ROGERS -- Joe Britton doesn't mind playing offense, but defense is his passion.
"I don't mind having the ball in my hands a little bit, but I like to go up and hit somebody," Britton said with a smile.
Joe Britton
School: Rogers Heritage
Class: Sophomore
Height: 6-o
Weight: 190
Notable: Leads the War Eagles with 14 tackles after two weeks. … Starting at safety for Heritage as a sophomore. … older brother, Jimmy, starting at inside linebacker for Navy, while older sister, Gina, playing college soccer at Upper Iowa University.
The 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore showed his own teammate, Howie Stettmeier, those words aren't hollow during the first week of preseason workouts.
The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Stettemeier caught a pass during a drill, but was met immediately by Britton, who drove him hard to the ground. Stettmeier got up, but he walked to the sideline and threw up.
"Howie was like 'Wow,' but Joe's just a real physical player," Rogers Heritage football coach Perry Escalante said. "He's had a play or two that he looks like a sophomore, but he's been pretty steady. Joe's an impact player. He delivers a blow. He's a difference maker."
Britton has been a driving force for a War Eagles defense that has been solid in the first two weeks of the season. He leads the team with 14 tackles, including 10 in week one against Olathe (Kan.) North, from his starting safety spot.
Britton acknowledged the high school game is different from playing with freshmen a year ago. But he's a adjusting.
"It was a big change," Britton said. "The main things I noticed is the speed of the game and size of the players. We faced a guy who was 6-6 and going D-I in the first week."
Heritage defensive coordinator Paul Wilson said Britton's attitude and athleticism have combined to serve him well.
"Football's important to him and because it's important he does a good job at about anything he does," Wilson said. "He's stepped in and took on a starting role wit his work ethic and coachability and just took off. Is he still a sophomore? Yes. But he overcomes a lot with his effort and athleticism."
Britton was also part of a four-person battle for the starting quarterback position through the summer and early in preseason practice. Junior Joel Brackett earned the starting QB spot, but Escalante said Britton, who played on offense and defense as a freshman, could still see some action on offense beginning Friday night.
"Joe's an athlete and he's OK with doing whatever we need him to do for our team to be successful," Escalante said.
Britton said he's had good examples set for him by his brother, Jimmy, who is a senior starting linebacker at Navy, and his sister, Gina, who is playing soccer at Upper Iowa University.
"They taught me how to be good not just in sports, but community, school, everything," Britton said.
Britton acknowledged even today he and his older brother compete on the field even though they are at different levels.
"Oh yeah, we still compete now to see who has the most tackles this season," Britton said. "Everything in our family is a competition. I want to do better than them.Yes, I want to play college football."
But Escalante said the Brittons are just outstanding people on and off the football field.
"Jimmy being the oldest set the bar kind of high," Escalante said. "But Joe's trying to meet that and that's awesome."
Headed into Friday night, older brother Jimmy leads the tackle battle 21-14. So Joe has work to do.
Sports on 09/18/2014