They were polite.

Quiet.

Almost monosyllabic.

"They're not a talkative bunch," Bishop Chatard High School coach Vince Lorenzano said after his linebackers finished an interview.

Nik Beery, Ben Buhler, Mike Dum and John Dury make their noise on the field.

The quartet is at the center of one of Indiana's best defenses. Chatard has allowed 94 points this season -- an average of 7.8 per game, the state's eighth best -- but just 27 of them have come when the team wasn't leading at least 41-0.

"We have trouble picking out the big hit award each week because there's always two or three guys that get good shots in on people," Lorenzano said. "This group is experienced. It's still young, but they play fast and they're pretty vicious. They play real physical.

"Playing fast and physical, that's our motto."

The defense led Chatard to its sixth straight sectional title, and the team faces Mount Vernon (8-4) at Broad Ripple tonight in regionals. This is the second season for the linebackers as a unit. Dum and Dury, then sophomores, and Buhler, then a junior, stepped into the starting lineup last year beside Beery, now a senior who has started for three years.

"I knew we had a couple of athletes coming in from the sophomore class," Beery said of inside linebackers Dum and Dury. "And I knew Ben would step up and take a major role in the defense. It took us a while to mesh but towards the end of the season, we came together and made a lot of plays."

Dum added: "We understand everything that much better going through the second year. It's not new anymore. We don't have to explain things to each other. We think alike and know what to do."

The young linebacking corps helped lead the Trojans to the Class 3A state title game last year, as the defense allowed just 14.5 points per game, 43rd in the state. The unit's continued improvement, however, is demonstrated in its first-half performances, allowing an average of 8.2 points in the first 24 minutes last year and just 1.1 this season.

The four linebackers are nearly identical in size, ranging from 6 feet to 6-2 and 195 to 209 pounds, but each brings a different element to the defense. It has surrendered just 156.9 yards of total offense per game -- Cathedral's William Stubbs is the only back to rush for more than 53 yards against the Trojans -- and has forced 32 turnovers.

"Nik is pretty athletic, and he can run," Lorenzano said. "Ben's real strong and tough. . . . John Dury sees things well and moves quick to the ball. Mike Dum is a crazy man, a wild man. He's looking to kill you every play he gets the chance. . . . He's fun to watch."

Tonight, the defense will be responsible for shutting down Mount Vernon's versatile and deep offense. It has three backs that have rushed for more than 550 yards -- Chase Page (150 carries, 994 yards, 12 touchdowns), Josh Mitchell (91-646-4) and Nathan Jackson (70-574-9). Quarterback Ryne Weppler is 116-of-187 for 1,325 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.

"Our No. 1 goal in every game is a shutout," said Beery. "It's written in all capital letters on the board before we go out and play."