With one of the biggest impact players in the conference in running back Jordan Todd, the Interlake offense has received the majority of the attention in 2011. But as the Saints head into Franklin Pierce for the first round of the 2A state playoffs Friday at 7 pm, it’s going to be the defense that decides things.

Four turnovers kept White River in the game and the Hornets mounted a would-be game tying drive in the waning minutes in last week’s seven point district playoff win. But in the end the Saints defense was able to get the stops it needed to keep the season alive.

“It was so big for all of our kids to see they can win a game with defense,” head coach Jason Rimkus said. “They fully understand that defense as a unit is what gets it done, not just an individual.”

Both Ryuji Kawashima and Jacob Marks picked off passes and middle linebacker Alex Giseburt was another player Rimkus said has been a key cog in a much improved overall defensive unit. He went on to call his defensive signal caller “the center of our defense.”

Aside from a pair of trick plays that resulted in quick scores last week, the White River offense scuffled against an Interlake defense that continues to gel. The 13 points surrendered last week were the fewest of the year for the Saints.

It will will take a similar defensive effort to slow a Franklin Pierce squad that has scored 39 points or more in six of last seven games, including each of the past five.

“They’re really athletic,” Rimkus said of Franklin Pierce. “They are a confident team and they have every reason to be confident the way they have played.”

After his team’s win last week, Rimkus went with some of his staff and players to watch this week’s opponent handle Port Angeles 46-0. As the lopsided score mounted in their favor, Cardinals’ fans were not shy about letting the Saints know that coming into their house and leaving with a win will be no small feat.

“We have to face another challenge,” Rimkus said. “But this program is used to challenges.”