Gregory leads AWC defensive line in task of blitzing EMCC quarterback

Knock him down, knock him in the mouth.

That's what Arizona Western coach Tom Minnick said the No. 1 Matadors have to do to No. 2 East Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace in the El Toro Bowl Presented by Time Warner Cable in the NJCAA National Championship.

And those words have defensive end Randy Gregory very excited for Saturday's game, which kickoffs at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“I'm a run-stopper too, but I'm a pass rusher,” Gregory said. “The fact they pass 70, 80 percent of the time makes my job easier. I just got to get as much pressure on them as I can.”

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound freshman from Fishers, Ind., didn't start until halfway through the season. But he quickly made a name for himself, twice winning the Western States Football League Defensive Player of the Week honor.

“He's a stud,” Minnick said. “He's very explosive off the ball and makes some great plays. We knew he was going to be a great one off the edge. He just did a great job for us.”

Gregory planned on attending Purdue but didn't qualify. After fleeting with playing basketball, the Boilermakers placed him with the Matadors.

After starting on the bench, he quickly established himself as one of the top pass rushers in the league. He did play in all 11 games for the undefeated Matadors, netting seven sacks, 73 tackles, and 18.5 tackles for a loss. He forced three fumbles and recovered two, one returned for a touchdown.

“Beginning of the season I didn't start, but I felt I really helped out the team,” Gregory said. “But I feel like I've really turned it on.

“I had been working hard and felt like I really deserved it,” Gregory said. “My play on the field showed it.”

He earned the league's player of the week honor for the first time against Eastern Arizona, when he returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown and had 13 tackles. Two week prior in a game against New Mexico Military, he had 1.5 sacks and recovered another fumble.

“I didn't really expect it, but it's a great thing,” Gregory said. “I hope I get it this week too. But it feels really good. Not only because you don't expect it as a freshman, but coming in on this defense. We have so many great players.”

A lot of those great players are in the linebacking corps — notably WSFL co-Defensive Player of the Year Chris Young, as well as Steffon Martin

“It makes it easier cause if they make it past the D-line, they are always there,” Gregory said. “Chris is a playmaker, and I know Stef is real good at what he does. It helps out that we've got them there for support and no one gets past the second wall of defense.”

The Matadors face the top passer in the nation Saturday in EMCC's Wallace, as he helped the Lions finish 11-0. Minnick said getting pressure on Wallace is the defensive key for the Matadors

“We have to put some pressure on him, sack him and hit him in the mouth,” Minnick said. “Hopefully we upset him so he's rattled, makes some bad-type passes and throws some picks.”

That won't exactly be easy as it's likely Ryan Hollivay who will be blocking Gregory on the outside. From Columbus, Mo., the sophomore is listed at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds.

“He's going to be the one getting after him on the edge,” Minnick said. “With as much blitzing as we do, he'll probably be playing against the big 6-7, 340-pound kid on the edge. He's going to have to make him work, make him block him, make the big kid move his feet.”

With a national championship on the line Saturday, Gregory said he is trying to keep his focus on the field.

“It's just coming out here and trying to stay healthy,” Gregory said. “You've got to do the right thing on and off the field, get a feel of the scouting reports on their players and have a good feel going into the game.”

Edward Carifio can be reached at ecarifio@yumasun.com or 539-6882.