The 30 Touchdown Club | Prep Redzone Iowa

Eclipsing 30 total touchdowns is an impressive and very difficult mountain to scale; there aren’t many players who are able to reach that feat each season. It requires a lot of offensive skill and plenty of opportunities to get there. Take a look at some of the members who became part of the exclusive club in 2021, where they finished statistically, and how they were able to get there in part 2 of this series [player_tooltip player_id="100846" first="Gavin" last="Cornelison"], C/O 2022, FB, ACGC, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10909041/Gavin-Cornelison">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGavin21">Twitter</a> Cornelison, an exclusive member of the 30 touchdown club as a Fullback, rumbled his way to 34 offensive touchdowns this year on top of 1,979 yards rushing. The two-way star led the Chargers in tackles making his offensive accomplishments extra impressive. Cornelison was an animal as the dive man and primary option on Outside Veer. Even when he didn’t have a crease or when there was traffic up front, and he got the handoff, he could barrel through and create. Tackling Cornelison was right up there as one of the most difficult tasks for any defender this fall in Iowa. If broken tackles were a tracked stat, he’d be at the top. He was a wrecking ball through the first level of defenders and surprisingly fast and nimble beyond it. [player_tooltip player_id="104079" first="Tyler" last="Smith"], C/O 2023, QB, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13123864/Tyler-Smith">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerSm1010">Twitter</a> Smith, one of Iowa’s top gunslingers and source of some truly awe-inspiring throws, finished the year with 24 passing and 8 rushing touchdowns. Some of the plays he manufactured with arm talent alone have to be seen to be believed. The placement of his passes are proof of advanced command. The different ways he can get strength behind the ball while throwing from off-balanced positions by adjusting his mechanics to fit the situation leads to a lot of impressive plays. Smith nailed a target on a corner route while rolling to his right off his back foot; the ball travelled 40 yards in the air. He stepped up in the pocket, from his own endzone, and delivered a strike 30 yards downfield between defenders while getting hit. The Junior’s film speaks for itself. Beckett DeJean, C/O 2023, QB, OABCIG, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13330693/Beckett-DeJean">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/bdejean2313">Twitter</a> DeJean was electric in 2021, his first year as the starting Quarterback for the Falcons; he started hot in week 1 and never cooled off. The offensive roll he went on for 11 weeks resulted in 30 passing and 9 rushing touchdowns. He was liable to strike for a big play at any moment. The way he could extend plays with his feet paired with a cannon of an arm made it exceedingly hard for opponents to know how to defend him. After a few seconds of scrambling he could launch the ball downfield to a target that slipped coverage or take off and do it himself. His abilities often put defenses in lose-lose scenarios and that helped him make the 30 touchdown club. Many of his scores came from rolling right and he can nail any route while doing so. [player_tooltip player_id="147459" first="Logan" last="Knaack"], C/O 2022, QB, Grundy Center, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11427336/Logan-Knaack">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/logan_knaack">Twitter</a> Knaack, whose Spartans are still alive in the Class A playoffs, can add to his 33 total touchdowns Thursday against Woodbury Central. So far Knaack has thrown for 19, rushed for 12, recorded one pick six, and housed a punt return to join the 30 touchdown club. Knaack has done a ton of damage this year out of Zone Read. He has done an excellent job throughout the season in the mesh making the correct decision to pull the ball and go. Knaack is shifty and elusive on those carries and often finds daylight. He is also a patient and poised passer who throws one heck of a deep ball. Knaack came down with his pick six on Grundy Center’s own 7 yard line as a cover 2 Safety; the play on the ball and the 93 yard return were equally impressive. [player_tooltip player_id="152617" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"], C/O 2023, QB, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12679616/Zach-Lutmer">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LutmerZach">Twitter</a> Lutmer was responsible for 30 offensive touchdowns this year, 8 passing and 22 rushing, and put the icing on the cake of a highly successful season with a pick six to round it out at 31. He joins exclusive company as a member of the 30 touchdown club to have done the majority of his work on the ground. Lutmer scored from 52 yards against Estherville Lincoln Central on a dynamic scramble up the middle; vertical routes weren’t open so he escaped through the pocket and weaved through the defense with incredible vision and body control. Lutmer put those skills on display many times in 2021. He scored from 65 yards against West Sioux in similar fashion on a designed Quarterback Draw that hit right through the A gap. Lutmer can absolutely scoot. Gabe Kopriva, C/O 2022, QB, North Tama, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11463393/Gabe-Kopriva">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/gkop0">Twitter</a> Kopriva experienced a remarkable turnaround from his Junior year as the Redhawks’ Quarterback; he erupted for 24 passing touchdowns after throwing just 6 a year ago and kept his dominance on the ground steady with 9 rushing scores. Kopriva could sling it from 10 personnel and empty sets; he took advantage of the light box he often faced with teams so concerned about his ability to air it out. Kopriva used his skill set many times to evade pressure and buy time for his receivers to get open. On a 4th and goal play against Lynville-Sully Kopriva rolled, slammed on the brakes to make a pass rusher whiff, stepped up and into traffic to deliver a strike in the end zone to a teammate who improvised and came back across the field. Alex Ravlin, C/O 2023, QB, Underwood, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13087338/Alex-Ravlin">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexRavlin">Twitter</a> Ravlin had a monster year through the air for the Eagles throwing for 2,358 yards and 27 touchdowns in 11 games; he added 4 more on the ground to crack 30 and join the club. Ravlin’s big arm served as a perfect compliment to Underwood’s dominant run game. Their opponents had to pick their poison and stick with it because it is impossible to cover everything. Ravlin took what was given and then some. He is a marksman whose vertical game led to a lot of scores. One of his best passes came against Tri-Center on a hitch-n-go. His pump fake froze the corner as he recognized cover 2 with a Safety creeping over the top. He dropped the ball in between defenders where only his guy could make the play and went right to the end zone. Tate Haughenbury, C/O 2023, North Linn, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8590472/Tate-Haughenbury">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Thaughenbury_1">Twitter</a> Haughenbury was a massive success in his first season as the full-time starting Quarterback for the Lynx. He was very efficient in limited action last year as a Sophomore; the writing for a breakout campaign in 2021 was on the wall. Haghenbury threw for 23 scores and ran in another 7 to join the 30 touchdown club. At 6’5 he sees the field very well and, with impressive footwork and pocket mobility, gets all of his weight into his throws. The way he uses his length to get a lot of torque and whip into his throws is impressive and he clearly knows how to take advantage of his skill set. One of his touchdowns came on a cross-body throw on the run where he had to adjust and deliver sidearmed to fit the ball by a defender; he got it there on a rope.