By JACOB MESSER

SPORTS EDITOR

SETH — Sherman coach Shann Elkins

had a couple of concerns about his

high school football team when preseason practice began three months ago.

A unit that had him particularly worried about the upcoming season was the Tide linebackers, where three of four starters were gone (one to graduation, one to academic problems and one to eligibility issues).

Among the losses were both of his inside linebackers. Elkins had an all-out competition for the first-string duties at those spots during two-a-days, and he finally settled on seniors Johnathan Bowman and Codie Santonio.

Eleven weeks later, Bowman and Santonio have helped make Elkins look like a gridiron guru.

The 6-foot, 215-pound Bowman has

74 tackles and two fumble recoveries in 10games for the undefeated Tide.

The 5-11, 185-pound Santonio has

57 tackles, including 14 behind the line of scrimmage, in nine games.

“They have played well,” Elkins said of Bowman and Santonio. “They have played within themselves and within the framework of what we want to do as a defense.

“They both make plays in the backfield and near the line of scrimmage. Bowman is a bigger kid. Santonio is smaller and faster. Bowman does it with his size and strength. Santonio does it with his speed. They do the same thing for us, but they do it in different ways.”

Bowman and Santonio have been quick studies under Sherman defensive coordinator Jerry Halstead.

“Those guys have picked up what Coach Halstead has wanted them to do,” said Elkins, whose team allowed 17.4 points per game during the regular season, including 12.2 against its

first-string defense.

“They have grown each week. That’s why we have been able to do what we have done defensively.”

Bowman and Santonio helped Sherman make school history Friday night with its 38-27 victory over visiting Mount Hope.

The Tide became the first team in the program’s history to finish the regular season with a 10-0 record.

Bowman recorded nine tackles and recovered one fumble against the Mustangs.

Santonio added eight tackles, including three for loss, and dropped Mount Hope sophomore

halfback Demetri Gray for no gain on a fourth-and-goal play from Sherman’s 3-yard line.

“Words can’t describe it,” Santonio said.

“It feels great. I love my team. I love everybody. We all worked hard, and this is what we get. Hard work in the off-season

pays off.

“(This season) sets the tone for the future. Levels are high now. That's what everybody has to look forward to and live up to next year. I hope they strive (for perfection) just like we did.”

Added Bowman: “It means the world to me. I have played with most of these guys for 10 years, since midget league. You can’t replace that (chemistry and camaraderie).”

No. 14 Chapmanville (6-4) will visit No. 3 Sherman (10-0) in the opening round of the Class AA state playoffs Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Halstead said Bowman, who normally plays on the strong side, and Santonio, who normally plays on the back side, have made tremendous strides since preseason practice.

“They have come a long way,” Halstead said.

“Last year, they had some bad habits. Their technique wasn’t really what we wanted it to be. We really had to buckle down. We go through technique and responsibilities every day. They get tired of hearing me tell them. But we work on it every day.

“They still have some bad habits. Every day, I’m like their mommy smacking their hands. We have slowly turned them into two good inside linebackers. In the past, they just went wild and went after the football. Now, they are learning their techniques and their responsibilities.”

Bowman and Santonio

constantly practice what Halstead preaches.

“It’s all technique,” Bowman said. “In practice or even if we’re in school, we have to focus on technique.”

Bowman and Santonio consider themselves to be a formidable

tag team.

“He fills the holes,” Santonio said, “and I come back to scrape it up.”

“No run is getting past the middle,” Bowman said. “There’s nobody who can block us.”