Offensive Players of the Game: Jackson County Central vs. Pierz

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">Coming into their 3A semifinal matchup last Saturday evening at U.S. Bank Stadium, the <em>Pierz Pioneers </em>were averaging 274 rushing yards per game and only 95.5 passing yards a game in this 2019 state tournament. Their counterparts, the <em>Jackson County Central Huskies</em>, were rushing for around 110 a game with 50 yards passing per  in their 2019 state tourney. The two teams thrilling 20-14 contest won by the <em>Pioneers </em>looked nothing like the stat sheet would have suggested coming into the game, as the <em>Huskies </em>looked like the dominant offensive team almost all game and <em>Pierz </em>ended up needing to rely on their passing game to win it for them - as two of their three scores came on big passes - including the go-ahead TD with 1:19 remaining in the game. The two schools were both loaded with talent on the D1, D2, and D3 levels, but only three athletes distinguished themselves as <em>Northstar Football News' </em>"Offensive Players of the Game." Find out who was selected below!</span> <span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">1) <strong>Bradley Buhl Jr. </strong>(6'0, 215 lbs.) The <em>JCC </em>athlete was not on my radar prior to watching Saturday's matchup, but boy I wish he was. The 215 lb. bruiser of a RB/LB was more than a handful for the traditional 3A powerhouse <em>Pierz </em>to handle, and the <em>JCC </em>two-way stud easily looked like the best RB in 3A.</span> [caption id="attachment_15313" align="alignright" width="300"] Buhl (3) runs the ball during a Huskie regular season game.[/caption] <span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif"> </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif"><b>Buhl </b>is a senior who has been selected to the 2019 MN All-Star Game, and his 109 yards on 33 carries were one hundred and nine of the toughest yards I've seen a running back pickup. Most carries by the 2020 grad required him to carry and/or run through multiple <em>Pioneer </em>defenders, and his powerful lower body kept the legs churning for what seemed like as long as he wanted to. He was fun to watch and I would be absolutely thrilled to have him on my college program next year if I was a coach. Senior year first three games Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9968076/5d804f5104284b0c90e0d312">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9968076/5d804f5104284b0c90e0d312</a></span> <span><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif">2) </span><strong style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">Blake Kowalczyk </strong><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif">(5'10, 170 lbs.) Not to be outdone by his RB/LB counterpart </span><strong style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">Buhl</strong><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif">, <i>Pierz's</i></span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif"> </i><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">Kowalczyk </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">had a helluva performance on both sides of the ball for the <em>Pioneers, </em>but his 13 carries for 86 yards combined with a huge 60-yard TD grad for <em>Pierz's </em>first score of the game made for the most impressive and clutch offensive performance of any <em>Pioneer</em>. With a lot of pressure on teammate and Nebraska Cornhusker commit <strong>Matthias Algarin, Kowalczyk </strong>was able to crank out big runs (6.6 a carry) at key times in the game such as 3rd and 4th downs as well as in 2 minute situations.</span></span> [caption id="attachment_15318" align="alignright" width="232"] Kowalczyk carrying the ball for Pierz.[/caption] <span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">Having posted a recruiting report on the senior this past summer for <em>NFN</em>, I was delighted to see <strong>Kowalczyk's </strong>success on the big stage for his tough 3A squad, and I hope this performance + the Prep Bowl appearance can help bolster his recruiting. Congrats, <strong>Blake</strong>! Junior year Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10056831/5d407862dfe31f15c4a67880">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10056831/5d407862dfe31f15c4a67880</a> </span></span> <span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif">3) <strong>Peter Schommer </strong>(5'10, 150 lbs.) is <em>Pierz's </em>QB1 and is our final selection for our offensive awards. This third slot was a tough one to choose, as <em>JCC's </em><strong>Rudy Voss </strong>(6'3, 195 lbs.) and <em>Pierz's </em><strong>Matthias Algarin </strong>(6'0, 170 lbs.) both had impactful offensive performances, but I just couldn't pass up on <strong>Schommer </strong>and the apparent ice in his veins after going 7-10 for 150 yards and 2 TD's in what was most likely the biggest game of the senior's life. His two TD passes were the two biggest plays offensively for <em>Pierz</em>, and they were both absolute dimes. His 60-yard bomb to <strong>Kowalczyk </strong>hit him in stride, and his 48-yard go-ahead TD pass to <strong>Michael Leidenfrost </strong>(5'10, 160 lbs.) with 1:19 to go in the game put his team and his town in the state finals this weekend. <strong>Schommer </strong>apparently thrives under pressure, and I hope he's interested in playing college ball. </span>