Tim Paske often refers to his interior defensive linemen as his “TNT.” In a five-man defensive front, the left defensive tackle, nose tackle, and right defensive tackle are an important part of the Trojans’ inside running defense, but not usually the key playmakers.
Ricky Carbone, Kyle Stanton, and Trevor Flohr have gone beyond what Paske typically expects of his TNT, who have blown up offenses all season long. The role of those three guys (in our defense) is to take on blockers and allow our linebackers to make plays,” Paske said. “Our linebackers are still making plays, but those three have been so dominant, and it’s kind of an aberration with all of their tackles.”
Carbone is a powerful nose tackle standing 6-foot-3 and weighing close to 260 pounds. He is the strongest player on the Greene team, and he is aided by Stanton, a 6-foot, 240-pounder who is likely the second strongest player on the team. Flohr, while not as heavy, gives a dimension of speed and quickness off the ball that perfectly complements his inside mates.
The Trojans’ TNT trio have all had outstanding seasons for the stingiest defense in Chenango County this season, and their season-long dominance in helping Greene to the Section IV Class C championship game has earned them our weekly honor as Smith Ford Supercenter/Evening Athletes of the Week.
“Those three guys have had a major impact in every game we have played this year,” Paske said. “They all give a tremendous amount of effort, and it has helped our defense be the best that it can be.”
Carbone and Stanton have played almost exclusively on the defensive side of the ball, with Flohr the only two-way starter. Carbone, on the nose, has 62 tackles (seven per game), 2 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Stanton has 66 tackles, two forced fumbles, a punt block, and six pancake blocks in his limited offensive duty, while Flohr has 53 tackles on defense, and a team-high 29 pancake blocks to lead the offensive line.
Carbone is the biggest of the bunch, and a tireless worker in the weight room. He uses his strength to consistently beat – and beat up – the opposing center. “He loves the contact and he enjoys the challenge of going toe to toe with the center,” Paske said. “He cherishes those moments where he imposes his will on the other man, and he has absolutely controlled the other teams’ centers.”
Stanton is a sectional champion wrestler, so it should come as no surprise that he is able to consistently win his one-on-one battles in the trenches. “He definitely uses his wrestling background to his advantage,” Paske said. “Laterally, he is very quick, and he just runs down backs on sweeps. He jumps in the hip pocket of pulling guards, and meets the backs across the field. His lateral pursuit is among the best we’ve had, and it shows with the way he gets to the football.”
Flohr, a junior, played primarily on the offensive side of the ball last year, but has flourished pulling double duty. “With our defensive tackles, we like to have guys that are either really strong or they can run, and Trevor can definitely run,” Paske said. “He runs with the pulling guards, and he’s always in on the plays and there for the cutbacks. He takes a pounding (being a little smaller), but he gets off the ball quickly.”
The Trojans committed to the five-man defensive front a few years ago, and while many have performed their duties with distinction, it’s a safe bet that few have done their jobs on defense any better than Carbone, Stanton, and Flohr. “The guys believe in the system that we play,” Paske said. “They do it right, and you see the success they’re having.”