Nate’s Big Dogs of the Game: Totino-Grace/Anoka

<strong>ANOKA-- </strong>With my second set of big dogs from Saturday, we move over to Anoka, home of the Pumpkin Bowl on Saturday for the battle between Totino-Grace (2-2) and Anoka (1-2). We had 16 "Big Dogs of the Game" to start the day in Andover. Do you think we can top that in Anoka? Find out below! I'll give you a hint: we may have hit the over! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18448" first="Carson" last="Cyr"], K/P, Anoka (2022)</strong> Cyr is our first ever specialist to make this list but a darn good one, to say the least. Cyr hit two of three onside kicks in the 4th quarter with success and got the Tornadoes possessions at the end of the game that made this game a lot closer on the scoreboard than some folks probably saw with my updates. The wind was crazy in Anoka, but  Cyr had a booming leg even on his punts despite the conditions. Cyr certainly punched the ticket to keep the #1 specialist spot in our class of 2022 rankings for a while. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CEbcK">So. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18035" first="Kristoff" last="Kowalkowski"], QB, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> Talk about a player that made all the right plays with limited work. Kowalkowski only threw the ball nine times all game, but two of his five completions went for touchdowns for the St. Thomas commit. Kowalkowski showed off his rapid release on Saturday with solid zip on the football. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWvHy">Tape vs. Anoka</a> <strong>Brennan Brockel, FS/SS, Anoka (2021)</strong> Brockel came in a key on several Tornadoes tackles and, in the fourth quarter, made an exceptional grab on special teams to give the Tornadoes another chance in the 4th quarter. Brockel has an outstanding placement on his reads on where the ball is going and has his hands on the playOn Saturday night; the improvement I sat is paying off from the long hours Brockel put in this summer with E-Money and TNT Academy in Robbinsdale. Brennan currently holds one offer from Concordia-Moorhead, with I’m sure more MIAC opportunities coming in after the season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2ESKDG">Game 1-2 Tape</a> <strong>Patrick O’Donnell, DB, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> O’Donnell was a key defender in the Eagles win over Anoka. His ability to jump into the first level and cause trouble in the running lanes and a key sack were vital to the Eagles defense, especially in the first half of this game. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CHGMV">Last Year Tape</a> <strong>Keenan Rodriguez, WR, Anoka (2022)</strong> Rodriguez showed off a quirky move to get space for his 25-yard touchdown. Watching back his film, this kid has a lot of potential and has a wide catch radius despite his measurables. I think the connection between him his quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="49915" first="Jacob" last="Deutschman"] is only going to get better and better for the reason of and their senior season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2E6Z1c">Summer 7on7 Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18457" first="Michael" last="Sauer"], DB, Totino-Grace (2022)</strong> Sauer and the rest of the Eagles secondary were straight-up flyers to the ball on Saturday. I’m a big fan of the way Sauer attacks the ball carrier on his tackles and is a solid player in coverage too. Sauer also was a key last man and made quite a few tackles that saved six for the EaglesOverer the last few weeks; a broken foot didn’t seem to phase him one bit in his first game back. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EXDEK">Tape vs. Anoka</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49872" first="Logan" last="LaChance"], LB, Anoka (2022)</strong> LaChance played well on the second level for Anoka and was a sound contributor. When I drive-thru this Anoka rost, I am how many underclassmen players they had chipping in against Totino-Grace, with LaChance being one of quite a few. I need to see LaChance’s film show a little bit more of him wrapping up tackles on the first level as that was a struggle for Anoka on Saturday night. <strong>Sean Collins, LB, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> Collins was an under the radar senior that stood out for Totino-Grace on Saturday. Not a player you will find tons of film on, but played well against Anoka, keying in on several tackles for the Eagles. His ability to stop the run from the start was a massive asset for Totino-Grace in this one. <strong>Tommy Barrett, WR, Anoka (2022)</strong> Barrett was a top performer on offense for Anoka on Saturday night. Barrett, I thought, was extremely slippery to tackle. His ability to make plays on screens, over the middle, and deep was what stood out to me about his game. His constant battle and drive to keep the Tornadoes in the game yesterday was another impressive thing Barrett showed to PrepRedzone.com on Saturday night. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWwnQ">Tape vs. Totino-Grace</a> <strong>Mason Molitor, DL, Totino-Grace (2022)</strong> When I saw Molitor on the roster sheet, I was blown away by his measurables at defensive end. This kid is big and physical on the line, and although wasn’t all over my light stat sheet, he still was a promising player. I look forward to watching in the future, and one you could see on our rankings come to the next update. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C1iew">Tape vs. Anoka</a> <strong>Ethan Kelley, RB, Anoka, (2021)</strong> Kelley showed some great burst on his 69-yard touchdown to the house for the Tornadoes on Saturday night. Rolling back some of his film, Kelley is a strong athlete that can shed off tackles pretty easily despite not being the biggest guy on the field. With that great of the film somehow has no offers despite some Northern Sun interest in the earlier months of 2020. Could be a Division III steal for some program out there if he is not given a Northern Sun opportunity here soon. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CEemJ">Jr. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18163" first="Manny" last="Thomas"], NG, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> Thomas did a nice job stuffing the Tornadoes rushing attack on Saturday. Thomas is a nose guard that loves to be physical and has strong footwork to eat up the middle. His ability to get running backs in uncomfortable stuffed up closing lanes makes it easy to see why this kid has some Division II and III offers are eyeing him with offers. His ability to engage with a blocker yet make a play on the ball carrier is my favorite thing to watch of Thomas on film. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9946293/5daa14f1664afc0c98d1ee8e">Junior Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49915" first="Jacob" last="Deutschman"], QB, Anoka (2022)</strong> Deutschman throws a very good deep ball with good zip on the football as a promising junior for the Tornadoes. His ability to stay composed even in a tough game in the late quarters against the Eagles was what I enjoyed about his game. Has a good range of mobility and can still rocket fire in the pocket. The connection with his 2022 receivers I look to blossom even more nicely the longer they get to play together. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12881016/5e7d0c365eecc40730fd9a1e">Jr Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18031" first="Joe" last="Alt"], OL, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> A tough offensive line paves a strong running game; there should be no question about that. When you have guys like Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id="18031" first="Joe" last="Alt"] you get rushing games like [player_tooltip player_id="18453" first="Hunter" last="Karlson"] had yesterday. Alt’s ability to manhandle Anoka defenders on Saturday night opened up a big can of yards for Karlson, and an Eagles win. Love how this kid just constantly stays engaged on his defenders. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EXJyd">Tape vs. Anoka</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18158" first="Luke" last="Rooker"], OL, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> Alongside Alt was [player_tooltip player_id="18158" first="Luke" last="Rooker"], who was basically the same level of being locked in. Rooker threw several blocks on tape that just paved the way for Karlson to get his yards super easily. Rooker was another key to Karlson’s near 300 yards rushing and rushing over 12 yards per carry. Running backs need to always "Thank your line" when big numbers like that are put up. Rooker currently holds four Northern Sun offers and should see more in his future if he keeps turning in games like Saturday night in Anoka. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWwjT">Anoka Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18087" first="David" last="Ayeni"], LB, Anoka (2021)</strong> I would have to give my defensive MVP for Anoka to [player_tooltip player_id="18087" first="David" last="Ayeni"]. There was not a more active player all over the defense for the Tornadoes on Saturday than Ayeni. Ayeni’s shed off ability spoke volumes of his game on Saturday night in Anoka. Ayeni also played terrific in coverage last night, which give you another strong avenue to his game. Ayeni will make a Northern Sun or a local program in St. Paul a very happy camper when he decides to sign somewhere, an excellent versatile linebacker. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EX5BG">Tape vs. TG</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18132" first="Deezwin" last="Cooper"], DB/RB, Totino-Grace (2021)</strong> When I run out of notepaper on a defensive back for passes defended, it’s probably an excellent sign [player_tooltip player_id="18132" first="Deezwin" last="Cooper"] had an amazing game. Cooper has fantastic footwork and stays very level when guarding receivers. Cooper also showed off his blitzing speed on offense with a big long run up the middle on the Tornadoes defense. I want to know, where is this kid’s interest or offers? With great footwork, bursting speed, and could be just slightly undersized, I have no clue what the Midwest has been sleeping on with Cooper as the kid is a next-level talent at defensive back. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EKB4F">Senior Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18453" first="Hunter" last="Karlson"], RB, Totino-Grace (2022) </strong> Anytime you gather almost 300 rushing yards in a game, there is almost a 100% chance you win our Game MVP award, which went to [player_tooltip player_id="18453" first="Hunter" last="Karlson"] on Saturday. Karlson was patient and had a great vision with his touches with the ball against Anoka. Karlson is very tough to tackle, which is why he was making 10+ yard gains look like a walk in the park at Goodrich Field on Halloween. This game will catch college coaches eye the most for this Class of 2022 PrepRedzone Minnesota ranked running back. <strong>Note: </strong>From his Anoka tape below, you need to watch around the 1:25 mark, don’t ask me why; just do it. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWvGf">Tape vs. Anoka</a> &nbsp;