The fans at Center High School's Sarge Alberts Stadium had to be wondering what was happening Friday night.

The members of the football team's starting defense were being introduced but no one was running onto the field.

Instead, the players stood in the end zone, milling around until the introductions were concluded. When the announcer was silent, the team charged onto the field.

Did the players have trouble hearing their names? Was the announcer reading the wrong lineup? Or was the starting offense supposed to be announced instead of the defense?

There was no mix-up.

"We didn't go out individually for a reason," said Brian Dolph, Center's defensive coordinator. "We waited until everybody's name was announced and then came out as one ... we preach that."

No individual is bigger than the unit. That's the reason the answer to the question, "Who is your leading tackler?" was the same from three different sources.

"I don't know that," coach Larry Taddeo said.

When he was asked if the unit had a captain, he added, "All of them."

"I couldn't even tell you," said Dolph with a smile. "Everybody's got like 15, 20 tackles."

"It's hard to get a lot of tackles because we have everybody going to the ball. It's not just one guy, it's everybody," said senior linebacker Trevor George.

The defense is the main reason Center is 8-1 and the No. 1 team from the rugged Class AA Midwestern Athletic Conference heading into the playoffs.

The Trojans, who share the MAC title with Beaver Falls and Aliquippa this season and are seeded third in the WPIAL playoffs, will entertain Washington tomorrow night at 7:30 in a first-round game.

Although Beaver Falls has received most of the accolades and high rankings during the regular season, Center has quietly put together an outstanding record. The Trojans aren't flashy, especially on defense, but they are efficient and one point away from being undefeated. Center lost to Aliquippa, 13-12.

Center has gifted offensive players in quarterback Preston Dawson, running backs Ben Cobb and Lukas Turley, and receivers Josh Garrett, Rob Nohe and Mike Kupper. But this is a team that wins with defense.

Just ask Beaver Falls, which was ranked No. 1 in Class AA by the Post-Gazette before the Trojans stopped the Tigers' offense in a 21-7 victory.

This past Friday, in the regular-season finale, Center topped Beaver, which is also headed to the playoffs, 23-14. Beaver managed just 57 yards rushing on 30 attempts and only 133 yards of total offense.

No team has scored more than 14 points against the Trojans. Riverside also managed two touchdowns in a 36-14 loss.

"Somebody asked me this summer what the strength of the defense is and I just feel the guys know where to go," Taddeo said. "They're comfortable and not thinking when they make a play. They just react."

"This is one of the fastest defenses I've been around," said Dolph, a 1998 Center graduate who has been coaching for 11 years. "We're extremely fast to the ball. Our philosophy is the only thing that will beat us is a screen pass."

"Most of us have been playing football together since we were little," George said. "We all know where each other is going."

Against Beaver, the Trojans didn't blitz much. The Bobcats connected on an 18-yard pass for a touchdown after a turnover and running back Sam O'Neill broke at least four tackles in racing 32 yards for a score, but that was about it for the Bobcats.

And once Center took the lead, Beaver didn't do much of anything on offense.

The Bobcats managed just four first downs and all of those came in the fourth quarter after Center had a nine-point lead.

"We want to stop the run first and react to the pass," Dolph said. "How much we blitz depends on how I feel that day and what other teams are doing. We didn't blitz Beaver much in the second half.

"What we are after is three and outs and shutouts. But it's tough to do that given the caliber of the talent we are playing against."

Against Beaver, lineman Tory Taddeo, the coach's son, was Center's leading tackler with 13. Austin David and Corey Neill were next with seven apiece and George had six. Taddeo had the most because Beaver insisted on trying to run the ball.

What Dolph is most interested in is where his unit ranks. Of the teams in the Beaver County area, Center is tops in total defense, second in rushing defense and first in passing defense. Those are rankings Steelers coach Dick LeBeau would love.

"Defense wins championships," George said when asked about Center's chances in the playoffs.

• What: Washington at Center.

• When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

• Where: Sarge Alberts Stadium at Center High School.

• The skinny: Washington has a rich football tradition and finished fourth in the Class AA Interstate Conference.

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