Lakeville North vs. Champlin Park Defensive Players of the Game
The 31-21 6A state semifinal thriller last Thursday between Lakeville North and Champlin Park blew the sock off of my 14-10 prediction from earlier in the day’s “Preview” article for Northstar Football News. Although I was correct in predicting the Rebels as the victor, I was confident that…
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Continue ReadingThe 31-21 6A state semifinal thriller last Thursday between Lakeville North and Champlin Park blew the sock off of my 14-10 prediction from earlier in the day’s “Preview” article for Northstar Football News. Although I was correct in predicting the Rebels as the victor, I was confident that the game was going to much more defensively minded. Although quite wrong on that prediction, the defenses of both teams still balled out and were filled with hammers that had no problem with contact and explosive plays. These moments changed the momentum of the game for both sides as well as helped put each teams offense in positive situations.. Within these 22-defenders some individual performances distinguished themselves enough to earn Northstar Football News‘ “Defensive Player of the Game” and whose honorees are as follows:
1) Obi Evuleocha (Champlin Park 2020-6’0, 220 lbs.) is all of his listed 220 pounds and was a thumper who hits from his LB spot were heard by my Dad and I in section 135. Evuleocha was making tackles all over the field and from sideline to sideline and forced a big fumble on a Panther ballcarrier that gave the ball back to the Rebels just as North was getting deep into their territory.
Obi Evuleocha.Evuleocha will need to have another big game in order to contain Wayzata’s powerful rushing attack. Hudl: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9122123/5db3169f19a5820cc0c80c32
2) Isaiah Curtis (Lakeville North 2020-6’1, 185 lbs.) is a sticky senior CB who had no problem laying the wood and whose second half interception on an incredible break on a comeback route began the Panther offensive attack which nearly won them back the game. Curtis also made some PBU’s on a variety of routes throughout the game, and has great size for the cornerback position. I hope he finds his way onto a college roster next fall. He finished the game with 4 tackles, 3 PBU’s, and 1 int. State semifinal Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7758529/5dd1d269d225770d806f8e12
3) Devon Moore (Champlin Park 2020-6’0, 170 lbs.) is the Rebels utility defender and plays much bigger than his listed 170 pounds. He’s been CP’s standout defensive player both games I’ve seen the Rebels play, and his second half interception in Thursday’s semifinal in which #5 undercut an out route and tipped the ball to himself one-handed was one of the finest defensive plays of the game. He finished with 11 tackles and an interception to pad the stats on an already stellar 2019. Hudl from CP’s recent victory vs. Rosemount: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8091063/5dbf4b68f31ced0d40d3f2d8