Team Prospect Report: Orono Spartans

The Orono Spartans football team’s season ended in the Section 5AAAA semi-finals against the SMB Wolfpack. Although they started the season 2-3, they got it together down the stretch and nearly went on the road to defeat the undefeated Wolfpack. Although they lost 19-15, they showed how talented the team was together and as individuals.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Spartans went as their two top offensive threats went.

Running back Fisher Eiss showed how agile of a runner he is. He showed quickness around the end while tackle Shea Albrecht sealed the edge. Eiss then ran off tackle and bounced the run to the outside for fifteen yards behind Albrecht and Josh Kovalik. Eiss got through a hole in the middle of the line – set up by linemen Dominic Dahlen and Charlie Carlsen and used a spin move to pick up ten yards. Albrecht got outside and made an open field block on an Eiss sweep for a ten-yard gain.

Not just a runner, Eiss caught a screen pass on third and long. With a nice cut to the middle of the field, he picked up 14 yards. On another screen, he should have been stopped behind the line of scrimmage but made a cut and picked up five yards.

Quarterback Nick Prentice ran the show. He would line up in the shotgun most of the time, but he would run out of that formation more than throw out of it. Often, they ran the read option. He kept the ball and got around the left side with the key block from offensive lineman Michael Delaney. Then Prentice ran off tackle for a first down. In the passing game, he moved well in the pocket too. Facing third and six he moved up in the pocket to avoid the rush, then slid to the left to give himself a throwing lane and completed a pass down the sidelines to Noah Ameson for 15-yards and a first down.

Later Prentice used his feet to scramble for a first down. On a keeper to the left Delaney and Carlsen collapsed the right side of the defense, giving their quarterback room to run. Prentice has some power and toughness, shown by his runs between the tackles. Prentice was able to get to the outside again thanks to a pancake block by Albrecht on the edge. The quarterback got good blocking from Delaney and then wide receiver James Buck for a ten-yard gain. Later Prentice spun off a tackler, broke a tackle and picked up seven yards.

Albrecht was steady most of the game. He also closed off the corner and allowed the runner to get the corner.

On a 4th and two, the Prentice show continued. He picked up the first down behind Albrecht and tight end Jack Patterson. Then Patterson had the key and lead block on a 4th and 1.

Facing another 4th down, Prentice started off tackle but cut to the outside for a six-yard touchdown run.

On his best throw of the night, Prentice threw a pass in between three defenders – not a big window – to Taylor Reeves.

Prentice’s top receiver Saturday night was Buck. He ran an in route with Prentice putting the ball right on him. Buck would run the same type of route late in the first half with the same result. Faced with a fourth and five from the 28-yard line, Prentice looked to Buck again. They connected down the middle of the field not only for the first down but a touchdown.

The most impressive unit for the Spartans was the defense.

Linebacker Joey Tilzer stuffed a run up the middle. Then he filled the hole and made a solid tackle. In the second half, Tilzer dropped the running back for a short gain and stuffed another run late in the game. He also got after the passer. Tilzer tracked down the quarterback from behind.

Defensive tackles Ben Quinlivan and David Wilfert did a good job in the middle of the Spartans’ defensive line. Both Quinlivan and Wilfert stuffed the inside running game during the first three quarters. They also got pressure on the quarterback with Quinlivan getting a pair of sacks. Quinlivan would add a fumble recovery inside the Spartans’ ten-yard line.

Defensive back John Kropinak had tight coverage on a crossing pattern that forced a fourth down. Then Kropinak and Tilzer won the race to the corner to prevent a 2-point conversion.

Finally, defensive lineman Kendahl Kirk caused problems inside. He is a run-stuffing tackle who made a pair of tackles for little or no gain.

Orono ended their season with a 6-4 record.