HELENA -- The Helena High defense has been a tough one to crack for opposing offenses.
To start this Class AA football season, the Bengals have held their first two opponents, Butte and Missoula Big Sky, to nine or fewer points. The success is a culmination of things, but in chatting with a handful of players before they take on Missoula Hellgate, it seemed like everyone wants to pass the credit around.
"I think it's the defensive line mostly because they're hurrying the quarterback," said safety Quinn Nichols. "It makes it pretty easy for us defensive backs, actually. Haven't got too many passes completed, the quarterback has no time."
"I don't know why he complimented us, because he's giving us time to get to the quarterback," said defensive lineman Jack Marcille.
The Bengals' defense has run rampant in their past two games, sacking opposing quarterbacks 11 total times, breaking up 12 passes, and causing three fumbles. As they set their sights on Week 3, the players don't want to see the success stop.
"I like where it is right now. It's just a confidence booster, and we're kind of easing into it a little bit in a way," said Nichols.
The Bengals will be on the road for the first time this season when they travel to Hellgate on Friday, but the defense doesn't see that as a hindrance to its performance, but rather a goal to meet.
"I like going on the road, being in a different environment. I like turf, we don't have turf, so I like the turf fields. And it's just, it feels good to go to somebody else's house and shut them out," said Marcille.
The Bengals will look to keep the trend of tough play going when they take on Missoula Hellgate on Friday.
