New London - Aaron Black played with a torn labrum in his left shoulder from the first game of the season last year and underwent shoulder surgery in December. Blake Bonifas broke his leg in the second game of the 2013 season against Merchant Marine and was out for the year. Joel Wyman herniated three disks in his neck during wrestling season and was told he would never compete again as an athlete.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the starting defensive line for the Coast Guard Academy football team.

"It was a pretty bad experience," said Bonifas, the Bears' junior noseguard. "I talked my parents into getting me a little scooter so I could get around campus. I was just trying to keep my head up."

"It definitely makes you appreciate it more," said Black, the left end and one of Coast Guard's senior captains, also a preseason All-American. "My roommate is John Tarzian, the senior captain for men's soccer. He broke his leg. And you go in your room and he's sitting there in a wheelchair unable to play. We have three games left. We want to get a bang for our buck."

The three all returned from their injuries and, since a 56-0 loss Sept. 20 at Hampden-Sydney, ranked 25th in the nation in Division III, the Bears have been locked in on defense, allowing just 11.75 points per game over the last four games.

Coast Guard shut out Curry 17-0 on Oct. 11 and last weekend limited Maine Maritime's triple-option attack to 248 yards rushing, almost 200 yards shy of the Mariners' Division III-best average of 440.8 yards per game. Maine Maritime rushed for just 42 yards in the second half.

The Bears (3-4 overall, 2-2 in the New England Football Conference) have the third best pass defense in the league and, among defensive linemen, Black (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) has the third most tackles in the league with 5.9 per game, Wyman (6-3, 225) is fourth with 4.9 and Bonifas (6-2, 250) eighth with 4.1.

The Bears play defending NEFC champ Endicott (4-2, 3-0) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Parents' Weekend.

"It's a good group," Coast Guard coach Bill George said, crediting longtime defensive line coach Jay Driscoll. "We even have good backups. It's the best defensive line overall I've seen in a long time."

All three of the starters attended prep school before coming to Coast Guard, with the two seniors, Black and Wyman wrestling together at Marion (Ala.) Military Institute. Bonifas followed them to Coast Guard a year later after spending time at Georgia Military College.

Among the things that make the defense so hard to crack:

They have a spirited rivalry at every position. For example, Wyman still wrestles for Coast Guard. Asked if he does, as well, Black said no.

"Joel's a better wrestler than me," Black said. "... I'm a better football player."

"It was kind of depressing knowing Aaron was going to have a good season and not me," Wyman said of the thought he might not be cleared to play. "I basically came back so I could beat Aaron one more time."

In addition, George said, the team has had the hands-on support of Capt. Ernest Sullivent, the academy's chief medical officer.

"His medical expertise has been a tremendous help for the football players. He is as involved at this academy and in the football program as any doctor in the United States of America. The academy is lucky to have him," George said.

And, finally, the backups on the line, including sophomore Brendan McNeil of Pawcatuck, who is listed at linebacker but plays right end at times, have allowed Black, Bonifas and Wyman to rotate out, allowing them to stay fresher.

These three are the first line of defense for Coast Guard, the ones who, despite being smaller most times than the guys lined up across from them, have the ability to put pressure on the quarterback. They're the ones that, failing a sack, can hurry an offense enough so that their linebackers and defensive backs have a chance at interceptions.

The Bears have forced 14 fumbles in all and have recovered eight.

"Our biggest problem is starting off slow. Once we hit our groove, we feed off each other. We can lock it down," Black said. "We're trying to force turnovers. Once you get a hold of someone, hold him up so other people can strip the ball. We feed off each other after a big hit.

"There's a lot of friendly competition; it just pushes everyone to be better. It's a lot more spirited this year. People are a lot more invested."

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Twitter: @vickieattheday