Buchanan hopeful stalwart defense will lead them to fourth straight win

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- This week’s Under the Lights game of the week is truly a matchup of the haves, and the also haves!

Two of the best teams in the area, both still undefeated, squaring off in a Lakeland Conference battle.

"I just want to see our defense shut down their offense, if that happens, it makes everything easier," said Nick File, Buchanan head coach.

If you think Buchanan head coach Nick File is enjoying being 3-0, just wait until you find out this is his first head coaching gig.

"I've got a great group of seniors, juniors, we've even got a couple of sophomores as well. Admin has been great, kids are hungry and fired up, and the culture was already somewhat established. I ask people all the time, coaches I talk to, is it always this easy, and like you mentioned, it's not always this easy so the culture was already here, and when you've got good kids, it always helps," said File.

It probably helps a bit when your defense has been incredible.

The Bucks' defensive unit has some eye-popping numbers through three games.

No first half points surrendered, two shutouts, and an average of 6 points per game allowed, and they haven't given up a single point in two weeks!

"The kids are hungry, they're ready to hit, they're ready to fly around, and I think that's what they've known, the offense has always been good, but the defensive staff that we've had here, it's to be expected," said File.

"I think it's just our matchups, it's just been more dominant, we have been a dominant team. I kind of thought that going into the season, that we were going to be a dominant team," said Brody Reed, senior free safety.

The problem is, as good as Buchanan's defense has been, Berrien Springs' offense may be just as stellar.

Their offense is moving at a wild clip, averaging more than 50 points per game, and posing a major challenge to a stalwart Bucks' defense.

"If we can take care of the small little things, take care of the details, the stuff we prepare for all week, I think we've got to style a gameplan just to slow the offense down, they're averaging fifty points a game, but it's always the small things, attention to details, is what we've been harping on, but especially going into this game," said File.

The Shamrocks and Bucks will square off from Memorial Field in Buchanan Friday at 7 p.m.