Offensive standouts: Lakeville South vs. Anoka

Lakeville South put on an offensive clinic again on Friday night, running their way to a state tournament berth. They rushed for nearly 500 yards and averaged over twelve yards per play. Anoka was unable to keep up with that kind of output, but despite the loss – offensively, they showed why they had their best season in many years. <strong>Jacob Dorner</strong>, <strong>Wyatt Ronn</strong>, <strong>Brecken Klien</strong>, <strong>Zach Steinhagen</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id="18538" first="Hassan" last="Kassim"], <strong>Alex Vazquez Lakeville South OL</strong> Like they have most of the season, this group dictated the game on the offensive side of the ball. The running backs get all the press, which they deserve, but they would not succeed to this level without the offensive line. They can not only blow people off the ball, but they are agile and can get to the next level. Their agility is a crucial component of their quick trapping running game. Here are a few of many plays I could have highlighted from Friday night. Along with tight end [player_tooltip player_id="18432" first="Chase" last="Androff"], Dormer sprung a back to the outside for a big gain. Vazquez came across the formation and sealed the corner with a textbook trap block. Androff threw a block on the outside to seal the corner. Earlier in the game, he made a leaping catch on a deep ball down the seam. I don’t think he got many snaps on offense, but offensive lineman <strong>Owen McCloud</strong> scooped up an onside kick and returned it for a touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id="112043" first="Carson" last="Hansen"] <strong>Lakeville South RB</strong> Hansen was the biggest benefactor of the offensive line on this night – and most of the season. He scored on a sweep for a touchdown. Then, the junior got loose in the middle for 20 yards. He went right up the middle again for a 65-yard touchdown. The chunk runs kept coming with twenty more yards off the right side. On another run up the middle, Hansen – whose running style gives defenders nothing to hit but shoulder pads and knees - broke a pair of tackles and set up a touchdown. Hanson carried the ball just twelve times but rushed for 242 yards and scored three touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id="49915" first="Jacob" last="Deutschman"] <strong>Anoka QB</strong> I don’t know where he is when it comes to offers, but if he wants it, Deutschman has a future at the next level. He took a low snap but showed his athletic ability, turning a loss into a short gain. Deutschman was especially effective throwing underneath, but he also threw a perfect post pattern and a deep post for a first down. On a fourth and short, he completed a pass near the sidelines and then threw a touchdown pass, giving his receiver just enough room in front of the boundary. <strong>Josh Jacobson Lakeville South RB</strong> Jacobson turned the corner on a long run behind Androff and Dorner. He sprung free for a 28-yard touchdown right up the middle. Then, he used an inside trap for a twenty-yard gain. Nearly as effective as Hanson, Jacobson - whose running style is similar to Hanson’s - scored three touchdowns and averaged over seven yards per carry en route to over 100 yards rushing. <strong>Elijah Paulson Anoka WR</strong> The Tornadoes’ offense struggled most of the night, but one player who got things done was Paulson. He caught a short pass and made tacklers miss to pick up a first down. Later, he kept his feet inbounds while making a diving catch. Most of his catches were in big spots, a deep out for a first down, a short pass to convert on a fourth and short, and a catch over the middle for twenty yards. <strong>Tommy Barrett Anoka WR</strong> Barrett showed good hands with multiple catches underneath. His best moment was on a bubble screen where he made multiple tacklers miss before picking up nine yards. <strong>Cullen McKey Anoka WR</strong> McKey made a great catch on the sidelines. He was tightly covered but made the catch. Then, McKey made another catch down the middle for a 49-yard touchdown. <strong>Quick hits</strong> <strong>Terell Cummings Anoka RB</strong> - good open-field running on a screen pass <strong>Payton Schultz Lakeville South RB</strong> - sixteen yard run up the middle for a touchdown <strong>Tucker Olson Anoka OL</strong> – Olson has been in and out of the lineup all season but was involved in the Tornadoes’ most significant game in many years. At 6’1" 285-pounds, the freshman offensive tackle took meaningful snaps and is worth watching in the future.