Spring Week 5 Player Preview

Maryland is in its fifth week of spring football, and players are taking full advantage. With every county in Maryland now playing football, we get a full slate of games on Friday and Saturday in the MPSSAA. Let’s take a look at some of the matchups, and players, to watch this week! <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>MPSSAA</em></span> <em>Urbana vs Linganore</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="90457" first="Xander" last="McClure"]</strong>, Linganore, RB, 5’9" 186lbs, 2021 Xander is a very good RB for perennial contender Linganore. The Slippery Rock commit has good open-field speed, especially after he plants his foot and gets upfield. This speed is paired with very good balance and agility, which allows him to change direction with ease. He continues to build off of his junior year and showcase his ability to be a number one option in a backfield. Coming off a big-time performance against Frederick (14 Carries, 148 yards, 4 TD's), Xander is looking to continue his great spring season against Urbana. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="90454" first="Kyle" last="Howes"]</strong>, Urbana, QB, 6’0" 180lbs, 2021 During the spring he has showcased his ability to throw on the run, and overall playmaking ability. Howes has above-average arm strength that allows him to make off-balance throws look easy. You see this when he is on the run, or does not have his feet set in the pocket. He shows accuracy on all three levels of throws. However, when he takes off is when he is most dangerous. He shows a great initial burst when he commits to a scramble or designed run. And, once in the open field, he can make people miss with one move and finish them off with his speed. This week is a great showcase matchup for him vs Linganore. <em>Allegany vs Fort Hill</em> <strong>Trevan Powell</strong>, Allegany, SS/OLB, 5’10" 200lbs, 2021 Primarily a safety, Trevan plays all-over the Allegany defense. Allegany uses Trevan as their defensive swiss-army knife. Although moved around, he excels in the box-safety role. This allows him to use his physicality to his advantage. Trevan is a sure tackler with good form, continuously driving his shoulder through his opponent. He has no issue getting downhill quickly. In pass coverage, Trevan does a good job of keeping the plays in front of him. This week gives him a great opportunity in a tough matchup vs an opponent with multiple weapons coming out of the backfield. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="90524" first="Breven" last="Stubbs"]</strong>, Fort Hill, RB/CB, 6’0" 180lbs, 2022 Breven has built on his sophomore and continued his rise as a prospect in Maryland. Currently a three-star prospect, Breven holds multiple FBS offers. At CB, he plays physically at the line of scrimmage. Breven shoots his hands quickly and continuously puts his assignment on the ground from his first contact. He also has great speed to stay with anyone he is lined up against. At RB, he shows a great ability to make something of nothing. He has no issue bringing a play back across the field, typically for a big play. He is a great athlete, who when he steps on the field, is typically the best player out there. This week gives him a second shot at Allegany which should see him put on another great performance. <em>Decatur vs Easton</em> <strong>Ashten Snelsire</strong>, Decatur, QB, 6’3" 230lbs, 2022 Ashten has been been the driving force for the Decatur offense during this spring season. With an impressive stat line (1207 yards, 17 TD to 2 INT), his numbers are up there with any other QB in the state of Maryland. Decatur has scored 106 points the last two weeks and Ashten has been the major. Ashten has great size and does a great job of setting his feet before he throws. This week pits him, and his offense, against a tough Easton defense that can rush the passer. It will be a big test for the junior QB. <strong>Kevin O’Connor</strong>, Easton, QB/DE, 6’4" 200, 2023 Listed as the backup QB for Easton, Kevin has been dominating on the defensive line for Easton. You will be hard-pressed to find a better stat line than 27 Tackles (13 Solo, 14 Assist), 10.5 TFL, 5 Sacks, and 2 Forced Fumbles. And for context, this is only in three games played. This game is a great test for Kevin against an offense that has been on fire during the spring. After their first week loss to Wicomico (25-12), Decatur has scored a combined 106 points in their last two games. Kevin will be leading the line to slow down their high-powered offense. &nbsp;