Simley vs. Academy Force – Offensive standouts

The Simley Spartans offense scored early and often during their first-round playoff game against Academy Force. They racked up nearly 400 yards and scored seven touchdowns in three quarters. There were plenty of accolades to go around on the offensive side of the ball during the Spartans’ 61-12 Section 3AAAA semi-final game. <strong>Simley OL Justin Flaherty</strong>, <strong>Hunter Collins</strong>,<strong> Jason Housewright</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id="18541" first="Matt" last="Kuefler"], [player_tooltip player_id="18547" first="Koffi" last="Medeko"] As a group, the offensive line did what an offensive line is supposed to do when they have a clear talent advantage. They dominated. They paved the way to 336 rushing yards and a yards per carry average of over twelve yards per carry. The big guys up front allowed the offense to do whatever they wanted – whenever they wanted. The front five were especially effective up the middle. They had more impressive plays than those listed here, but these stood out to this observer. Collins, Housewright, and Kuefler opened five or six huge holes up the middle. So big – in fact – that the runner wouldn’t get touched until he was five yards – or more - down the field. Medeko’s block on the outside sprung a short touchdown run. [player_tooltip player_id="19029" first="Gavin" last="Nelson"] <strong>Simley RB</strong> Nelson only carried the ball five times, but he picked up 115 yards and scored two touchdowns. He ran through a massive hole up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown. After a 15-yard run up the middle, he found space up the middle again and bounced off three tacklers for twenty-five yards. Basically untouched, he scored a second touchdown on a twenty-four-yard run. A physical runner and blocker, Nelson’s block sprung a runner to the outside. <strong>Caden Renslow Simley QB</strong> Renslow put a ball on a deep post pass right on target. Using his legs, he scrambled around the corner for eight yards. Later, he threw a ball to the sidelines on the move for a touchdown. Renslow was called on to pick up yards on designed runs too. Two runs up the middle went for touchdowns – the second went for 52-yards. <strong>Peyton Gremmels Academy Force WR</strong> Position by position, Academy Force was outmatched by Simley at almost every spot. The one position AF had an obvious advantage was at WR1. Gremmels started the game with a sliding catch. Then, instead of going low, he went high, making a leaping catch down the sidelines for 35-yards. After catching an out route for five yards, and a slant for a first down, he hauled in a deep out. Gremmels has good length and hands. Late in the first half, he caught a deep out, broke a tackle, and picked up a first down. Finally, he caught another deep ball for thirty yards. <strong>Josh Painter Simley RB</strong> Painter used speed to get around the corner for a 65-yard run. He later made multiple tacklers miss on a punt return - he cut to the inside and then back to the outside for 30-yards. Finally, he bounced a run to the outside for twenty yards. <strong>Ethan Petersen Academy Force QB</strong> Petersen was under pressure most of the afternoon, and the interceptions he threw were an indication of that pressure. When he had time to throw, he showed a strong arm, pushing the ball downfield and to the sidelines. He can throw on the move as well. His most impressive throw was a deep out he completed while on the move. <strong>Tay’vion McCoy Simley WR</strong> McCoy caught a slant and made a man miss for ten yards. He broke a tackle up the middle. Then, he bounced a run to the outside for 20-yards. McCoy caught an out route, broke two tackles en route to a touchdown. <strong>Quick hits</strong> <strong>Elijah Paulson Academy Force RB</strong> - caught a tipped pass and got down the sidelines for a 70-yard touchdown <strong>Joe Stanton Simley WR</strong> - block on the outside sprung a long run <strong>Josh Louis Academy Force WR</strong> - adjusted to a pass thrown behind him on a crossing route and made the catch