Kolson Kruse, Southeast Valley Headed For First Title Game
Dana Becker
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<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="147479" first="Kolson" last="Kruse"]</strong> put Southeast Valley on his back in the Class 2A state semifinals.
Now, the Jaguars will get the chance to compete for their first-ever state championship.
Southeast Valley rolled past Waukon, 50-14, and will face West Lyon for the trophy inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Kruse, a senior, was the guiding force on offense. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
Most weeks, that would stand out on itself. But there was more.
Kruse also showed his incredible athleticism by carrying the ball 35 times for 226 yards and five touchdowns. Talk about big-time player making big-time plays in big-time games.
That was Kruse for the Jags. The 6-foot, 200-pounder shined bright under the lights of the Dome.
However, he had some help along the way from these teammates:
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="23944" first="Aaron" last="Graves"] - Southeast Valley - OL/DL - 6-5 - 270</strong>
We all know about [player_tooltip player_id="23944" first="Aaron" last="Graves"], who committed to the University of Iowa after his freshman season. If you didn’t, you definitely do after the semifinals.
Graves was a force on defense, recording 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 stops in all and recovering a fumble. Oh, and he was also the anchor to all of Kruse’s work on the offensive side of the ball.
The Hawkeyes are getting a future all-Big Ten performer in Graves and they know it.
<strong>Tre Fisher - Southeast Valley - WR/DB - 6-0 - 160</strong>
The deep threat for Kruse and Southeast Valley, Tre Fisher hauled in five passes for 97 yards and a score. He constantly won the 1-on-1 matchups with Waukon, besting his defender with ease.
Fisher is also a key member of the defense and has shown his abilities to carry the football out of the backfield this season.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24029" first="Justin" last="Loseke"] - Southeast Valley - OL/LB - 6-2 - 207</strong>
Right alongside Graves is [player_tooltip player_id="24029" first="Justin" last="Loseke"], a two-way standout for the Jaguars. Loseke has taken advantage of the constant double teams for Graves, doing so again with 1.5 sacks and six stops in all in the semifinals.
Loseke has a great frame at 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, and should be an even bigger force next year as the focal point along the defensive front.
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