Prep Redzone Iowa | The Dome | Top Performers

The athletes below left it all on the field at the dome. They may not have achieved exactly what they wanted to, but their individual efforts and contributions they made to their teams were extraordinary. Take a look below to see which state finalists put together an elite performance and made the most of their time in Cedar Falls. 5A [player_tooltip player_id="23967" first="Colin" last="Kadolph"], Ankeny, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11103176/Colin-Kadolph">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KadolphColin">Twitter</a> Kadolph carried 44 times for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns in this year’s trip to the dome. He had a ton of success running behind his pullers on Power in the semis and made some gutsy, hard-nosed runs in the finals. Kadolph wraps up his career as the Hawks’ leading rusher and scorer; his patience, vision, and cuts were elite. Sean Gavin, Ankeny, Edge, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11103150/Sean-Gavin">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanGavinn">Twitter</a> Gavin developed over the course of the year into one of Iowa’s best edge defenders and pass rushers; that was all very much on display at the dome. He totaled 10 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in Cedar Falls. He showcased a textbook bull-pull off the edge from the boundary to get to the Quarterback in the championship game. [player_tooltip player_id="23955" first="Ryan" last="Crandall"], Ankeny, DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11103172/Ryan-Crandall">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ryancrandall4">Twitter</a> Crandall put together an outstanding individual performance in his two contests at the dome. He had 15 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and an interception. Crandall tracked and ran under the ball for his pick at midfield in the championship game to give Ankeny great field position; many of his tackles kept points of the board and the game alive. [player_tooltip player_id="152884" first="Ben" last="Kueter"], City High, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13060414/Ben-Kueter">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Benkueter1">Twitter</a> Despite the score and final outcome in the semifinals, the Little Hawks put together an excellent defensive game led by Kueter’s 7 tackles and 2 TFL. They only gave up 180 total yards and the scores allowed were on very short fields. Kueter is arguably the best run blitzing Linebacker in Iowa and that was on full display at the dome. 4A Alex Neal, Xavier, QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13229760/Alex-Neal">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ACNeal11">Twitter</a> Neal put up 458 total yards and 6 touchdowns for Xavier at the dome. He had one of the top dual-threat postseason performances that kept the Saints in it down to the wire. The heat and pressure was on all night; Neal took a big hit on his touchdown pass in the finals, but stepped right into it and delivered a rope to the end zone. [player_tooltip player_id="105191" first="Aidan" last="McDermott"], Xavier, ATH, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14911728/Aidan-McDermott">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/aidanmmcdermott">Twitter</a> Xavier’s two-way machine, and one of Iowa’s best on both sides of the ball, chipped in everywhere at the dome. He had 4 carries for 30 yards, 6 receptions for 96 yards, and 6.5 tackles and a pick. McDermott came down with an incredible one-handed catch in the finals on a fade to set the Saints up deep in Titans territory [player_tooltip player_id="148070" first="Layne" last="Mcdonald"], Waverly-Shell Rock, TE/DE, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11350914/Layne-McDonald">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LayneMcD40">Twitter</a> McDonald caught 2 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown and notched 3.5 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 TFL at the dome. He ran under a 47 yard bomb down the middle and dragged two defenders into the end zone. His sack came off of a great effort on an inside move through the B gap and tripped the Quarterback up when he tried to escape. [player_tooltip player_id="24007" first="Dawson" last="Forgy"], Winterset, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11504869/Dawson-Forgy">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DawsonForgy02">Twitter</a> The Huskies wound up throwing more than usual in the semis and Forgy didn’t get his typical workload, but he still managed 148 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 15 carries. He scored from 76 yards out on Zone Lead and from 19 yards out on an incredible cutback across field on GT Power. Forgy had big time runs at the dome. 3A [player_tooltip player_id="148854" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"], Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, LB/ATH, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12176079/Landyn-Van-Kekerix">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/VanLandyn">Twitter</a> Van Kekerix, including the dome, was likely the best player on the field at any point this season even though the Nighthawks fell just short. He made some incredible sideline to sideline tackles at Middle Linebacker. Van Kekerix found the end zone a lot too; one of his scores came on a jet fake reverse toss back that showcased elite athleticism. [player_tooltip player_id="148361" first="Caden" last="Matson"], Humboldt, QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11403057/Caden-Matson">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CadenMatson">Twitter</a> Matson threw for 170 yards and a touchdown and ran for 93 and another score at the dome. He ran in a long one right up the middle on a QB Draw; he broke the tackle of two defenders at once, somehow stayed upright, and busted it outside for a race down the sideline. His playmaking ability and arm talent is dangerous. 2A [player_tooltip player_id="148773" first="Dawson" last="Ripperda"], West Lyon, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11396439/Dawson-Ripperda">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DawsonRipperda">Twitter</a> The Wildcats dropped their semifinal contest to the eventual 2A state champ, but Ripperda really shined at the dome. He had 6.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 TFL in the effort. The outstanding Linebacker finished in the top 10 in class 1A for tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss; he is one of Iowa’s best in the middle. Derek Weisskopf, Williamsburg, DB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15426397/Derek-Weisskopf">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekWeisskopf">Twitter</a> Weisskopf, a Sophomore and the leading tackler for the Raiders, had himself a big day at the dome. The young, 6’3 Safety had 13 tackles. Weisskopf did a great job playing in the box with his heels at 5 yards against West Lyon’s loaded formations. He put a huge hit on the Quarterback on Veer and recovered the fumble he caused. 1A Blake Van Ballegooyen, West Sioux, WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/4419504/Blake-VanBallagoyen">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BBallegooyen">Twitter</a> Van Ballegooyen caught 9 passes for 146 yards in the semifinals at the dome and then turned around and recorded 9.5 tackles in the finals. He made a picture perfect, fully extended diving catch on a vertical route that was slightly overthrown for 45 yards to help secure a spot for the Falcons in the class 1A championship game. A Dayne Zinkula, Grundy Center, RB/LB, <a style="background-color: #edeef0; font-size: 1rem;" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11405232/Dayne-Zinkula">hudl</a>, <a style="background-color: #edeef0; font-size: 1rem;" href="https://twitter.com/DayneZinkula">Twitter</a> Zinkula continued rumbling in the championship game after rushing for 120 yards and registering 6 tackles in the semis at the dome. He scored on a counter from the 10 yard line to keep hopes alive. Zinkula eluded a defender in the backfield and broke through the arms of a few more to reach the end zone. 8-Player [player_tooltip player_id="147447" first="Conor" last="Gruver"], Easton Valley, QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11152251/Conor-Gruver">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/conorgruver12">Twitter</a> Gruver and the River Hawks had the passing game flying high in the dome; he completed 54/75 attempts for 650 yards and 8 touchdowns. He was showing just how big his arm and tool box are by nailing receivers from the pocket and on the run. Gruver bought time for his receivers to get open and threw them open when they weren’t.