Missouri HS Football MVPs—PLAYOFFS week 1

Let’s go! It’s playoff time in Missouri and this time of year is one and done. Get hot and go on a roll! Unfortunately, COVID knocked out teams before the playoffs even started so the 2020 playoffs is literally a war of attrition. The teams that do continue on do so knowing that they have to not only play their best on the field, but be their best and safest off the field. Here are the #BellRingers for round 1 of the Missouri playoffs. ATH Dylan Schnitzler, Senior, Jeff City (5’9, 175) Dylan is the guy you pick first in whatever game you are playing because he is that good of an athlete. And you also know, with his competitive drive, your probability of winning greatly increases. The senior had a field day on Friday, rushing for 121 yards, two scores and if that wasn’t enough, had a pick-six on the defensive side of the football. The playoffs are built for players like Schnitzler because the true warriors show up for battle. <img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-66844" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/20201031_144010-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />ATH Brock Inman, Senior, Fox (6’2, 195) Another dude that can do it all on the football field, Inman is a pure pleasure to watch because he is a coach’s dream. I am almost positive you could line him up as an offensive linemen and he would be all-conference. The senior has an extremely high football I.Q. and seems to see the play develop before it happens. Check out this stat line for a dominant night: eight rushes, 176 yards (which according to my calculator is 22 yards a carry) and three touchdowns. My guess is Inman’s touches will climb as this solid Fox team continues to advance in the playoffs. Get the rock in the hands of your supreme player. [caption id="attachment_66845" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-66845" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/20201031_144346-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <br />Photo: Mike Jeffries, Mike Jeffries[/caption] QB [player_tooltip player_id="37398" first="Blake" last="Micek"], Senior, Lafayette (5’11, 180) This isn’t the first baller week Micek has had on the season, but maybe the team’s most important win. As long as Micek continues to play at a high level, Lafayette’s season will continue on. Competitive and tough, Micek can win from the pocket or on the move. With a quick release, the senior snaps the ball off to his target. His leadership is vital to his team and that showed Friday when he threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns. <img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-66846" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/20201031_144046-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />QB [player_tooltip player_id="37667" first="Brady" last="Hultman"], Sophomore, Francis Howell (6’, 190) Francis Howell has been churning out football players for years now so add Hultman to that list. Most of the time, seniors and juniors are the stars of the playoffs, especially game one, because of their experience. Hultman played like a crafty vet on Friday, gaining 121 yards on 18 carries and adding three touchdown celebrations. The bruising runner thrives on contact but has the foot quickness to slide in the hole and make the nifty cut to pick up yards. The FH QB has a bright future in high school and college in the right offensive system. RB Alonzo MacDonald, Senior, Borgia (5’10, 170) Is 17.1 yards a carry good? How about three crosses of the goal line? I would answer with an emphatic "YES" to both questions. That was MacDonald’s Friday Night so it goes without saying the senior had a ’good’ night. Rushing for 171 yards on 10 totes is impressive but using his deceptive speed, ability to set up blocks and finish to all his runs makes his good night even better. Well done, Alonzo MacDonald. #RingTheBell RB Arlandes Mitchell, Senior, Van Horn (6’, 175) If you are an avid subscriber/reader to my articles you know I love when players I am not familiar with do something to make me take notice. Case in point, Mr. Mitchell and his excellent performance on Friday night. Four touchdowns in a playoff game your senior season is eye-opening and exciting to see. The long strider can get up and go once he puts his foot in the ground. If the senior gets to the edge, he is gone. Also a heady defensive back, Mitchell is coming into his own as a player. Not only does he improve the chances of Van Horn marching on in the playoffs but if he continues putting up good tape, his own career will roll on as well at the next level. <img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-66847" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/20201031_144057-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />WR [player_tooltip player_id="37206" first="Pernell" last="Garner"], Senior, Lafayette (5’8, 140) This is the first time all season I have given MVPs to teammates but I had to give the dude catching all of Micek’s tosses some love. God blessed Garner with speed and quickness. Both these attributes showed up on Friday as the senior went off. Seven grabs for 167 yards AND three touchdowns. That is a MVP night! All his life Garner has heard he is not the biggest guy on the field. Okay, so be explosive off the line of scrimmage, shifty out of your breaks and pluck the football out of the air. You don’t need size when you have other talents. Garner will continue to showcase his skills on this playoff run and college coaches NEED to take notice. [caption id="attachment_67052" align="alignnone" width="1366"]<img class="size-full wp-image-67052" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/20201101_115103.jpg" alt="" width="1366" height="2048" /> <br />Photo: CBC Photo Club[/caption] WR [player_tooltip player_id="37216" first="Zach" last="Hahn"], Senior, CBC (6’, 175) I have seen enough of this young man to know he is a problem for offenses and defenses. On Friday, as a wideout, he gets a MVP vote from me for his seven catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. But in any given week, Zach could be a MVP for his defensive back prowess and intelligence. Rare are athletes that shine on both sides of the football, especially in a day and age with so much platooning. Hahn is a throwback who will have greater success in college than he even has in high school because once he only has to play one way, the CBC star will focus and excel. Maybe the most ’slept’ on athlete in St. Louis. (I don’t like that term but you readers know what I’m talking about). WR Stewart Dove, Senior, Ladue (5’10, 165) The hardest job in football is as a punt returner. You can debate me every day, all day. But until you go out, stand under a punt while guys rain down around you, successfully field the ball and then make moves, that job is not for the faint of heart. Dove makes it look easy. The senior has natural hands to catch and cradle the football and once he makes his initial move, has the quickness to make defenders miss. He used these skills on Friday Night to take a punt to the house. He also added a TD catch to help his squad to a victory. [caption id="attachment_66848" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-66848" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/20201031_144038-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: AJ Hildreth Spectrum Sports[/caption] WR [player_tooltip player_id="37445" first="Isaac" last="Harkness"], Senior, Blue Springs (6’1, 190) The Blue Springs team has a ton of talent but the heart and soul of the group is Harkness. He plays with an infectious love of the game and his fire not only fuels himself but his teammates. In a hard fought victory Friday, the senior took his game to the next level. He produced six catches for 100 receiving yards and one touchdown. Players like Harkness are needed on every team, big or small, throughout the country. A player can be coached on multiple physical attributes. but you can’t coach heart and want. Harkness has both of those in plenty. That’s a true #BellRinger and MVP! &nbsp;