Prep Redzone Iowa's Team of the Week | 3rd Edition

Prep Redzone highlights eleven of the top performances statewide and across classifications to bring you Iowa’s third edition of “Team of the Week” for the 2021 season. See why these dominant performances stood out and congratulations to the players on their impressive success. These players are posting big numbers, getting noticed, and helping their teams win. Get to know them now. Carson Blietz, QB, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, <a href="https://twitter.com/BlietzCarson">Twitter</a> Blietz and the Cougars put on a show in a week 3 rout of Washington in a game that many thought would be close. He threw for 4 touchdowns and ran in another in an offensive torching of a very talented opponent. Blietz looked outstanding in the pocket and in the face of pressure on Friday. One of his touchdowns was an absolute strike downfield as he sidestepped a blitz. He nailed a deep corner route on the run for another; it appears he can do it all through the air. [player_tooltip player_id="98641" first="Zayvier" last="Arguello"], QB, Newton, <a href="https://twitter.com/ArguelloZay">Twitter</a> Arguello has the Cardinals rolling against tough competition and the offensive fireworks were on display Friday night against Marshalltown. He went 9/14 for 216 and 2 scores and added 3 more touchdowns on the ground. 85 of those passing yards came on a rocket of a downfield throw as he eluded pressure and released the ball on the move. He was improvising and threading the needle to perfection. Arguello is arguably the top dual-threat in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="23983" first="Titus" last="Christiansen"], RB, Southeast Polk, <a href="https://twitter.com/TitusLC2">Twitter</a> The Southeast Polk game plan against Waukee Northwest in week 3 was abundantly clear; pound the rock. Christiansen went off and executed to perfection, carrying 33 times for a whopping 239 yards and 2 touchdowns. His ability to follow the pulling Guard through on Power and cut into space was impressive all night and the Wolves defense just didn’t have an answer. Christiansen broke four tackles on that very play on his way to the end zone from 19 yards out. [player_tooltip player_id="104113" first="Jonathan" last="Humpal"], RB, Lewis Central, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanHumpal1">Twitter</a> The Titans cruised in week 3 behind Humpal’s 175 yard, 2 touchdown performance. He burst through the line of scrimmage behind great blocking and flew into the end zone untouched from 14 yards. His second score went for a long 62 yards on GH Power. Humpal’s most impressive work didn’t come on touchdowns though. On several occasions he shot through the line and barreled into second level defenders dragging several opponents at a time for extra yards. Brady McCullough, WR, Ankeny, <a href="https://twitter.com/bradymc18">Twitter</a> McCullough had his way with the Dowling secondary in week 3; his 8 catch 127 yard 3 touchdown performance propelled the Hawks to a win. He smoked a Safety in man coverage on a fade route from the slot out of trips for one score. He expertly navigated defenders to get behind coverage in the back of the end zone on a crossing route for another. He motioned to a short curl route for his third. As impressive as anything was how well he blocked all game. Jacob Heier, WR, Humboldt, <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobheier16">Twitter</a> For the third straight week Humboldt’s high-powered offense didn’t pull any punches and this time it was Heier taking the spotlight. He was electric on 5 receptions that resulted in 134 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had no problem beating man coverage as the single receiver out of trips on jump balls for both scores. He nearly had a third breaking three tackles before a fourth defender pushed him out of bounds. Heier’s body control through routes is second to none. [player_tooltip player_id="99892" first="Hank" last="Lucas"], OL, Valley, <a href="https://twitter.com/HankLucas7">Twitter</a> Valley bounced back in week 3 with a big win over a talented Urbandale team. A huge key to their success was [player_tooltip player_id="99892" first="Hank" last="Lucas"] and the line’s ability to get push on the J-Hawk front to steadily pound the ball for an average of 4 yards per carry. His ability to push and steer the nose to clear out the A gaps on zone blocking schemes was huge for the Tigers. Lucas’ versatility as an interior blocker, moving between Guard and Center, helps a lot when facing different fronts. [player_tooltip player_id="148853" first="Jordan" last="Hoeppner"], LB, Cedar Falls, <a href="https://twitter.com/Jordan_Hoepp34">Twitter</a> The Tigers held the high flying Hawks’ offense to just 21 points in a week 3 win in large part to Hoeppner’s 10.5 tackle performance. He had a nose for the ball all night lining up to the strength of Prairie’s offensive formation. He was unblockable from everywhere and the Hawks just didn’t have an answer, even when they tried to run away from him. He blew up a screen, ran down action away, made open field tackles, pursued backside; the list goes on and on. Jalyn Mingo, DL, Dubuque Senior, <a href="https://twitter.com/JalynMingo">Twitter</a> Mingo was vicious and violent on inside gaps in a week 3 win against Davenport North. His efforts were a big reason why the Dubuque Senior defense made the Wildcats one-dimensional and held them to 52 rushing yards and 1.9 yards per carry on the night. The space Mingo ate up as he worked through gaps and into the backfield made it impossible to get anything on the ground established. On one play he split a double team and still made the tackle for no gain. Keegan Andriano, SS, Ankeny Centennial, <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrianoKeegan">Twitter</a> Andriano has been one of the state’s better Strong Safeties through three games. He recorded 7 solo tackles in the Jaguars’ win over Waukee on Friday night and lowered the boom on one of them. Waukee ran Jet to the strength of their formation and picked up a gain of 12 yards; Andriano made sure that’s where the play ended. This hit of the year candidate was perfectly leveraged and took the Waukee ball carrier right off his feet. Andriano is a certified ball hawk. [player_tooltip player_id="148740" first="Cam" last="Guenther"], DB, Linn-Mar, <a href="https://twitter.com/camguenther2">Twitter</a> Guenther locked it down in week 3 limiting the Pleasant Valley offense to just 3 completions and 27 yards. He added a very impressive interception while covering and sticking to a vertical route with textbook technique; Guenther has 3 picks so far on the year. He showed off outstanding instincts that set him aside as one of the better coverage specialists in Iowa. He can hit, too. Guenther excelled on both sides of the ball adding 4 receptions for 53 yards.