Rising stars from Trinity vs. North Crowley

The week 7 matchup between both 4-1 Trinity Trojans and North Crowley Panthers was highly anticipated. There were several notable athletes on both teams but I wanted to scout the potential rising stars. The Trojans came out firing on all cylinders with a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and they never let up. The Panthers had several opportunities to capitalize on to get back in the game, but the Trojans would remain steadfast in their game plan, winning 42-7. Here’s a recap of the rising stars from the game <strong>(Unofficial Stats)</strong>. <em>Offense:</em> <strong>Gary Maddox</strong> - Trinity Euless - RB - 5’10” 173 lbs Maddox is an explosive player whose abilities are sometimes overshadowed by Oklahoma State commit [player_tooltip player_id="60744" first="Ollie" last="Gordon"]. Coming into the game he had 83 carries for 568 yards, while averaging 6.8 yards per carry with 3 touchdowns. He has quick feet, great vision, and finishes his runs when meeting contact. Last night Maddox had 13 carries for 90 yards, while maintaining his run average of 6.8 yards per carry. His responsibilities on offense increased last year as a Sophomore when the OSU commit [player_tooltip player_id="60744" first="Ollie" last="Gordon"] was injured. The young Sophomore accepted the challenge by rushing for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named the 3-6A Co-Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. He currently holds one offer from SMU and I expect plenty more to come soon. [player_tooltip player_id="131974" first="Misiolo" last="Maluia"] - Trinity Euless - OG - 6’2” 280 lbs The Trojans success in the run game is due to junior offensive guard Maluia. In the trenches he was creating great leverage on the defender and uses his power to drive his opponents out of the play. His ability to pull and get to the perimeter to block is incredible for an lineman his size. Maluia doesn’t hold any scholarship offers but is gaining interest from Baylor. He was invited to Baylor’s Saturday matchup against West Virginia via his Twitter account. <strong>Junior Tuipulotu</strong> - Trinity Euless - TE/DE - 6’3” 225 lbs The senior tight end is a blocking machine. He is an aggressive blocker who understand his roles and responsibilities. Possess great power behind his block and is effective at blocking at the next level in the Trojans run attack. Tuipulotu route running and catching ability hasn’t been utilized much in the passing game due to the Trojans ability to run effectively. He is currently gaining interest from several NCAA Division II schools here in Texas. <strong>Xavier Alexander</strong> - North Crowley - WR - 5’8 155 lbs Alexander is small but explosive offensive weapon. He is a relentless slot receiver who has a quick release, great hands, and is not afraid of contact. He had a three big plays in the game, one being a 27 yard catch on 3rd and long which led to the only score for the Panthers. He was consistently creating separation from defensive backs but the Trojans defense applied constant pressure on the quarterback preventing several positive passing plays. Despite the heavy run attack by the Panthers, in two games Alexander has 6 receptions for 105 yards and 1 touchdown. I expect going forward the Panthers will get Alexander more involved in their offensive game plan. <strong>Malik Moore</strong> - North Crowley - WR/CB - 6’5” 185 lbs Moore is a tall wideout with great upsize and doesn’t mind blocking for the run happy Panthers. He nicknames himself "Up top" because on 50/50 balls he is coming down with it. Entering the game Moore had 15 catches for 300 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. When watching him on passing plays he uses an aggressive tug and pull technique to create separation. Unfortunately he only had one reception for 15 yards due to the constant pressure on the quarterback. Match this kid with a quarterback who has the ability to get him the ball and he will be a defensive coordinator nightmare. [player_tooltip player_id="121978" first="Dejuan" last="Lacy"] - North Crowley - RB - 5’11’’ 185 lbs The run attack for the Panthers is led by Lacy. Coming into this anticipated battle he had 87 carries for 573 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. Lacy is the ideal size running back and posses the necessary skills many recruiters look for. He has great vision, balance, patience, and break away speed. As a Sophomore last year he rushed for 1135 yards on 187 carries with 8 touchdowns. Lacy’s performance earned him a 3-6A First Team All-District selection. He currently holds an offer from the University of Utah and I expect more offers in the near future due to several recruiters being in attendance last night. <em>Defense</em>: <strong>Nai Mose</strong> - Trinity Euless - OLB - 6’ 0" 210 lbs One of the defensive studs who was constantly putting pressure on the quarterback last night was Mose. He was flying around the field with controlled rage totaling 5 tackles, 3 QB hurries, and 2 sacks to help lead the Trojans to a 42-7 victory. A notable play was on a crossing route, Mose dropped back into coverage, recognized the play, and laid a huge hit on the slot receiver which you could hear from the stands. He is a solid linebacker who makes sound decisions and has the ability to cover wide receivers and running backs. This year Mose leads the team in tackles (33) and sacks (3). Mose currently holds a offer from Sam Houston State and as the season continues I’m looking forward to his future offers. <strong>Ola Fakailoatonga</strong> - Trinity Euless - DT - 5’ 10" 245 lbs On the defensive line gap control is essential and that’s what Fakailoatonga did all night. He controlled the line of scrimmage and totaled 6 tackles last night against the Panthers. As he gets off the ball, his hands are active. Fakailoatonga has quick feet and utilizes an array of hand movements to dominate his opponent. Most defensive lineman in high school have the tendency to slack off when the ball is ran to the opposite side, not this guy he chasing it down until the whistle blows. <strong>Anthony Harris</strong> - North Crowley - DT - 6’ 3" 250 lbs Harris is a transfer from Rancho Cucamonga in California. He is extremely strong at the point of attack and has active hands. Harris also has the tendency to use a effective spin move and is relentless when applying defensive pressure. Harris is a versatile defensive player who moves around the interior, which is invaluable skill set. Harris had about 6 tackles last night and 2 QB hurries. He is currently being recruited by several NCAA Division II and III schools. <strong>Amarion Toliver</strong> - North Crowley - CB/SS - 6’ 0" 185 lbs Toliver is a quick and aggressive defensive back. He has great field vision, quick feet into transition, and is an absolute head hunter. Toliver definitely passes the eye test for a collegiate defensive back. He averaged 5 tackles last night and 2 pass breakups. With the Trojans predominantly running last night, Toliver also showed the ability to get off the block and make tackles. I look forward to seeing his progression throughout the remainder of the season. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;