SPOOK WEEK Day 1: Ghastly Gunslingers

In the spirit of Halloween, we will be taking this week to feature some of the spookiest players you’ll see on the field. Every day will highlight a different position group/groups, eventually leading up to the scariest of the scariest to be revealed on Halloween night. First up are some QB’s that have been terrorizing defenses in a multitude of ways. Whether with other-worldly accuracy, delivered soul-crushing daggers, manipulated the minds of DBs, or move around the pocket like they have eyes on the back of their heads they have ascended into truly spooky levels. These 7 QBs have struck fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators and sucked the life out of opposing crowds. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="148260" first="Gage" last="Stenger"] - <em>Millard South</em> - <em>2022</em></span> 6’2"  200 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11458269/Gage-Stenger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> Of all the scary Halloween sights to see, one of the frightening has to be the sight of Stenger running full force towards you as he points you down. Usually, what follows is a mouth full of his shoulder pad and knowing that you have become his next victim. Gage and the Millard South Patriots have been on a rampage all season long, blowing teams out and bullying people along the way. Stenger has been scary accurate as QB1, posting totals of 1,046 passing yards, 507 rushing yards, 69% completion percentage, 22 total touchdowns (11 passing-11 rushing), with zero interceptions (one fumble) in 7 games played. Stenger’s QB runs this season have been downright insidious, as he lowers his pads and delivers some bone-jarring shots, chipping away at his opponent’s will. When he’s not gaining tough yards on the ground, he delivers bullets to the plethora of receiving options he has. After Gage is done terrorizing high school opponents, he will be headed to the Husker defense to strike fear into Big 10 QBs. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11458269/613e9676176c7b09b8b22d87" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="147508" first="Noah" last="Walters"] - <em>Lincoln East</em> - <em>2022</em> 6’1" 190 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13197497/Noah-Walters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> There were times during the season when you began to wonder if [player_tooltip player_id="147508" first="Noah" last="Walters"] was even human. During the season, he went on a 5-game streak of 350+ passing yards and 5 touchdowns, running through Class A teams like a chainsaw, and before Friday night’s loss to Creighton Prep, he had thrown for at least 250 yards and 2 touchdowns in every game. Walters is not only a killer with his arm, but his high football IQ has turned him into a cerebral assassin. He has a psychic-like ability to know where the defense is attacking from and where the soft spots will be. The game almost seems to slow down for him at times as he reads through his progressions. His release and how the ball effortlessly leaves his hand, finding the receiver perfectly in stride, is extraordinary to watch. Walters came for heads this season, wreaking havoc and leaving defenses broken along the way. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13197497/615a4d68bee164071870dd7e" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="217055" first="Zane" last="Flores"] - <em>Gretna</em> - <em>2023</em> 6’3" 190 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12454878/Zane-Flores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> When [player_tooltip player_id="217055" first="Zane" last="Flores"] hits the field, he turns into a silent, sharpshooting assassin with multiple weapons at his disposal. He strikes with accuracy and conviction, never questioning his abilities and arm talent. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Flores’ throwing mechanics are developed beyond his years, and he can deliver the ball on a rope, even when forced out of the pocket.</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;"> Flores is arguably the best pure passer in the state, and several schools, including Northwestern, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and others, have begun competing for this sharpshooter’s services. Like a Hitman, Flores is not fazed by big moments, big games, or his opponent’s ranking even in the state’s highest classification; he goes out to take names. Instead, Zane delivers dagger after dagger, each pass suffocating the defense more and more. Gruesome stuff. </span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12454878/61658dd95eedae0b94b91a83" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="147831" first="Koa" last="McIntyre"] - <em>Archbishop Bergan</em> - <em>2022</em> 6’ 190 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11425149/Koa-McIntyre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> There is not a more dangerous man in all of C-2 than [player_tooltip player_id="147831" first="Koa" last="McIntyre"]. McIntyre has been a monster on offense and defense for the Knights as they continue to maul any opponent in their way. When on the attack, Koa will punch the air out of the defense with one of his electric runs where his elusiveness and athleticism leave defenses gassed. Like a ghost, when you think you’ve caught him, he vanishes behind a cloud of dust as he turns the corner and leaves you behind. If you’re lucky enough to contain him, he shows his deep ball accuracy by sending up a wooden stake for younger brother Kade to drive through the heart of the defense. He then performs a shapeshifting act into a menacing, hard-hitting safety that finishes his opponents with soul-deflating interceptions and superb coverage skills. Koa will call the big skies in Wyoming his new domain when he concludes a presumed deep playoff run. https://twitter.com/joenuge/status/1446311115336654848?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="147835" first="Sam" last="Hartman"] - <em>Grand Island Northwest</em> - <em>2022</em> 6’ 185 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11153407/Sam-Hartman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> Hartman from Grand Island Northwest is a scary dude on the field. On defense, he plays safety, and he thrives on delivering bone-shattering tackles and crushing opposing ball carriers. What makes him dangerous as a QB is that he carries the same mentality as when he plays safety. On QB runs, he will take his licks and dish them out to keep the offense moving. With Micahel Myers-like invincibility, Hartman keeps coming back despite the hits and drives his teammates to keep fighting. He is a punishing dual-threat QB that can light it up through the air as well as wear defenses down on the ground. His ball placement and accuracy on the run are just a few of his underrated QB skills. He also is excellent at reading the option. He has thrown for 1,500 yards and 18 passing touchdowns while racking up 824 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. It doesn’t matter what you throw at him; Hartman’s resolve and toughness will have you wondering if it’s possible to beat this guy. https://twitter.com/GalindoOsc12/status/1441625188907589638?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="217056" first="Abram" last="Scholting"] - <em>Pierce - 2023</em> 6’ 180 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10108846/Abram-Scholting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> Defenses on the receiving end of Scholting’s aerial assault feel like they are in a scene of The Birds, specifically Bluejays. Abram continues to strike fear from the skies as he built on his impressive sophomore season. Last year, he posted 1,721 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 140 y/g in 12 games. He will easily blow past those numbers once playoffs begin (currently 1,627/25/180 total in 9 games). He is a very polished passer at this stage in his prep career and is only starting to scratch the surface. He has a strong arm with cyborg-like accuracy, and the amount of touch he places on the ball is impeccable. With fellow athletic anomaly [player_tooltip player_id="180276" first="Benjamin" last="Brahmer"] on the receiving end of his strikes, this duo is going to be a frightening sight. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/10108846/61757405f55fb70524fdc4c5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="227066" first="Braeden" last="Stull"] - <em>Scottsbluff - 2023</em> 6’3" 175 lbs | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15997351/Braeden-Stull" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> Overcome by the fear of tackling [player_tooltip player_id="245849" first="Sebastien" last="Boyle"], defenses forget about one of the most dangerous and versatile gunslingers in the 2023 class. The up-and-coming [player_tooltip player_id="227066" first="Braeden" last="Stull"] can gash a defense with his legs and torch them through the air as well. When he keeps the ball, it is almost like a vanishing act as his shiftiness and agility allow him to make long gains before even being touched. As a QB, he posted a total of 907 rushing yards and a staggering 17 rushing touchdowns, showing just how lethal he is on the ground. And if the game plan is to "force him to throw," forget it because Stull is also developing very nicely as a passer. The Bearcats ground and pound style didn’t hold back Braeden from throwing for 860 yards and displaying his ability to make throws to all levels of the field. Stull is definitely a QB you want to keep your eye on; as they say, the quiet ones are the most dangerous. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15997351/6140187296764d0bbc3d0200" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>