LUMBERTON — The strategy is simple for the Southeastern Conference’s top defense Friday night against Purnell Swett: Stop Ethan.

If only it were that easy.

“It is, what it is,” Lumberton coach Mike Brill said before Tuesday’s practice. “It’s going to be a hard-hitting game and Swett has plenty of athletes. I’m sure this is what the county wanted in this rivalry game with both teams having a lot of success.”

Rams quarterback Ethan Clark torched the Lumberton defense in last year’s game, but the Pirates found a way to win for the first time in six years. By himself, Clark nearly eclipsed 400 yards of offense and sped through the Pirates’ secondary on separate occasions in the second half.

Clark has three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season, 572 yards rushing and 12 scores and 601 yards passing through 10 games. How will Lumberton scheme against Swett’s top playmaker?

“We don’t look at numbers, we look at ourselves,” Brill said. “Our guys need to worry about reads and the keys we’ve set out for them. They know what they need to do to be successful.”

Brill’s defense is headlined by a trio of senior stars — Linebacker Jalaquon McNeill, the team’s vocal leader, Jermaine Kesler, the Shrine Bowl defensive tackle and Terrance Powell, a hard-hitter with soft hands.

What the Pirates’ defense lacks in size and strength, it makes up for in speed. McNeill stands at 5-foot-11, not even 200 pounds but leads his team with 70 tackles.

McNeill says Clark reminds him of Hoke County ’s Vernon Brandon, but Clark relies on his feet instead of his arm. Barking out signals to his teammates will be McNeill’s chief job on Friday. He announces the plays on the field after glancing over at coaches on the sideline, keeping the original call or switching to an audible.

“Ethan makes plays out of the pocket, with his legs,” McNeill said. “Being able to contain him is the top priority. The game will become easier if we contain him. It’s just a matter of us staying in our lanes.”

McNeill acknowledges that a fast, agile quarterback always gives defenses headaches, but his team already excelled against Richmond County in a similar scenario. Despite falling 24-7 in Rockingham, the Pirates limited the Raiders to 245 yards, a full 200 below their season average and chased Tedarrius Wiley out of the pocket all game. McNeill tallied a season-high 16 stops.

The Rams had similar success with flushing the Raider quarterback from his comfort zone, but were torched down field with the pass and gave up 47 points.

While Lumberton’s top-ranked defense has had problems at times in the secondary, corners and safeties combined for five interceptions last week against Scotland. The Pirates feel like they can be successful Friday forcing Swett into an air attack.

“We want them to throw the ball against us,” Brill said.

The Pirates won 30-21 in 2008, but haven’t won in Pembroke in 11 years.

“It’s tough to play any team on the road,” Kesler said. “We just have to make the most of what they give us.”

McNeill says fans will notice the better team soon after kickoff and all the hype for the Backyard Brawl will be over.

“Both squads can talk the talk all year long but it’s about what you do on Friday night. We’ll let our game speak for itself.”