Prep Redzone Iowa's Team of the Week | 4th Edition

Prep Redzone highlights eleven of the top performances statewide and across classifications to bring you Iowa’s fourth 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. [player_tooltip player_id="98642" first="Jack" last="Gilligan"], QB, Dubuque Senior, <a href="https://twitter.com/JackGilligan6">Twitter</a> Gilligan has steadily dominated through 4 weeks, but is, for whatever reason, flying under the radar. He was outstanding against Waterloo West completing 13/19 of his attempts for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns; he added 41 yards and a score on 5 carries. Gilligan is one of the most well-developed Quarterbacks in the state and it is about time the recognition and recruiting attention catches up. His reads were so sharp on Friday night, especially while in the mesh. [player_tooltip player_id="104079" first="Tyler" last="Smith"], QB, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerSm1010">Twitter</a> Smith’s arm did the talking in week 4 as he made a strong case to be known as the state’s best pure passer. He went 23/33 for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns. He tacked on another 45 and a score on the ground. There was not a throw he couldn’t make as he torched the Black Raiders’ secondary. Smith was nailing vertical routes and one, which really impressed, came out of his own end zone as he sidestepped the rush and dropped a dime for a 53 yard completion. [player_tooltip player_id="24007" first="Dawson" last="Forgy"], RB, Winterset, <a href="https://twitter.com/DawsonForgy02">Twitter</a> Forgy put up the stat line of the year so far through four weeks with 388 yards and 6 touchdowns on 21 carries against ADM. He was one move and gone all night behind some outstanding blocking. One of his best runs of the night came on veer when he took the pitch, reversed field, and outran everyone for a 70 yard score. Another score, this time from 65, came on a lead dive where he stiff-armed a linebacker to the ground and then burst into daylight. [player_tooltip player_id="147972" first="Gavin" last="Maguire"], FB, Logan-Magnolia, <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinMaguire19">Twitter</a> The Panthers called Maguire’s number 42 times on Friday night against Tri-Center, which resulted in a 261 yard 3 touchdown performance. Number 26 rumbled through the A gaps time and again, punishing the defense in the process. All Maguire needed was a little space and a push up front; he lowered his shoulder and did the rest. Logan-Magnolia just couldn’t be stopped as they steadily fed Maguire the ball. Maguire added 9 tackles on defense, too. [player_tooltip player_id="156487" first="Titus" last="Cram"], RB, Bondurant-Farrar, <a href="https://twitter.com/Titus_Cram6">Twitter</a> Cram, one of the top 2024’s in the state, ran wild for 152 yards and 4 touchdowns on 25 carries for the Bluejays against a very tough Pella defense. Several of his carries came on direct snaps. The opposition knew what was coming and he took it to them with really impressive downhill moves anyway. He got hit at the five yard line on one of his scores and ran through several tacklers to get into the end zone. Cram really knows how to punish defenders. [player_tooltip player_id="23992" first="Graham" last="Friedrichsen"], WR, Urbandale, <a href="https://twitter.com/Graham_Fried">Twitter</a> Friedrichsen went crazy in Urbandale’s week 4 win over Roosevelt hauling in 5 catches for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns. His first touchdown was a simple, underneath hitch that snagged and then tightroped the sideline for 20 yards into the end zone. His second came on a 50 yard post that he pulled in with a defender hanging on him. Friedrichsen’s third came on a toss-pass; he snuck behind coverage and left everyone in his dust. He simply could not be contained. [player_tooltip player_id="148456" first="Aidan" last="Kilstrom"], OL, Pleasant Valley, <a href="https://twitter.com/Aidankilstrom">Twitter</a> The Spartans moved to 2-2 on the year behind impressive blocking; Kilstrom led the charge with some exceptionally violent strikes and pancakes. Pleasant Valley ran for 329 yards on the night. Inside Linebackers should be terrified; there aren’t many who can climb to the next level as explosively at Kilstrom. He was also an absolute wrecking ball on down blocks; unsuspecting Defensive Linemen had no chance. There aren’t many as mean as Killstrom in the trenches. [player_tooltip player_id="23957" first="Braden" last="Simonsen"], DE, Ankeny, <a href="https://twitter.com/BradenSimonsen">Twitter</a> Simonsen took snaps all over the defensive front on Friday night and feasted on Southeast Polk’s Offensive Line. His 9 Tackle, 1.5 Sack, 4 TFL performance stymied one of Iowa’s best, most balanced offenses. Simonsen used a perfect first step and his length off the edge to fly into the backfield and collect a big Sack. His run block destruction, especially in inside gaps, led to chaos in the backfield. The Rams had no answers for Simonsen; he did whatever he wanted. [player_tooltip player_id="148833" first="Gaige" last="Avants"], LB, Davenport North, <a href="https://twitter.com/gaige_avants">Twitter</a> Avants posted 11.5 Tackles, 2 TFL, and 1 Sack that helped the Wildcats shut it down and seal the deal against Iowa City West in week 4. The Trojans were held to just 64 yards on 30 carries. As much as they tried to establish the run they just could not get any push and Avants was flowing to the ball with ease. Avants is one of the better tacklers in Iowa and that was on full display Friday night. His fast hands and sharp instincts make him virtually unblockable. [player_tooltip player_id="24012" first="Lincoln" last="Snitker"], LB, Waukon, <a href="https://twitter.com/lincoln_snitker">Twitter</a> Snitker did everything on Friday night to help his team earn a 48-21 win over North Fayette Valley. He had 6 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, 4 catches for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns, and 4 Tackles and 2 TFL. Snitker was punching the ball right up the gut for big gains on offense, then turning around and smacking ball carriers at Linebacker. He looked great in the passing game; Snitker caught a screen and pummelled defenders for a big gain. [player_tooltip player_id="23989" first="Will" last="Cornwell"], DB, Ankeny, <a href="https://twitter.com/willcornwelll">Twitter</a> A big key to Ankeny’s win was preventing the big play and forcing Southeast Polk into predictable situations. A lot that had to do with the back end play of Cornwell and how he kept everything in front of him on Friday night. He had a huge interception at the goal line when the Rams were threatening and made several other key plays when the Rams wanted to go deep. Cornwell also provided excellent run support that bottled up a very dangerous ground game.