When Mark Peterson talks about Travis Pride's growth, he's not just alluding to the 275-pound junior's size.

"He's a kid who's just continued to blossom physically as well as a football player," the Portage coach said. "It's part of the maturity process to understand what's needed to be an inside player, the level of intensity you have to play at. You can be motivated 45 out of 55 plays but the times you're not motivated, that's when you end up on your back with somebody on top of you."

The nose tackle/guard has dialed it up recently and it's no coincidence the Indians' defense is playing its best, taking consecutive shutouts into tonight's Class 5A Sectional 1 championship.

"It's just drive and determination," Pride said. "I was disappointed with myself not playing as good as I was capable of. I've been turning it up in practice and games. I don't like losing, at all. That's one thing that's driving me more, especially with sectionals coming around."

What Pride has never lacked in bulk, he once lacked in fire. Despite his parents' urging, he didn't try football until seventh grade, and he used to struggle with early morning practices and workouts. But as his work habits have improved, so has his production.

"His mental development has taken leaps and bounds," Peterson said. "He's been very consistent all season and he's become a smarter player the last five, six weeks. Here's a kid who's got pretty good potential but is still learning how to play football, and there was some frustration in learning how to play. He's got a good motor and with the recent success he's had, he's fine tuned it."

Peterson expected Pride to be a big contributor as a sophomore, but surgery for torn meniscus kept him out several games. In the process, he soared to more than 290 pounds.

"I noticed I'd get gassed real quick," Pride said.

Pride returned last winter to wrestling, and it transformed him physically. He dropped the weight, going from a rotational performer to an every-down standout who routinely draws multiple blockers.

"I think I surprise a lot of people with my mobility, my agility," he said. "I've gotten quicker. Wrestling gets all the credit for my stamina, my balance. Now I can go a whole drive with barely being tired."

The fact Pride can plug in with equal effectiveness at tackle or guard gives Portage's defense greater flexibility.

"He's probably better at (tackle) because of his great athleticism," Peterson said. "But he's also big and strong enough to play nose guard. We expect him to be a run stopper as well as a rusher. He's done a nice job keeping blockers off our (line)backers, freeing them up."

The double teams get a little frustrating, but Pride knows it's a show of respect. He still manages to get in on plenty of plays, as evidenced by his nine stops in a 14-0 blanking of Chesterton.

"I get pretty emotional during a game," he said. "When I make tackles, I get up and dance. You watch me on the field and you'll laugh."

Unless you're an opponent.

PREP FOOTBALL

The Travis Pride file

School: Portage

Year: Junior

Background: Pride has 88 tackles, 48 of them solos, eight hurries and six tackles for lost yardage. He made a team-high nine stops in last week's 14-0 shutout of Chesterton.