Do It All Players at the Prep Bowl

Nathan Fischer

November 24, 2021 @ 04:23 PM

The Minnesota State football season comes to a close this weekend, with fourteen teams vying for the right to be called state champions. It has been two years since the last edition of the Prep Bowl and this year looks to offer the same level of excitement as years past, with a plethora of great matchups across all seven classifications. In preparation for a great weekend of high school football, we are going to take a look at some players who make their mark in multiple areas for their teams.   Everett Balstad, 6’1" 185lbs (Fertile-Beltrami) For those looking for a little early morning football, let me recommend checking out the 9-man championship between Fertile-Beltrami and Leroy-Ostrander. For Fertile-Beltrami, Everett Balstad is the do it all playmaker, rushing for 135yds and three scores while also having 67 receiving yards and another score in the semi-final game. Balstad is a well built young man who shows the ability to lower the shoulder and run through arm tackles, while also having the necessary speed and soft hands to make plays in the passing game. Like most players at the 9-man level Balstad is also a contributor on defense leading his team with 2 tackles for loss against Kittson County Central.   [player_tooltip player_id="49912" first="Matthew" last="Donovan"], 5’10" 165lb (Kasson-Mantorville) QB, DB, Punt Returner, Donovan does it all for the KoMets who enter the Prep Bowl fresh off a victory over #1 Becker. Donovan is truly an athlete, with the ability to take over a game in a number of ways. He rushed for over 130yds in the semi-final contest while also having 76yds on punt returns to help set up the KoMet offense with incredible field position. Donovan shows plenty of wiggle in the open field, and enough breakaway speed to turn any play into a touchdown. Donovan has great hands as evident by his role as the KoMet’s primary punt returner. He’s not asked to throw the ball much but he did throw for 66yds and a touchdown in the semi-final game. Donovan is a blast to watch and will be a huge part of the game plan as the Komets take on Hutchinson in the class 4A final.   Gunnar Woods, 5’10" 145lbs (Mahtomedi) When you set up your team’s first two offensive touchdowns, have a pick-six, and even get a carry on offense, you officially qualify for the "Do It All Players" column. Gunnar Woods is one of the most fearless punt returners that I have had the pleasure of watching at the high school level. His first two returns against Robbinsdale-Cooper led directly to short fields and easy touchdown drives for the Zephyr’s offense. Later in the game, Woods jumped a slant route for a pick-six and also ran a WR reverse. Woods isn’t the most physically imposing football player but he plays with speed and fearlessness that far outweighs any height and weight measurements. Woods is sure handed on punt returns and showed the ability to catch punts going backward or forwards. He plays a vital role for the Zephyrs as a do it all utility man.    