordinator Dave Young. "We've been able to take away a team's best product. Because of that, we've been able to dictate tempo a little bit."

"Coach Young has a lot to do with it," agreed Sweitzer. "He shows us really good techniques to use. He's a defensive mastermind."

The outside linebackers are 150-pound Phil Rich and 160-pound Patrick Miller. Nick Dinardi joins Kelly at cornerback with Andy Bauman at free safety.

Sean Young, Michael Panno, Kendrique Coats, Curtis Bailey, Andy Ifft and C.J. Davies also have contributed to the defensive effort.

"We keep plugging people in and they're producing. That's why we are where we are defensively," said Peterson. "We've been playing 14, 15, 16 guys. We don't have the super stud to build around. You look at us on paper and nobody scares you."

The Pontiac offense averages 30.6 points behind the rushing of Coats (765 yards) and the passing of Miller (607 yards).

"When you're 165 pounds and you're running between the tackles, you better have good feet and good vision. He's got them both," Peterson said of Coats. "He doesn't like coming out of games, and he wants the ball. That's the sign of a kid who wants to be a good runner."

The Indians' season got off to a tragic start when Pontiac junior Ali Arbogast died in an automobile accident on Aug. 26. The team's game that day at Herrin was canceled.

"The car wreck really affected me because she was my friend for nine or 10 years," said Weber. "You've got to get over the emotions and still be able to play the game. You have to get on with your life. You remember it, but you can't dwell on it."

Adding to the emotions, Peterson has announced he will retire from coaching after the current season.

"We have dealt with a lot. But we come to practice every night ready to practice," Carter said. "Come game time we focus on the game and afterward we take care of what has to be done around here. I think this has been the closest bonded team Pontiac has been around. We're all like brothers.

"Not only do we want to send Coach Pete out on a good note, I'm a senior. I want to go out on a good note myself."

That's where Peterson insists that the focus belongs - on the players.

"It's not about me," he said. "Sometimes you make decisions in life and you're happy you made them. I'm happy I'm going (out) with this group. This team has been a joy to be around."

Four in a row

The scores during the Pontiac High School football team's current four-game winning streak:

Opponent Score

Mahomet-Seymour 28-7

University High 28-15

Rantoul 34-0

Eureka 42-13