Here are the Springfield area’s top football players who can swing the tide on defense

Everyone knows defense wins championships.

It certainly helped spur Sacred Heart-Griffin and Williamsville to the state finals last year.

In last year’s 3A semifinal at Paul Jenkins Field, Josh Cates sealed a 12-7 win with a pass breakup in the end zone. Who are the defensive stars to follow this postseason?

Here are at least several of the Springfield area's top defensive players to watch this postseason, listed in no particular order.

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Cash Foraker, Taylorville

The junior linebacker has set a school season record with 139 total tackles, including 55 solo and five for loss. He has also caused five fumbles. The Tornadoes (5-4) visit Murphysboro (8-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Tate Johnston, Lincoln

The junior linebacker has posted 73 tackles, including five for loss, to help catapult the Railsplitters to their first playoff appearance in 39 years. He also has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pick. Senior linebacker Colbie Glenn has also supplied 64 tackles, including 10 for loss with one pick. Junior Frank Sanders leads the defensive line with 33 tackles, including 12 for loss and five sacks. Lincoln (5-4) visits 4A top-ranked Rochester (9-0) on Friday at 7 p.m.

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Henry Buecker, Rochester

The senior safety has starred on both sides of the ball. But defensively, he has nabbed five interceptions and has tallied 35 tackles, including seven for loss. As a receiver, he has 627 receiving yards and 11 scores on 32 catches.

Tyson Binion/Parker Lyons, Rochester

The senior linebacker duo have 46 total tackles apiece. Lyons has a team-high 12 tackles for loss and three sacks while Binion has 10 tackles for loss and team-best six sacks. They also thrive on takeaways. Binion has five interceptions with one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Lyons has three INTs.

Lance Ingold/Jack Swaney, Rochester

The imposing senior linemen have combined for 40 tackles and 13 for loss. Ingold, who also has a fumble recovery, will play football at Northern Illinois University as a defensive lineman. Swaney will play baseball at NIU.

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Jack Dettro, Chatham Glenwood

The senior cornerback has emerged as a defensive catalyst with six interceptions. He has twice come up with two picks in a game. He also helped seal a 14-12 victory over Danville with a pass breakup in the season opener. Fellow senior safety Brock Pruitt has 48 tackles with eight pass breakups and one pick.

Justin Hay, Chatham Glenwood

The senior defensive lineman leads the Titans with 52 tackles, including 30 solo. The Titans (6-3) host Bloomington (5-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Jake Kepler, Sacred Heart-Griffin

Kepler is among a trio of linebackers that have combined for 188 tackles. That also includes junior Chris Link (69) and senior Ethan Hagele (68) and 51 from Kepler. Kepler, a senior with 51 tackles, leads the group with seven tackles for loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. SHG (6-3) visits Calumet City Thornton Fractional North (7-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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Brayden Leathers, Athens

The senior linebacker totals 91 tackles this season with six for loss and two sacks. He also has forced and recovered a fumble and has garnered one INT. He was all-Sangamo first team as a left guard on the offensive line and second team defensively with 97 tackles.

Cory Craig Jr., Athens

The senior running back was similarly all-Sangamo first team offensively at running and second team defensively at linebacker last season. He has continued to be a force on both sides of the ball and has 55 tackles with two for loss and two sacks. He has also rushed for more than 1,000 yards for a second consecutive season. Fellow senior linebacker Zac Laird has a team-best four sacks and 45 tackles. Athens (7-2) hosts Piasa Southwestern (5-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Colin Burge, Williamsville

The senior linebacker returned this year with the most tackles (101) after the departures of standouts Colin Ripperda and Nolan Bates. Burge leads the defense with 76 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks.

Brayden Johnson, Williamsville

The senior defensive lineman is a third-year starter and has 30 tackles with four for loss and one sack. He was all-Sangamo second team last season with 33 tackles en route to the 3A state finals. The Bullets (7-2) once again welcome Tolono Unity (7-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s semifinal.

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Connor Henley, Kincaid South Fork

The senior lineman was named Illinois 8-Man Football Association all-state on both sides of the ball with 85 total tackles, including 19 solo, last season and has helped propel the Ponies to their best season since 1994 as part of a formidable front that also includes brothers Collin and Carter Elder. South Fork (7-2) hosts its first playoff game since the ‘94 season against Cambridge Ridgewood (7-2) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Kadynn Petty, Nokomis

The sophomore defensive back has lapped up seven interceptions. Sophomores Riley Reynolds (49) and Daryl Evans (46) also lead the team in tackles. Nokomis (5-4) visits Greenfield/Northwestern (9-0) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Grant Dobson, Auburn

The senior defensive end has amassed 65 tackles with 14 for loss. He has also caused two fumbles while recovering one and has blocked two punts and three field goal attempts. He has also starred as a tight end with 36 catches for 441 yards and two TDs. He was all-Sangamo first team defensively last season with 70 tackles with 13 for loss. Senior linebacker Quentin Chizmar has a team-best 66 tackles with five for loss and two picks. Auburn (5-4) visits Johnston City (8-1) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Isaiah Harbert, Pana

The standout junior linebacker/running back has ushered a whopping 113 tackles, including 51 solo, while also leading the rushing attack with 812 yards and 16 scores. Harbert was out for the Week 9 win against Staunton due to injury, however. He is a game-time decision this weekend, according to coach Trevor Higgins. Junior teammate Sam Sims supplied 71 rushing yards and a TD in his place. Sims also has four picks this season. Pana (6-3) visits Nashville (6-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

More: Top performers from Week 9 of high school football in the Springfield area

Nate Dyer, Carlinville

The junior has doled out 93 tackles with 11.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks to lead the team in all three categories. He also has three forced fumbles, two recoveries and a pick. Junior teammate Weston Kuykendall has three fumble recoveries with 29 tackles and eight for loss. Carlinville (6-3) visits St. Joseph-Ogden (7-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Carson Saathoff, Litchfield

The junior linebacker has compiled 67 tackles with a team-best 10 for loss. He also has two sacks. As a tight end, he leads the receiving corps with 33 catches for 509 yards and five scores. Senior A.J. Sypherd, who has more than 1,300 rushing yards this season, has 69 tackles while junior Martavious Jones has 70. Litchfield (6-3) visits Stanford Olympia on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Carson Wort, Pawnee

The junior standout stars on both sides of the ball. He has 86 tackles with eight for loss and five fumble recoveries. He has also churned out 888 rushing yards and 17 TDs. Pawnee (5-4) visits Milford (7-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA football playoffs: Top defensive players from Springfield area