Coon Rapids vs. Spring Lake Park Defensive Players of the Game

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">The 5A state quarterfinal game hosts at Osseo High School between section 5 winner <em>Spring Lake Park </em>and section 7 winner <em>Coon Rapids </em>was without a doubt a defensive slugfest all four quarters and ended 14-2 in favor of the <em>Coon Rapids Cardinals. </em>Before the <em>Cardinals </em>play in their semifinal matchup with <em>Chaska </em>next Friday, let's give recognition to some of the <em>Northstar Football News </em>Defensive Players of the Game from this past Saturday's game. Shoutout to <em>SLP </em>and their seniors on a hard-fought and accomplished season and good luck to <em>CR </em>next Friday. </span> <span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;">1) </span><strong style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">Blaine Cooper </strong><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;">(6'1, 175 lbs.) wore #1 for the </span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;"></i><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;"><i>Panthers</i></span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">and was forsure their #1 defensive player. The captain of the <em>SLP </em>defense was all over the field from his MLB position, and the undersized backer made his presence known every time he got his hands on a ball carrier. It was the same thing I had previously seen from the senior in my previously covered game vs. <em>Irondale </em>from a couple weeks back. Despite being a tad light, <strong>Cooper </strong>is fast and relentless in his pursuit of the football, and I didn't see him miss a tackle in the two games of his I covered. According to <em>MNFootballHub, </em>the senior logged 14 tackles in his last high school game and 131 on the year to go along with 4.5 sacks. I hope <strong>Cooper </strong>finds his way onto a college football team next fall. Senior season Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7977083/5da3d1b8041e4c0c640491c3">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7977083/5da3d1b8041e4c0c640491c3</a></span> <span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;">2) </span><strong style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">Myles Taylor </strong><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;">(6'0, 240 lbs.) is a recent MN All-Star Game selection and a huge (literal and figurative) Northern Sun recruit who has played ILB and DT for the </span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;"></i><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;"><i>Cardinals</i></span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">this season. He mostly aligned at the 3-technique all game Saturday, and <em>SLP's </em>oline basically set their blocking to big #6. He was powerful inside and did a good job fighting off double teams and finishing the game with six tackles. He finished with 60 tackles and 10 sacks along with 4 FF's during the regular season and section tournament according to <em>MNFootballHub, </em>and I'm exited to watch <strong>Taylor </strong>on Saturday's next fall. Senior year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/7860608/5da4ae291763521038d0a265">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/7860608/5da4ae291763521038d0a265</a></span> <span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;">3) </span><strong style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">Joey Sorenson </strong><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;">(5'9, 160 lbs.) is the only non-senior on this list, and the DB/PR for the </span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;"></i><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif;"><i>Panthers</i></span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">is a ballhawk who showed up big for <em>SLP </em>in the defensive backfield both previously when I saw them play <em>Irondale </em>and last Saturday against <em>Coon Rapids</em>. He finished with 8 tackles this game according to <em>MNFootballHub </em>and had the biggest hit of the game on a <em>CR </em>attempted pass that the WR probably wished he didn't catch. <strong>Sorenson </strong>has some pop to him, and has great ball skills from his safety position. According to <em>MNFootballHub </em>the junior finished 2019 with 111 tackles, four ints, one FF, and six PBU's. His big hit against <em>CR </em>caused that lone FF, and his Hudl is full of big hits and great pass break ups. Look for #25 to have a big season next year for <em>Spring Lake Park</em>. Junior year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CL0ZE">http://www.hudl.com/v/2CL0ZE</a></span>