McDaniel's Zabko shows how it's done

“It’s important to show the younger guys how we do things, how we like to get after it both in games and in practice, how we fly around and make plays,” said Zabko, a senior who lines up on defense next to seven underclassmen starters.

So far, his example has been impressive.

In his second year as a starter, Zabko has 31 tackles (15 solo), second only to sophomore safety Aaron Slaughter, who has 36 (18 solo). As one of only four seniors starting on defense — the others being nose tackle Ryan Mellinger, defensive end Wes Battle and inside linebacker David Roccio — Zabko knows every move he makes could impact his younger teammates.

“You need that,” McDaniel head coach Tim Keating said. “Derek has a [better] understanding of the game than the younger guys out there.”

Zabko started eight games last season and piled up 56 tackles with two sacks, which earned him second-team All-Centennial Conference honors.

Despite 13 tackles in his last two games, Zabko is working hard to improve.

“The one thing I’m doing is over-pursuing,” he said. “I’ve got to slow down my game a little, slow down my reads and let things come to me rather than try to make too much happen.”

A standout at Wesley Chapel High in Dade City, Fla., Zabko was named the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was drawn to McDaniel by its football history.

Between 1997 and 2003, McDaniel won six Centennial Conference championships, and that impressed Zabko, who was part of the Green Terror team that won a share of the 2004 title.

Although the team has struggled since then (10-15), Zabko is proud to be a part of McDaniel’s 500th victory — a 14-10 win against Juniata two weeks ago. McDaniel (1-4 overall, 1-2 in the conference) plays at Centennial Conference-leading Muhlenberg (5-0, 3-0) this afternoon at 1.

“Maybe we haven’t won as much as I had hope,” Zabko said. “But it’s still been a great experience for me.”

mpeters@baltimoreexaminer.com