Stand Outs of Spring v Westfield Game (Spring Edit.)
I enjoyed this game a lot! A heated rivalry game, Spring versus Westfield was looked at by many as the game of the year. Two undefeated teams going head to head, with only one team coming out victorious. Spring played…
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Continue ReadingI enjoyed this game a lot! A heated rivalry game, Spring versus Westfield was looked at by many as the game of the year. Two undefeated teams going head to head, with only one team coming out victorious. Spring played a very good game, but ultimately could not mount a comeback, falling to the Westfield Mustangs 31-21. i did not plan on making this an Offensive Stand Out article, but here we are! Here are the Stand Out Players of the Game.
Bishop Davenport (2022) I 6’2″ I #5 I QB
Davenport’s mobility in the pocket really stood out to me. His foot work was impressive and he moved well. I counted 3 would-be sacks that Davenport eluded just by shuffling his feet! Not many high school QBs can say that. That being said, he was under duress throughout the game, but when he was able to set his feet (whether in the pocket or not) Davenport was very decisive and accurate on his throws. His best throws were in between the hash marks, fitting the ball in a window and getting his receivers room to run after the catch. Davenport’s decision making could be better overall, throwing two interceptions. On occasion, he would stare at one receiver and not look at other options. Going 25/40 for 360 and 2 touchdowns, the Spring Lion’s QB was far from perfect, but the tools are there and I’m convinced he will improve. I really like Davenport’s game.
Bruce Davis (2022) I 5’10” I #6 I S
Bare with me for this sequence: Westfield came out in shot gun, trips to the left, with the RB on the quarterback’s right side. The third receiver motioned, got the pop pass from the QB and followed the running back to the right sideline. The play looked to be a easy first down, maybe a touchdown, with the sheer numbers of blockers in front of the receiver. I noticed the linebacker come downhill, shed the block of the RB, and bring down the receiver for minimal gain. Oh wait…typo…that actually was not a linebacker at all. It was Davis, the safety! That play early in the game put in on my radar, his play throughout the game put him on my Stand Out Players List. Davis filled the running lanes well and did not miss a tackle. He cover over the top of the defense nicely and even broke up a pass in man coverage that I believe could have been an interception had he looked back for the ball sooner. Davis played bigger than his listed size, finishing the game with 10 total tackles.
Damian Johnson (2022) I 5’7″ I #1 I WR
Give this kid some space and he will embarrass you! Johnson is quick AND fast. That’s a dangerous combination for a defense. I think his best asset is his ability to turn up the field and gain additional yardage…in other words, YAC. Being only 5’7″, Johnson is tough as nails. He wasn’t like a guy you looked at and thought was physically bigger than what he is…oh no no no dear readers…Johnson looked every bit of 5’7″, and the defense knew it. They tried to give Johnson their best shot, but he would either keep running or get up and shake it off. Averaging 17 yards per reception, Johnson caught 4 passes for 68 yards.
Travis Sims (2022) I 5’8″ I #11 I WR
Man, I’m intrigued at the weapons Spring will have next season, because of their top players are seniors! Another trend I noticed about the weapons on Spring, was that they are not very big stature wise, but man are they tough! Sims’s timing and routes were ran to perfection. Add in his speed, and you have another undersized, hard-nosed, quick Spring Receiver. Though he did not get in the end zone in this game, it is clear Sims tries to score every time he lays a finger on the ball. Credit to Westfield’s coaching staff, they had their players flying around trying to hit anything that moved, but Sims took a couple of shots and bounced back. He caught all the easy passes, along with the difficult ones. Sims was/is a flat out playmaker! The senior concluded a losing effort with a team tying 6 catches, along with 108 yards, averaging 18 yards per reception!
The Lions fought hard and tried to will itself to a win. Alas, there just wasn’t enough time on the clock to comeback! I enjoyed the air raid approach, there was a reason all the Stand Outs for this article were receivers and a quarterback. Spring looks to bounce back against Eisenhower this Thursday (10/7).