All year long Newton football made its money on offense where Rams’ head coach Terrance Banks had nine returning starters from last year’s team. As the Black Knights know, the Rams live and die (mostly living) on the arms and legs of Romario Johnson. However, it’s been the Rams’ defense that has propelled the team to new heights in this year’s playoffs.

Twice already this postseason, Newton has held its opponents to 14 points. The Rams only held teams to 14 points or less three times. All three occurrences were against teams that didn’t make the playoffs.

But, as Banks will tell you, “Iron sharpens iron.” Something Banks has said many times throughout the season, echoing the fact that Banks schedules tougher teams to prepare his team for region and playoff games.

It’s a strategy that seems to have paid off for the coach. Another strategy that has paid off, is Banks choosing to wait until the playoffs to play his best players on both sides of the ball. A decision that has paid dividends on defense.

Against Valdosta, Newton forced six interceptions. Two of those came from Deandre Huff, one of the Rams’ best playmakers, who usually just returns kicks and plays receiver. Huff played corner against Valdosta and was obviously a huge part in the Rams’ win.

Davonta Jones, arguably the Rams’ best player, has also given the Rams a boost on defense. For most of the season, Jones only played snaps on defense on special occasions such as the final seconds of Newton’s win against Rockdale. Jones grabbed a crucial interception in Newton’s 15-14 victory over Central Gwinnett that helped seal the Rams’ victory.

The front seven includes two players who have been playing lights out all season in Nuka Yobo and A.J. Palomino. Yobo a defensive tackle, also a stud on the offensive line, accounted for two if Newton’s six interceptions against Valdosta. Palomino has been one of the main causes for the Rams’ getting so many turnovers.

Palomino has been wreaking havoc in the backfield. It has a lot to do with how the Rams are using him. It seems as if he’s been let off of a leash when he plays. Palomino will run to the line of scrimmage, to show pressure and mostly it’s because he’s actually going to blitz. When he does blitz, Palomino is quick at the point of attack, as he does a good job of timing the snap count which helps him get into the backfield quickly.

On pretty much every passing play from Central Gwinnett, either Yobo or Palomino were in the quarterback’s face forcing errant passes. It’s as if the defense has seen a complete overhaul, when actually it’s just Banks and his coaching letting the best players play. Letting them all off the leash.