Don’t count on senior linebacker Logan Wuckovich being intimidated.

“We are playing DI athletes in the Mid Penn every week,” Wuckovich said. “They are going to Alabama and Notre Dame. It’s no joke. These guys are 6-foot-6, 300 pounds. They are freaks of nature. Honestly, I love it. It’s just about who is a tougher man. It doesn’t matter if you are 180 pounds or 300, I’m going to go through you.”

Wuckovich has been more than holding his own.

Through five games, he had 71 tackles, including 10 for loss, two sacks, six hurries and an interception he returned for a touchdown before the score was called back by a penalty.

TyKear Davis gets pressure on State College QB Connor Kulka.

“He’s got a good athletic body and is just naturally strong,” Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr. said. “His ticker never stops. If a coach at any level is going to watch him, he is involved and near the ball on every play. There are teams that have to key on him as well, so he’s doing that even when teams identify where he is on the football field.”

Altoona’s defense has been spectacular in wins over Cumberland Valley and Central Dauphin East, but Wuckovich hasn’t been alone starring on that unit.

Fellow senior Tykear Davis had 36 tackles, including five sacks, eight hurries and caused a fumble through five games from his defensive end position.

“Tykear came to us a couple years ago,” Nedimyer said. “His work ethic, the time he puts in at the weight room over the summer and how tough mentally he is — he is intrinsically driven — is impressive. This year we had the kids all write down goals. I know his goal is to be selected to the all-state team. The numbers he’s putting together from the defensive line, right now he’s right up there in the running. Who knows how the second half of the season will go, but he is just a terror on the defensive line.”

Davis is physically impressive, but he also credits his success to preparation on the mental side.

“I have developed by watching film, learning formations and understanding football better,” Davis said. “I first started playing in sixth grade. I fell in love with it. I love all the guys coming together to have one goal and working toward achieving it.”

Following Altoona’s loss to Hollidaysburg in the season opener, Nedimyer adjusted his approach to playing time.

“We got better when we changed to some guys playing just defense,” Davis said. “Getting less reps has led to us playing with more energy.”

It’s an approach that has really helped Wuckovich.

“He never wants to come off the field,” Nedimyer said. “What we have done the last couple weeks is we have tried to do an offensive team and a defensive team so we’re not using as many kids both ways. I think it has really paid off, and it has really helped him. He’s a kid that was playing every snap at linebacker, and we play with a tight end a lot — and he was that kid. Now, we have him fresh in the second half since we’re not using him as much, and it really helps. The beating you take as a linebacker and tight end in this league can really wear on you.”

A couple weeks ago, Altoona shut out Central Dauphin East. The zero on the scoreboard at the end of the game represented a lot of growth from the Mountain Lions.

“It meant a lot, but it’s just something we know we should do every week,” Davis said. “It’s really about getting to the next week and working toward that same goal.”

Wuckovich credited hard work during the summer.

“I have gained a lot of weight and hit the gym pretty hard,” Wuckovich said. “I have been focusing and trying to get better every single day.”

Following a couple lopsided losses to start the season, including against rival State College, the team had an attitude adjustment.

“We definitely have more leaders,” Wuckovich said. “We all started encouraging each other. It wasn’t like that a little bit ago. We were hard on each other, but now it’s more about picking each other up. We don’t dwell on the bad situations that happen in a game. It’s more about picking each other up.”

While Wuckovich has been leading as a second coach on the field, Davis has also been trusted to bring his own style to Altoona’s defense.

“We let him have a little bit of freedom, because we know he’ll make plays,” Nedimyer said. “We’re willing to take chances with him getting out of position, which he does from time to time, but he understands where he needs to get to for what we have called with a little bit of freedom with his alignment. The work he puts in is paying off on the field.”

The confidence Nedimyer has in his two top defensive players is reflected in their belief of the direction of the program.

“We definitely want to get a District 6 title back,” Davis said. “I definitely think it is possible. We came together and made some plays on defense and offense in that game.”

Wuckovich agrees.

“I definitely want us to win a District 6 championship,” Wuckovich said. “That’s our goal. It has to be our goal.”

It’s that belief Nedimyer hopes rubs off on the rest of the team.

“It’s about getting that belief in all of the kids,” Nedimyer said. “We tell them all the time that we believe in them. I truly believe that this is one of the most skilled groups that we have had in the seven years that I have been the head coach. We have been telling them that for two or three weeks. When kids like Tykear and Wucky believe, other kids are going to believe as well.”

Meanwhile, the seniors inspire each other.

“He’s like my brother,” Wuckovich said. “He pushes me to go harder and harder. He’s getting better, so I have to get better.”

Wuckovich would like to get to 130 tackles this season, Davis wants to make an all-state team but more importantly, both players have been developing off the field.

“The coaches have been pushing us to be great and special,” Wuckovich said. “They are pushing us to be better men. That’s what I’m so grateful for.”