Prep Redzone Iowa | The Dome | Top Performers

These guys went off when it mattered the most. There were plenty of clutch and gutsy performances in Cedar Falls that contributed to the best possible outcome: a State Championship. Check out who performed the best on Iowa High School Football’s biggest stage. 5A Abu Sama, Southeast Polk, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12782759/Abu-Sama">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AB3_sama">Twitter</a> Sama rushed for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns at the dome as an integral part of the Rams state championship offense. He was a downhill battering ram against two of the state’s best defenses. Sama handled the hard carries needed to control the clock and possessions in a high-stakes contest. Obald Niyonkuru, Southeast Polk, DL, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12782624/Obald-Niyonkuru">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Obaldn">Twitter</a> Niyonkuru, a Defensive Tackle, recorded 17 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and an interception playing at the dome, an unbelievable stat line for an inside gap defender. He helped limit two of Iowa’s best rushing attacks to just 187 yards on the ground. He was outstanding at shutting down Ankeyny’s top play: Power. [player_tooltip player_id="100804" first="Andrew" last="Reed"], Southeast Polk, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10061878/Andrew-Reed">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/reed3410">Twitter</a> Southeast Polk was going to need a big performance from their front seven at the Dome to take it all and that’s exactly what they got. Reed kicked in 15.5 tackles, a TFL, and a sack. Both opponents relied on a heavy dose of the run to set up the rest of the playbook; Reed made sure neither got off the ground. 4A [player_tooltip player_id="104113" first="Jonathan" last="Humpal"], Lewis Central, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13744372/Jonathan-Humpal">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanHumpal1">Twitter</a> The Titans were able to keep the ball in the hands of their star Running Back while at the dome and let him rumble to a state championship. He carried 53 times for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns at UNI. He fought extremely hard on each touch to stay upright with big knee drive and explosive strides. [player_tooltip player_id="104720" first="Lucci" last="Fidone"], Lewis Central, WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13748152/Lucci-Fidone">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FidoneLucci">Twitter</a> Fidone’s home run and clutch play tendencies were very present at the dome and essential to the Titans securing their first ever championship. He broke a 40 yard touchdown on a Bubble and made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone in the championship to force a third overtime and win it all. [player_tooltip player_id="100842" first="Nick" last="Miller"], Lewis Central, DL, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11234605/Nick-Miller">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/n1ck_m1ll3r">Twitter</a> Miller came up huge for the Titans at the dome, especially in the championship game. He had a pressure that forced an interception, sniffed out a screen that led to a sack, notched a sack-fumble when Xavier was deep in Lewis Central territory, among other big plays. Miller was lights out on the biggest stage. 3A Jacob Birch, Harlan, WR/TE, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14956276/Jacob-Birch">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobBirch8124">Twitter</a> Birch was Harlan’s leading receiver at the dome, capping off the Cyclones’ championship run with 17 catches for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. A lot of receptions came with defenders hanging on him. He made a circus catch on a double move going over the top of his opponent on an underthrown ball. [player_tooltip player_id="99142" first="Connor" last="Frame"], Harlan, WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13312071/Connor-Frame">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/connorframe11">Twitter</a> Frame caught 4 passes in each contest at the dome for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. He scored on a slant and go in the semis and a corner in the finals. Frame also made huge contributions at Corner while charged with the task of covering some of Iowa’s other top receivers and excelled. [player_tooltip player_id="104715" first="Aidan" last="Hall"], Harlan, ATH, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13665817/Aidan-Hall">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/aidan6hall">Twitter</a> Hall was all over the dome making big plays for Harlan as they captured the crown. He came down with the ball in the semis on one of the best leaping grabs between defenders and a teammate you will ever see. Hall also had a pick six and tough goal line touchdown run to help seal the deal in the finals. 2A Tre Fisher, Southeast Valley, WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11318793/Tre-Fisher">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Fisher2Tre">Twitter</a> Jaguars leading receiver Tre Fisher was outstanding at the dome. He caught 5 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the semis and 6 for 136 and a touchdown in the finals. Fisher helped the Jaguars get out to commanding leads in each contest and finished as a top 5 receiver in 2A for yards and touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id="147479" first="Kolson" last="Kruse"], Southeast Valley, QB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11611332/Kolson-Kruse">hudl </a> Kruse was 29/41 passing and carried 66 times at the dome for 835 total yards and 11 total touchdowns. His legendary performance helped lead the Jaguars to dominant victories and a state title. Kruse threw two incredible deep balls for touchdowns rolling out in the final; he had his way in Cedar Falls. [player_tooltip player_id="23944" first="Aaron" last="Graves"], Southeast Valley, DL/OL, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11577909/Aaron-Graves">hudl</a> Graves dominated the trenches at the dome in a couple of the more decisive contests Iowa saw in the final two rounds. He destroyed the A gaps at Nose for 9 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, and a fumble recovery. Graves also paved the way for the Jaguars on the ground with some very violent pulls and pancakes. 1A [player_tooltip player_id="23999" first="Dalten" last="Van Pelt"], Van Meter, RB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11270731/Dalten-Van-Pelt">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DaltenVP">Twitter</a> Van Pelt fought hard for fresh sets of downs at the dome on 55 carries that went for 293 yards and a touchdown. His efforts kept the Bulldogs in the driver’s seat. Van Pelt had several tough runs, one of which looked like a sure tackle for loss that went for 33, to help Van Meter own field position and the clock. [player_tooltip player_id="148775" first="Casey" last="Trudo"], Van Meter, DL/OL, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11270724/Casey-Trudo">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyTrudo">Twitter</a> Trudo’s 8.5 tackles, a sack, 2 TFL, and a fumble recovery in each game at the dome helped the Bulldogs shut down a couple of high powered offenses. He did an outstanding job taking field side runs away by owning his gap and defeating blocks. As always, Trudo did excellent work blocking at Left Tackle, too. A [player_tooltip player_id="152790" first="Rylan" last="Barnes"], West Hancock, WR, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13165292/Rylan-Barnes">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/rylan_barnes">Twitter</a> Barnes was big in Cedar Falls; he caught 3 passes for 98 yards and 2 scores, recorded 9 tackles and a pick six, and even picked up a key first down on a fake punt. His touchdown in the final round came on a fake reverse-pass. Barnes’ got a ton of push up front at Tight End to help his team rush for 457 yards at the dome. [player_tooltip player_id="148884" first="Kane" last="Zuehl"], West Hancock, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11488748/Kane-Zuehl">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Kanezuehl">Twitter</a> Zuehl’s 9 tackles, TFL, and an interception in the championship game was difference-making in a very close contest. His interception was timely; he picked it off on a deflected bubble pass to end a big drive. Zuehl also ran the ball 12 times for 60 yards at the dome to help the Eagles win their 3rd title in two years. 8-Player [player_tooltip player_id="23971" first="Lane" last="Spieker"], CAM, ATH, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10772271/Lane-Spieker">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LaneSpieker">Twitter</a> Spieker completed 13/24 passes at the dome for 378 yards and 3 touchdowns, carried 64 times for 511 yards and 9 touchdowns, and rounded it out with 11.5 tackles and 2 interceptions. Spieker made all 8 defenders miss on one of his rushing scores in the championship, a QB counter, and trotted in untouched. [player_tooltip player_id="148849" first="Joe" last="Kauffman"], CAM, LB, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11415811/Joseph-Kauffman">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Joseph2k22">Twitter</a> Stopping, limiting, or slowing down an offense in 8 player football is tough; Kauffman’s 25.5 tackles at the dome kept opponents in check. He was especially effective when CAM’s back was to the wall making huge goal line and touchdown saving tackles. Kauffman even caught a 37 yarder to set up a score on offense.