4A Championship Preview | Top Playoff Performers

Lots of talent on both sides of the ball have led Lewis Central and Xavier to the 4A 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 sustain their high level of play to turn dreams into reality and hoist the trophy Thursday night 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? Lewis Central [player_tooltip player_id="104088" first="Braylon" last="Kammrad"], QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13140480/Braylon-Kammrad">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KammradBraylon">Twitter</a> Lewis Central’s wins have been decisive in the playoffs and their running game has been strong, so Kammrad’s attempts are a little down from the regular season, but he has been so efficient. He is 30/47 for 543 yards and 7 total touchdowns. Kammrad is throwing darts and can undoubtedly handle more throws if the Titans need his arm to win a title. [player_tooltip player_id="104113" first="Jonathan" last="Humpal"], RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13744372/Jonathan-Humpal">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanHumpal1">Twitter</a> Humpal’s carries are up from 15 a game in the regular season to 24 in the playoffs and rightly so. He has rushed for 453 yards and 8 touchdowns against very tough Spencer, Indianola, and Waverly-Shell Rock defenses. Humpal is breaking tackles and staying upright; if his trend of an increased workload continues, the Titans are probably state champions. [player_tooltip player_id="104720" first="Lucci" last="Fidone"], WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13748152/Lucci-Fidone">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FidoneLucci">Twitter</a> Fidone has hit for some big plays each week that were daggers to the Titans’ opponents. He reeled in 3 passes for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns against Spencer and 8 for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns against Waverly. Fidone also ran back a kick return 77 yards to the house against Indianola; he is so elusive and could break one whenever he has the ball. Blake Cyboron, WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10810996/Blake-Cyboron">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BCyboron">Twitter</a> Cyboron was flying under the radar a little bit through the first two rounds of the playoffs, but came up with a big touchdown and the game’s first points in the semifinals. He flew by press man coverage at the snap and up the sideline for six. Cyboron is a burner and a perfect compliment to their other targets with his ability to stretch the field. [player_tooltip player_id="23948" first="Hunter" last="Deyo"], DL, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11080760/hunter-deyo">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeyoHunter">Twitter</a> Deyo’s dominance on defense was exactly what the Titans needed to shut down the Go-Hawks in the semis; it could have been a very different game without him up front. His 5.5 tackle, 2 TFL, 1 sack stifled Waverly and helped hold them to 129 rushing yards; they had 652 through the first two rounds. Deyo will be just as valuable against Xavier. [player_tooltip player_id="100841" first="Wyatt" last="Hatcher"], LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12890466/Wyatt-Hatcher">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WyattHatcher1">Twitter</a> Hatcher has strung together some incredible play this postseason and the Middle Linebacker is playing as well as anyone in Iowa right now. The way he blew up a block and flew into the backfield to decleat the ball carrier against Indianola is routine for him. Hatcher is taking away the middle of formations and forcing offenses to try their luck elsewhere. Boston Hensley, LB/K, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14409497/Boston-Hensley">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonHensley6">Twitter</a> Hensley has shown up in a big way for the Titans the last two weeks on defense by recording 10.5 tackles and snagging an interception. He is also the team’s kicker; he drilled a 43 yarder against Spencer and 64% of his kickoffs are going for touchbacks. Hensley’s unique skill set has been a big asset for Lewis Central in the postseason. Ethan LeMaster, DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11293620/Ethan-Lemaster">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Ethan_LeMaster8">Twitter</a> LeMaster has averaged 5 tackles per game this postseason; the Titans are plugging up everything inside of formations and Lemaster is doing a great job of cleaning it all up in the alley. He has been great at defeating blocks on the edge and getting to the ball. Teams have struggled running into the boundary with LeMaster there. Xavier Alex Neal, QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13229760/Alex-Neal">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ACNeal11">Twitter</a> Xavier has been unstoppable this postseason on the ground; they have gone for 751 yards and Neal has 190 and a score in that effort. Neal has capitalized through the air, too, in Xavier’s methodical passing attack. He is 19/25 this postseason for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns; Neal has been precise underneath, especially on play-action boot. Will Hiserote, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13204775/Will-Hiserote">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/willhiserote1">Twitter</a> Hiserote, who had the third most carries for Xavier in the regular season, has emerged as the centerpiece of the Saints backfield in the postseason. He is averaging 120 total yards per game. Xavier has been impressive at putting Hiserote in situations to succeed by motioning and outnumbering defenses to the side of the ball they want to run to. Trysten Vasquez, WR/K, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14925807/Trysten-Vasquez">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TrystenV1403">Twitter</a> Xavier has a Kicker with a unique skill set, too, in Vasquez who can absolutely boot it and doubles as a Wide Receiver. He made 4 field goals in the Saints semifinal win over Winterset and is a perfect 6/6 off the block in the playoffs. Vasquez has also caught 4 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown; he slipped behind coverage for a wide open score. [player_tooltip player_id="105191" first="Aidan" last="McDermott"], WR/DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14911728/Aidan-McDermott">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/aidanmmcdermott">Twitter</a> Xavier’s two-way star [player_tooltip player_id="105191" first="Aidan" last="McDermott"] has done a little bit of everything in a well-rounded postseason. He has recorded 12 tackles, 3 interceptions, 5 carries for 49 yards, and 5 receptions for 69 yards. McDermott is an indispensable piece of the puzzle and a big reason the Saints have outscored opponents 109-35 heading into the championship. Spencer Mesch, DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13204744/Spencer-Mesch">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spencer_mesch10">Twitter</a> Mesch hasn’t exactly blown up the stat sheet, he has 8 tackles this postseason, but has made big contributions in coverage. His excellent work in the Defensive Backfield has helped the Saints limit their three opponents to a combined 154 yards passing. Mesch’s high-end play will be as important as ever in a title game against a team who throws really well. Thomas Sundell, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13262897/Thomas-Sundell">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasSundell1">Twitter</a> Someone who has lit up the stat sheet each week is standout 2023 Linebacker Thomas Sundell. He has turned in a jaw dropping 27.5 tackles and 7.5 TFL during Xavier’s playoff stretch. Sundell has been a tackling machine and will face his biggest challenge yet in the final against an opponent who has been very committed to the run this postseason. Christian Stanek, LB/RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13204731/Christian-Stanek">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/cdstheboss">Twitter</a> Stanek, another do it all player for the Saints, has shown some playoff heroics; he ran in a score against Webster City to seal the deal and help Xavier advance to the semis. The top goal line and short yardage option out of the backfield has run for 115 yards and 5 touchdowns on 13 carries. He has also contributed 19 tackles and 2 TFL at Linebacker. [player_tooltip player_id="118823" first="Grant" last="Reasner"], LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13240410/Grant-Reasner">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/grantreasner">Twitter</a> Reasner has the skill set and ability to line up anywhere within Xavier’s front seven and be a big matchup problem. He was put where he was needed most against Burlington, on inside gaps with his hand down, and posted 6 tackles to limit one of Iowa’s best rushing attacks. Reasner should be expected to play a pivotal role in stopping Lewis Central’s run game.