Flag football, and particularly 4-on4 flag football, is all about scoring, so it is rare that the defense gets a chance to shine. But several defensive players around the Pittsburgh Flag Football League are doing just that, and in a big way.

The biggest impact is being made in the Steel Conference, where Mike Kelley of PRIMETIME has recorded five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, through only four games. He is also has also registered seven total tackles. SMOKE’s Darius Spinks has four interceptions through six games, Demitrius Carrington of BLACKNIGHTS has incepted three passes through five games and Raheel Latif of SHOWTIME has notched three interceptions through six games.

CJ Baker of PRIMETIME has two interceptions, one of which he returned for a score, through four games, and SMOKE’s Majic Grigg has picked off two passes in only three games played. Grigg and Spinks both have registered eight total tackles.

Kenny Ashmore of PRIMETIME, who is also the conference’s leading receiver, leads in total tackles with 15 through four games and Jeremy Berry has recorded 14 total tackles in six games. Frank Kiss of WREN has notched 10 total tackles through only three games, while GREEN MACHINEs Matthew Lutz, with four games played, and Shawn Vaughn of SMOKE, through six games, have recorded nine total tackles each.

The conference sack leader is PRIMETIME’s Kory Vorum, who has gotten to the quarterback an astonishing 11 times in only four games. Steven Wagers of SMOKE has six quarterback sacks in six games and Gerald Okeefe of SHOW ME YOUR TDs has recorded three quarterback sacks in six games. Three other players, Nick Yond of PATRIOTS, NEON BLACK’s Rob Sewell and Stephen Schwesinger of GREEN MACHINE, have two sacks each.

But the Iron Conference has proven to contain defensive stalwarts, as well. Josh Linton of PUCKU leads the way with four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and 22 total tackles through only four games. Linton’s teammate, Travis Dunn, has racked up 18 total tackles through four games.

Shane Kaclik of MARS shares the conference lead with four interceptions through four games, while Darius Bush of HURRICANES, VAPORS’ Dane Williams and Josh Vermillion (the conference leader in touchdowns scored), Dan Parke of VOODOO and GOON SQUADS’ Shawn Johnson each have three interceptions. Williams and Parke both have pick sixes to their credit. Others with interception returns for touchdowns include Lamont Collier of NEW VISION FRAT, ARCHANGELS’s Sean McCarthy and Tevin Davis of GOON SQUAD.

Also among the conference leaders is AJ Ferguson of NEW VISION FRAT, who has two sacks and an interception to go with his 18 total tackles. In addition, Ferguson gets credit for one of only three safeties recorded within the conference.

Others credited with safeties are PUCK U’s Ryan Lancia, who is second in the conference with six sacks over four games, and Bryan Thomas of MUD DOGS, who has recorded three sacks. Julian Baires-Tweed of LAST CHANCE U is the conference leader with seven sacks over six games, and has also recorded an interception. The HURRICANES’ Demond Gowder gets credit for five sacks in just four games.