We're taking the whole thing — their line and that defense — as a challenge. We're going to do what Virginia Tech does. We're going to pound the ball at them. If it breaks, it breaks.

The challenge [with the defense] is going to be in the depth. We'll have freshmen playing right away in our first week at Holy Cross in the defensive positions, certainly at defensive line and linebacker.

Coach did put a challenge out there for me to be more active on defense, to be more aware. I know I'm a good defender. At times, I just take a rest. So he put a challenge on me not to take a rest.

The challenge this week is that we're playing against the No. 1 defense from last season. When the players come back to work Wednesday, they'll be zeroing in on the Steelers. We'll be focused on what we need to do to be more efficient.

Saturday's game provided a good test for our defense, while offering a challenge to our attackers. Noblesville is a counterattack team built on speed, and our defenders had to constantly adjust to this tactic.

It's up to if our defense can meet the challenge.