Parker Porrill is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover St. Mary's High School for AZPreps365.com.

St. Mary’s has cruised in its programs first season to a 5-0 record while utilizing its stout defense to outscore opponents, 120-6. 

The ones instilling the tough defensive philosophy are not the coaches, but the players themselves who push to improve game by game. 

“It's really centered around understanding the big picture of what the entire group is doing as one unit,” St. Mary's head coach Chris Horn said. “You have to have everybody understanding ... And you have to have seven separate persons contributing to one defensive unit.”

After the first home game in program history, defensive back Bella Soroko spoke highly of what defense means to her and her teammates.

 “We take a lot of pride in our defense,” Bella Soroko said. “We don't want anyone to score on us, so that's all we focus on.”

The Knights head coach Chris Horn attributes the team development in its defensive ability to how close the team is with each other. 

“[The team’s] love for defense is continuing to grow and develop in real time,” Horn said. “What defines them really well is their defense and it takes trust and it takes teamwork.”

The teamwork and trust the Knights have with each other has been built by the leaders of its strong senior class.

“It's very unique and a very special bond because they all pick each other up,” assistant coach Troy Soroko said. “They help each other when needed, not only on the field, but off the field.”

Although its midway through the season, one of the main reasons the Knights are in the playoff picture is from their defense. 

One of the primary factors for the Knights defensive success is the team’s athletic ability, Horn said.

He continued, “They certainly are an athletic group across the board and the seniors are very athletic. I'm blessed to be able to have a bunch of girls that are just really good athletes.”

The athletic players allow the Knights' defense to play faster and more agile than its opponents. However, one reason for St. Mary’s defensive success is its intensity.

“They're locked in, just their intensity,” Troy said. “They move to the ball very well, they stay in their lanes and they don't over pursue.”

This past week, the Knights let up its first points of the season to the Leading Edge Spartans, which made many of the players frustrated. 

“They were all disappointed, but very hungry,” Troy said. “We gave up six now, we told him, let's go start another streak of shutouts.”

St. Mary’s is halfway through the season undefeated, but is looking at the heart of its schedule with four of its last five games coming on the road.

In this tough stretch of the season, the Knights will look to utilize their trust in each other, teamwork, and to continue the reign from their dominant defense.