BROOKVILLE - Jeff Torrence and Matt Burch are a "Dynamic Duo" for the Brookville High School football team, but the linebackers certainly don't measure up to superhero dimensions.

Torrence, a 5-6, 216-pound senior, and Burch, a 5-9, 190-pound sophomore, are a little small for the prototype linebacker. Neither is particularly fast.

But while those physical numbers don't stack up to comparisons, their number of tackles do.

Torrence and Burch are the two leading tacklers on one of the area's top defenses. The duo lead the Bees as they play host against Rustburg Friday in the Region III, Division 3 title game at 7:30 p.m.

Torrence, an All-Seminole First Team selection, said he doesn't worry about his physical stature.

"I think it's about what you have inside," said Torrence, who is smaller than most of the offensive linemen and offensive backs that come his way. "If you're bigger in the heart than the other guy, you can beat the bigger guy."

Bees coach Bobby Johnson is glad to have both a part of a defense that has allowed only two opponents (Division 4 finalists Amherst and Salem) to score more than 15 points all season.

"There are two real reasons why they are our leading tacklers," said the second-year coach. "The first reason is that they are in a position where they are going to make a lot of tackles. In our defense, it is designed for our linebackers to make most of the tackles.

"The second is that both of them are doing so well is the fact that both of them have a great feel for the game. You can tell those two guys one time what's going on, how to line up and what adjustments we're going to make to the opponents' alignment and they know. They just have that instinct into getting in the right place to make plays. It's something that you don't coach. They just have that."

Johnson said both Torrence, who mainly lines up on the strong side of the line of scrimmage, and Burch who plays inside linebacker, are very similar.

"They have that linebacker mentality," Johnson said. "They enjoy hitting. They enjoy the physical part of it. They're short in stature, but boy they're strong for their size.

"Both of them are like coaches on the field. That's very unique. Jeff has always been like that since I've known him. Matt is just a sophomore and has some of those characteristics. He's either watched a lot of football or he was born with it."

Torrence, who is second on the team with 93 tackles, has had to battle back from a knee injury that could have sacked his career. As a freshman, Torrence tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

After much rehabilitation over the seasons, Torrence still doesn't feel he's regained his speed.

"I've had to work hard," he said. "Nothing has come easy, but my team has helped me get through it a lot."

Torrence says using his mind and relying on his teammates up front has been his formula for success. "I just hope somebody will slow them down so they'll cut back and I'm there. I just try to make sure to be in the right spot and know where I am on the field all the time."

Johnson said Torrence's success is no accident. "He practices hard. You wonder sometimes because he's not the fastest linebacker at all, but he knows enough about the game he always seems to get himself in the right position."
Burch started nearly every game as a freshman. "There are not many freshman that start at Brookville that I know of in my short time here," Johnson said.

Burch has blossomed into the team's leading tackler (102) and a Second Team All-Seminole pick as a sophomore. "All through Little League I've been playing linebacker," Burch said. "I guess it's just kind of natural."

Facing many of the big backs in the Seminole, Burch said he knows he can't try for big hits. "I can't take them up around the shoulders. I just have to go after their legs. If I get their legs, one of my teammates will come and get the top of them."

Both Burch and Torrence say relying on teammates is a big part of their own success.
"We don't have certain people that stick out," Torrence said. "Each person plays their position and plays it to their fullest."

"I've been really happy with our defense all year long because I they're playing as a unit," Johnson said. "I think everybody on the field for the first time really knows what their role is on defense and they are taking care of that. We're playing as a team out there, not just a bunch of individuals doing their own thing."

Burch and Torrence also get a chance to carry the ball. They join Russell Lomax in a rotation at fullback. All three have rushed for more than 200 yards and have helped block for First Team All-Seminole tailback Dejon Kennedy, who has gained nearly 1,200 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

"On offense I like coming up and lead blocking on someone and laying them down," Torrence said.

Both hope the Bees' defense can perform as well as it did the first time out against Rustburg. Brookville recorded its lone shutout of the season in a 24-0 rout of the Red Devils.

"I think it's in the back of their mind what we did the first game, but this is a new game," Burch said. "That really doesn't matter."