MVPs from Friday 11-20-Missouri Football Playoffs

With playoff games in the state being split up between Friday Night and Saturday, Prep Redzone wants to focus on more players in less games. The following athletes helped their teams advance to the next round. In the case of the 6A class, the championship will be played next weekend in Jefferson City. Other players below have the semi-finals next weekend. Here are the stars of Friday Night’s contests. <img class="alignright wp-image-40233" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/Cael-Welker.jpg" alt="" width="248" height="163" />QB [player_tooltip player_id="37241" first="Cael" last="Welker"], Senior, Jackson (5’11, 185) Five touchdowns in the first half allows you a break in the second stanza. The senior signal-caller was hitting on all cylinders in the first 24 minutes of Jackson’s blowout win over Chaminade. Welker threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more. Welker has been consistently good for over three seasons and has put up video game type numbers. What he lacks in size and stature, the right-handed snap thrower makes up for in moxie, toughness, leadership and field awareness. I know quarterback is a position that college coaches need to get a feel for a player and see him up close. Covid-19 has limited many opportunities for players but none more than QBs. Welker is a top-flight player in the makings of Brett Gabbert. He just needs a program to believe in him. I know this is not a consolation to having school paid for, but he is an MVP here and one of the best players in the state of Missouri. <img class="wp-image-74521 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/11/20201121_142712.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="152" />QB [player_tooltip player_id="37385" first="Jack" last="Newcomb"], Senior, Fort Zumwalt North (5’9, 180) The "round mound of chewing up ground" went crazy on Friday as he rushed for 201 yards and a score in a massive win over Battle. FZN doesn’t pass the football much and doesn’t need to with their offensive weapons in the backfield. That rushing attack starts with Newcomb. With his rolling stone running style, the senior simply finds a seam, tucks the football and trucks the competition. His legs never stop driving on contact and his heart never stops pumping out for extra yards. There is absolutely nothing fancy about Newcomb’s game and that in itself is a thing of beauty for true football fans. Three yards and a cloud of dust, but when Newcomb hits the second level, defensive backs better watch out. The kid has a shiftiness to his game and enough speed to make him dangerous. Friday Night was an MVP Night for Newcomb. <img class="wp-image-40247 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/Chris-Ruhnke-1.jpg" alt="" width="227" height="149" />QB [player_tooltip player_id="37278" first="Chris" last="Ruhnke"], Senior, Platte County (6’3, 180) I know everyone loves underdogs. There have been plenty of movies made about guys who weren’t expected to succeed go on and have a day in the sun. I personally love when the top dogs of teams step up when they are counted on. Without day in and day out MVPs, a team of underdogs rarely wins. You need a lead dog to do what top dogs do! Ruhnke is that beast for his squad. In an epic battle on Friday, Ruhnke used his brains and arm to win the game for PC. The senior threw for four touchdowns and 327 yards. The newly minted commit to Northwest Missouri State was poised in the pocket, showed escape ability and the arm talent to secure that bag. Ruhnke has the talent and team to win a championship, especially if he plays like he did Friday.   <img class="wp-image-74544 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/11/20201121_152031.jpg" alt="" width="119" height="159" /><span style="font-size: 1rem;">RB Hayden Sigg, Junior, Smithville (5’11, 185) When you watch tape of the Smithville offense you can be initially thrown off by the stance of the running back. He stands up straight and does not look action-ready. But trust me, that runner is Sigg and he moves quick as a cat on the snap. Then once he secures the football, he drops his pads, runs low to contact and drives his powerful legs through the gap. Though slight built, the junior breaks arm tackles and finishes all this runs moving forward. His two touchdowns in the win Friday led his team to another win on their march to a state crown. I have a feeling, this will not be the last time Hayden Sigg is an MVP on this site.</span>     RB Gavin Wencker, Senior, Union (6’, 180) Welcome to the MVP party, Mr. Wencker. Your table is front and center with the other players who went off for five rushing touchdowns on Friday. Pretty sure you have the table to yourself. In an exciting victory over pesky Festus, Wencker accounted for ALL of Union’s points (minus PATs). The senior had one of those games that people in the surrounding area will talk about for years to come. Also a solid defensive back, Wencker runs with a viciousness. If he smells the end zone, he is scoring. What separates Wencker on this level is his speed. Quick out of his stance, the senior hits top gear quickly and can run away from defenders. Union has quite a few playmakers on offense, but none are hotter than Wencker after Friday Night and his MVP performance. RB [player_tooltip player_id="37182" first="Devrin" last="Weathers"], Senior, Webb City (6’1, 195) The Kansas State commit is playing EXACTLY as you would expect one of the best players in the state to play. "Put the squad on your back and let’s go!" The <a href="https://prepredzone.com/missouri/rankings/2021-rankings/">29th pre-season ranked player in Missouri in 2021 class</a> is playing like he is on a mission to not only be ranked higher but to win a championship. The senior’s three touchdown performance in the win over Lebanon was just another day at the office for the freaky athlete. Weathers has speed, shiftiness, balance and vision. Add to that his soft hands and game-changing knack for giant plays, Devrin is special. If Weathers continues to dominant, Webb City will be hard to defeat. <img class="alignright wp-image-51087" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/09/Screenshot_20200912-132434_Instagram.jpg" alt="" width="187" height="123" />RB [player_tooltip player_id="37238" first="Chris" last="Futrell"], Senior, Fort Zumwalt North (5’11, 205) If I was a college coach, I would find scholarship money for Futrell. I don’t care what position he is recruited to play, get him on my team. His energy, tenacity, fire and passion are stamped all over the FZN team. While his teammate Newcomb (mentioned above) is the conductor of the team by position, Futrell is the engine that runs the train. The senior runner rushed for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Almost every week this season, Futrell’s name is in the headlines or on these pages as a MVP candidate. Now he is balling out in the primetime of the year. By the way, Chris added 2.5 sacks on Friday as well. Whether on offense or defense, Futrell plays the game with respect and honor by giving his all and that is an MVP to me. [caption id="attachment_74528" align="alignleft" width="251"]<img class=" wp-image-74528" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/11/Skill.jpg" alt="" width="251" height="167" /> Photo: dirtandturfphoto.com[/caption] DE/LB Chris Skiljan, Junior, DeSmet Jesuit (6’1, 225) The rocked-up junior was a terror on the football field Friday Night versus a well-coached Fox team. Skiljan bounced from defensive end and standup linebacker to combat the option-style offense of Fox. Playing off cut blocks, sticking and shedding with force and making double-digits tackles on the edge, Skiljan was the driving force behind the Spartans pitching a shutout. Skiljan also showed his versatility by playing a major role as a blocking tight end on offense. The junior is a rising player in recruiting circles due to his ability to snap and stun blockers, his high-end hand usage and his premiere football acumen. His offer calendar is about to explode.  