Top Players To Watch: Livermore Vs. Foothill

Paul Gregorian April 6, 2021 @ 12:28 PM

Both Foothill and Livermore are coming off Week 4 wins with Foothill beating a strong Granada squad and Livermore routing Dublin on Friday night. Both teams have stout defenses and athletes on the edges. These two teams have previously squared off in week 1 with Livermore narrowly beating Foothill 14-13. Below we will break down some of the top players to watch out for in this contest.   LB Kenny Olson, Foothill HS Olson is a very active player at the second level that has good hip fluidity in space and can cover/break to ball carriers in a hurry. A physical presence in the box, he triggers well to ball carriers and is a strong tackler in space while not afraid to drop into the box. Tough and physical at the point of attack, Olson has FCS+ level abilities at the next level.   LB Connor Perez, Foothill HS Perez is a tough, physical and active player on both sides of the ball and can shock/get off blocks in the box and cover sideline to sideline while taking good angles to ball carriers in space and closing quickly. Also flashing quick play diagnosis and natural instincts, he will be a big time impact player in this contest.   OL Brandon Souza, Foothill HS Souza is one of the top interior OL in the Bay Area in the 2022 class. Ideal size for the next level, he has a strong initial punch and can sustain blocks well through the first two levels. Finishing with good aggression, he also shows good feet in pass pro with the ability to work against counter moves while keeping inside hand placement and anchoring against bull rushes.   RB Jayden Payne, Foothill HS Payne is a well put together back that has college level abilities. He has good acceleration through the LOS while running with a low pad level and natural forward lean. Running behind his pads, he displays good contact balance and has a nose for the end zone. Waiting for blocks to develop, he can gain the tough yards inside and has the speed/lateral agility to bounce it outside the tackles as well.   QB Nick Walsh, Foothill HS Walsh is a very efficient quarterback for the Falcons that is not afraid to throw into tight windows or against blanket coverage. Mobile in the pocket, he is a drop back passer that moves well through his progressions and makes minimal mistakes. A very smart player, he has D-III+ abilities at the next level.   TE/LB Joe Schweig, Livermore HS Schweig is an intriguing player that can play multiple positions for the Cowboys. Playing linebacker and fullback, he is a physical and tough presence that is a throwback player in this new age game. A devastating blocker that can catch the ball out of the backfield, he is a jumbo athlete that will be a big part of the game plan on Friday night.   QB Shaun Smith, Livermore HS Smith is a bit undersized but more then makes up for it by being extremely athletic in the pocket and going through his progressions downfield and taking what is given. Displaying a quick release while able to throw on the run and across his body, he throws an accurate ball with good touch and velocity on 30+ yard throws downfield. Also displaying strong pocket awareness he is a dual-threat passer and he has D-II next level abilities.   OL/DL Ashton Baswell, Livermore HS Baswell is a starting lineman on one of the regions top teams as a Sophomore. An anchor in the interior, he is strong at the point of attack and more than holds his own going against players with multiple years of Varsity experience. Having good size for this point in his career, he will have next level abilities as he continues to grow.   ATH Xavier Guiterrez, Livermore HS Guiterrez is an instinctual and very active third level defender for the Cowboys that is comfortable in coverage and can play both bump and run and off man coverage on bigger slots and quick inside receivers. His versatility moves him all over the field and he also flashes good ball skills and tackling abilities.   TE Matthew Polaski, Livermore HS Polaski is a big target that has gone for over 400+ receiving yards already this season and has a huge catch radius and very strong hands, especially when making contested catches. A longer runner that has sneaky speed, he is a bog bodied pass catcher that can make an impact at the next level.