Defensive QB finally healthy, ready to dominant

by Brian Burden
bburden1721@hotmail.com

As a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore middle linebacker in 2007, Arundel High School’s Bobby Partilla was asked to play a major role amongst a sea of experienced seniors, including Arinze Obiako, Michael Inyang, David Mason and Ben Hutchinson. Injuries limited him the first half of the season, but Partilla returned long enough to experience and contribute to the Wildcats’ run to M&T Bank Stadium and the state final, falling to Quince Orchard, 36-30.

Less than nine months later, Partilla finds himself the newly established leader of defensive coordinator Vinnie Elliott’s linebacker corps, getting the keys to the defense just one day after getting his driver's license.

"We are looking for Bobby to take a leadership role this year," Elliott said. "He didn’t necessarily have to do that last year because of all those seniors we had, but he has watched and learned and it is his time to run the show."

Partilla looks like a middle linebacker. He is solid all over physically and possesses an intense stare that suggests he would be willing to get a 7-on-7 in at three in the morning. He plays the 'Mike' position, essentially the defensive quarterback, and will be the one responsible for calling out the defense, recognizing formations and making the necessary checks.

"Coach Elliott sends me the plays and then I just communicate with everybody on the field," Partilla said. "I feel older and more confident and I know that I have to be a leader with Arinze and all the other guys having graduated."

As a sophomore, Partilla’s progress was limited due to a right knee strain he suffered while tackling Broadneck’s Anthony Baker on the last drive of the first week. Originally thought to be a torn ACL, Partilla missed four weeks and did not start again until near the end of the regular season. He still finished sixth on the team with 47 tackles and added five tackles for loss and a sack. The Wildcats' defense allowed 16.7 points a game, a somewhat impressive feat when considering the quick-strike capability of the Wildcats’ record-setting offense.

"We are comfortable with our role on the team and what our job is. We take pride in what we are supposed to do each week," Elliott said. "Bobby knows that we need to get the ball back in the hands of our offense so we can go back down the field and score."

The advantages of being surrounded by a corps of dedicated seniors were numerous. Partilla gained a newfound respect for film work, taking it home and studying it. Elliott noticed a change in Partilla when he started asking for the rough draft of the scouting report for their next opponent on Monday, a day earlier than he generally gave a final copy to the players. Arundel’s defense day is Tuesday and Partilla wanted to have an idea what to expect in that practice as opposed to one day later.

"We had great team players who were good at being leaders, good at picking everybody up and helping each other out," Partilla said. "I need to be one of the people that does that now."

The only thing previously limiting Partilla’s growth has been injuries. He had a shoulder injury as a freshman and then suffered the knee injury against Broadneck. In the regional semifinals against North County, Partilla partially dislocated his thumb jamming it into a Knights' helmet and, with all the bandages and braces he had on, looked a little like Robocop.

"Bobby is going to do well," Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz said. "He played hurt the whole season last year. There was the knee, the thumb. Hopefully we can keep him healthy. He had a great summer and he looks good right now."

Consistent training and a devotion to the team’s unofficial sessions this summer have Partilla looking stout and ready for a breakout season.

"Last summer, he was not ready or mature enough to be a leader on this team, and he did not have to be," Elliott said. "Now, he just has that look about him that juniors typically have. They don’t get rides from their parents anymore, they start venturing out on their own and they figure things out. That maturity will hopefully translate onto the field and in the locker room."

The Wildcats suffered significant losses on the defensive side of the ball to graduation and many are questioning whether the Wildcats, ranked No. 15 in the DigitalSports/MDVarsity Pre-Season Top 25, have the weapons to make another trip to Baltimore, especially with games against Broadneck, Old Mill and North County to start the season. Partilla, for one, is confident he and his teammates will be ready and is eager to battle those doubts.

"Everyone is ready," he said. "We have some transfers that look good and we are all excited to get back together. My coaches expect me to play well and do my job and I am going to play my best each week and just try to get it done. I am ready to go!"

Check out video interviews, a photo gallery and in-depth coverage of the Arundel football team when the team's official DigitalSports preview comes out on Wednesday, Aug. 20.