Rock’s Playmakers of the Week: Maricopa/Notre Dame Prep(Defense)
In a 47-0 blowout, it was clear that one defense showed up to play. Notre Dame Prep got in done in all areas with a solid pass rush and a lockdown secondary, along with solid special teams play. Maricopa showed…
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Continue ReadingIn a 47-0 blowout, it was clear that one defense showed up to play. Notre Dame Prep got in done in all areas with a solid pass rush and a lockdown secondary, along with solid special teams play. Maricopa showed only one promising drive all game, as the NDP defense was relentless. Take a look at the top 5 defensive players of the game:
Defensive MVP: Sam McCracken, LB, Notre Dampe Prep (C/O 2021)
McCracken was beast all night by racking up 4 sacks with numerous tackles. He showed excellent anticipation and timing on blitzes. He had very good play recognition as well, as all of his sacks came from different schemes and angles. McCracken showed natural instincts and was a force with run support, as they weren’t able to break a big play on him. He was able to pursue Maricopa’s speedy ball carriers quickly before they had room to work. McCracken is having a solid year, and should continue to be a big player on the NDP defense.
Ben Roberts, DE, Notre Dame Prep (C/O 2023)
Roberts stepped up big in his first game of the season, as he was constantly finessing the Maricopa offensive line to get into the backfield. He stuck his nose in every play, and showed a quick lateral tackling ability. Roberts racked up multiple TFL’s, and forced numerous QB hurries. The Maricopa QB didn’t stand a chance as Roberts was in his grill all night. He is a big sophomore at 6’0″ 200lbs with good length and reach, and still has much more room to put on size. He could definitely have a big rest of the season for NDP, and is a 2023 player to get on your radar.
Hunter Geyer, DB, Notre Dame Prep (C/O 2021)
Geyer had a clutch INT on the Maricopa 35 yard line with 48 seconds left in the first half. This led to a Harrison Wood score before the half. He provided solid coverage all night, and was able to prevent any big passes. Geyer has position versatility as he is athletic enough to move around on defense. He read the QB well and displayed good ball skills on Friday night. He’ll face some tough opponents going forward, so expect him to get tested the next couple weeks.
Nicholas Martin, LB, Notre Dame Prep (C/O 2021)
Martin was a sneaky player to watch on Friday as he was always involved in tackles and big stops. He provided excellent run support on the edges with quick instincts as he flew to the ball fast. He showed a good POA as the speedy Maricopa ball carriers were unable to get him off his track. He showed a good striking ability as he planted numerous ball carriers in open space. Martin stepped up big for Notre Dame with standout JD Roberts JD Roberts 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Notre Dame | 2021 State AZ out, as he was able to prevent a handful of Maricopa first downs.
Caden Cross, DB, Maricopa (C/O 2021)
Cross was able to recover a fumble around his own 3 yard line to prevent another Notre Dame Prep score. Although it was a rough night on both sides of the ball for Maricopa, Cross showed flashes of athleticism. For the most part, he was in good position to make some plays and was able to fly to the ball to recover a fumble.