Defensive standouts – Eden Prairie vs Rosemount
In this article:
If you enjoy defensive football (like I do), Friday night’s showdown in Eden Prairie between two top ten 6A teams was for you. Eden Prairie and Rosemount took part in an old-school slugfest in which every first down had extra…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIf you enjoy defensive football (like I do), Friday night’s showdown in Eden Prairie between two top ten 6A teams was for you. Eden Prairie and Rosemount took part in an old-school slugfest in which every first down had extra meaning. EP got the only touchdown of the game to win 13-3. As you could probably guess, there were plenty of standouts on the defensive side of the ball.
Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN Eden Prairie LB
In a night of great defense, Larson might have stood out the most. Early, he made a tackle for a short gain. Then he made an open-field tackle for a short gain. He stuffed a pair of inside runs for short gains. Late in the game, he showed range as he scraped to the outside for a tackle.
Cade Hutchinson Eden Prairie DB
Hutchinson didn’t have to make a ton of plays during the game, but he made the biggest play. With his team-leading 3-0, Rosemount was in the middle of their best drive of the game. As the back was going into the end zone, Hutchinson met him at the goal line – forcing a fumble that his teammates jumped on in the end zone.
Kade Gilbertson Kade Gilbertson 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2023 State MN Rosemount LB
Gilbertson started his night with a tackle for a short gain. Later, he showed his mobility by stuffing an outside run.
Adam Mertens Eden Prairie LB
Early in the game, Mertens made a huge open-field tackle on a third down – keeping the Irish short of the first down. Late in the game, he beat his blocker and tracked down the quarterback for a sack.
Josh Liggett Josh Liggett 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2022 State MN Rosemount LB
Liggett was all over the Eagles’ outside running game. He made three tackles on runs to the outside – all for short gains. The final one – that I noticed – was on a third and short and forced EP to make a fourth down decision.
Zack Gau Eden Prairie DT
Gau was a big reason why the ordinarily solid Irish running game had so much trouble. In addition to keeping blockers of his linebackers, Gau stuffed an inside run for a short loss. In space, he made an open-field tackle for a short gain. In a goal-to-go situation, he stuffed a run near the goal line. Finally, he took any momentum away from the Irish when he sacked the quarterback one play after the Eagles’ offense turned the ball over.
Ryan Roszak Rosemount DB
Roszak came up strong in run support all night. He made two great open-field tackles and then stuffed another outside run.
Bobby Heiberg Eden Prairie DE
Heiberg did an excellent job keeping the outside running game in check. He held the corner and forced runners inside to his help. He also made his share of tackles – including an open-field tackle on an outside run.
Wyatt Uttermark Rosemount LB
Speaking of doing a job on the outside, Uttermark did just that – often not making the tackle but keeping the Eagles’ runners from getting loose on the outside. He showed he wasn’t just a good contain guy. No need for help from teammates when he stuffed a couple of outside runs.
Will Schreiber Will Schreiber 6'2" | 200 lbs | DL Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN Eden Prairie DE
Schrieber pounced on the Hutchinson forced fumble in the end zone. Later, his penetration into the backfield forced a runner wide and into his teammates.
Quick hits
Miles Townsend Miles Townsend 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2022 State MN Rosemount LB – blew up a screen forcing an incompletion
Jonathan Corbett Rosemount DB – tackle for a short gain
Noah Ekness Eden Prairie DB – came up strong in run support and stuffed a run for a short gain
Vicar Payne Rosemount DB – made an open-field tackle while staying home on an end-around