3A Championship Preview | Top Playoff Performers

Lots of talent on both sides of the ball have led Harlan and Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley to the 3A title game. Take a look below at the athletes who have had impressive individual success and made significant contributions to their team through three rounds of playoff action. They will need to continue to push their level of play higher and higher to turn dreams into reality and hoist the trophy Friday afternoon at the dome. Each team features several impact players; will someone on this list be the difference maker or will someone who has been a little quiet lately step up? Harlan [player_tooltip player_id="104082" first="Teagon" last="Kasperbauer"], QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14831837/Teagon-Kasperbauer">hudl</a> Kasperbauer posted video game-like statistics during Harlan’s undefeated regular season and he has not slowed down. He is 45/70 for 766 yards and 11 touchdowns this postseason. He threw one of the most impressive touchdowns of the season in the semis, hitting a teammate streaking towards the left side line in the end zone from across the field at the 15. [player_tooltip player_id="104715" first="Aidan" last="Hall"], ATH, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13665817/Aidan-Hall">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/aidan6hall">Twitter</a> Hall has been on fire through three weeks carrying 35 times for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns at Running Back and catching 11 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown at Wide Receiver. Getting him the ball on a Toss or Counter has been just as dangerous as getting him in routes. He made unbelievable open field moves on a carry against Ballard for a score. [player_tooltip player_id="99142" first="Connor" last="Frame"], WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13312071/Connor-Frame">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/connorframe11">Twitter</a> Five of Frame’s twelve receptions this postseason have gone for touchdowns; he has stockpiled 260 yards in the process. Frame plays the game at another speed. The way he manipulated man coverage by showing a slant off the line to then burst straight up field once he had an angle on his opponent and run under a deep ball for a 47 yard score was just unfair. [player_tooltip player_id="148723" first="Joey" last="Moser"], WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13491308/Joey-Moser">hudl</a> Moser is one of four Cyclones Wide Receivers to surpass 500 yards through the air this year and his role is as big as ever as Harlan continues to spread the ball around. Moser is an exceptional complement to the rest of the receiving corps as a very quick and agile underneath route runner who can break plays. He scored against Ballard and Nevada. Jacob Birch, TE/WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14956276/Jacob-Birch">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobBirch8124">Twitter</a> Birch has given added dimensions and versatility to an offense that was already arguably the most dynamic in Iowa. He has 13 catches for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns in the playoffs. The statistics tell one half of the story; the other is how much he opens up and makes possible for teammates through excellent downfield blocking and a physical style of play. [player_tooltip player_id="23949" first="Will" last="McLaughlin"], LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11952049/Will-McLaughlin">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WillMcL23">Twitter</a> McLaughlin has been playing at the line of scrimmage to the strength of formations and at Inside Linebacker this postseason. He has helped Harlan to two shutouts and less than 200 yards of offense allowed per game. McLaughlin was screaming off the edge on a 3rd down play against Ballard and put a hit on their Quarterback that he is probably still feeling. Jameson Bieker, DL, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13262303/Jameson-Bieker">hudl</a> Bieker’s violent hands and second to none block destruction have him living in the backfield this postseason. He has wrecked inside gaps for 17.5 tackles, 6 TFL, and 3 sacks on Harlan’s way to the championship game. Bieker has blown up downhill blocking, used speed to tear apart zone blocking, and defeated pass sets with technical moves; he is relentless. Matthew Sorfonden, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14885831/Matthew-Sorfonden">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewSorfond7">Twitter</a> Sophomore Inside Linebacker Matthew Sorfonden has done an incredible job of getting over the top of blocks, fitting into windows, and cleaning things up between the tackles this postseason. He has 11 tackles and is looking like the next big defensive recruit out of Harlan. Sorfonden played an essential role in limiting one of Iowa’s best playmakers in the semis. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley Tanner Te Slaa, QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12162892/Tanner-Te-Slaa">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/tannerteslaa">Twitter</a> Te Slaa just keeps getting better as the season goes on and is as hot as ever spinning the rock in the playoffs. His 772 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air are the result of MVP-like performances in the first three rounds. Te Slaa is showing off his growth at Quarterback through great command on passes that are well-timed and thrown to match routes. [player_tooltip player_id="148854" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"], RB/LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12176079/Landyn-Van-Kekerix">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/VanLandyn">Twitter</a> Van Kekerix’s sheer volume and workload, paired with unparalleled production on both sides of the ball, is simply elite. He has 24 carries for 184 yards and 5 touchdowns, 11 receptions for 239 yards and 5 touchdowns, and 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 4 TFL. To have this kind of succes in the playoffs against high-level competition puts Van Kekerix in rare company. Lane Schmidt, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12176251/Lane-Schmidt/highlights">hudl</a> Schmidt has been a perfect role player in the Nighthawks offense taking handoffs and spelling touches at a high level. He showed off excellent vision and speed on a Running Back screen that he took 60 yards to the house against Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Schmidt also put plenty of power on display with touchdown runs against Sioux Center and Solon. [player_tooltip player_id="148733" first="Vance" last="Katzfey"], WR/DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16691984/Vance-Katzfey">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/22vkatzfey">Twitter</a> Katzfey has been a matchup problem at Wide Receiver and a turnover machine in coverage this postseason. Katzfey has used excellent footwork and his 6’3 frame to intercept two balls and catch 8 passes for 177 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He has scored on a deep fade and a jet motion Receiver Screen; Katzfey has shown he can impact a game in a lot of ways. [player_tooltip player_id="100934" first="Caleb" last="Kats"], WR/DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13867941/Caleb-Kats">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/kats_caleb">Twitter</a> Senior and last year’s Quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id="100934" first="Caleb" last="Kats"], has experienced a ton of success in his new role and the move has given the Nighthawks so much depth. He came up big in the quarterfinals with 5 catches for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kats’ skills at Defensive Back have helped limit opponents to a staggeringly low 202 passing yards this postseason. Sam Remmerde, WR/DE, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12176075/Sam-Remmerde/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RemmerdeSam">Twitter</a> Remmerde is steadily becoming a two-way weapon that teams probably didn’t think they would have to prepare for this postseason. He has caught at least one pass in each contest so far with his biggest day coming in the semis where he snagged 3 for 56 yards and a touchdown. Remmerde also settled in on defense in that game recording 2 tackles and a sack. Brock Fisher, DE, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14481992/Brock-Fisher">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/brock_fisher">Twitter</a> Defensive End Brock Fisher has been a little quiet this postseason, but is ultra athletic and can certainly be an impact player in the championship game. The 2023 has recorded 4 tackles during the playoffs on the edge. The Nighthawks will need pressure from his side of the ball to get after a team in the finals that throws as much and as well as anyone. Casey Pick, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11726560/Casey-Pick">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/casey_pick">Twitter</a> The Nighthawks have only allowed opponents this postseason to run for 51 yards per game. Players like Casey Pick, who has 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks through three contests, have been the force behind one of the playoff’s best defenses. Being able to sustain that Friday afternoon and making their opponent predictable will be a big key to victory.