Week 11-Playoffs in Review: Longmont Trojans vs Broomfield Eagles

<strong>Game Review</strong> The first round of the state playoffs in Colorado has come and gone with some incredible games being played out over the weekend. The highlight of this weekend, however, might’ve been the 4A matchup between the 15th ranked Longmont Trojans and the 18th ranked Broomfield Eagles. The game was about as tight as it could’ve been from start-to-finish with both teams trading blows throughout the contest. The game ultimately came down to a defensive stand on the Eagles’ last possession of the game, with QB [player_tooltip player_id="62228" first="Cole" last="LaCrue"] taking a sack and being forced to throw an incompletion on 4th down that sealed the 25-22 win for the Trojans. While there were many, many players that had incredible nights for both teams; here’s a look at the top three performers from last week’s shootout. <strong>Players of the Game</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="62228" first="Cole" last="LaCrue"], Broomfield Eagles (QB)(Jr.)(18) - LaCrue did everything in his power to keep the Eagles within striking distance of the win and in the process was Broomfield’s best player on offense, maybe even in general. Against the Trojans’ defense LaCrue went 9 of 13 (69%) for 186 yards, a touchdown, and a QBR of 137.5 while also adding 71 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. When you go to the tape, you can see that LaCrue is a very gifted athlete. Highly explosive and elusive runner in the open field routinely making multiple defenders miss in the 2nd and 3rd levels. Very balanced runner that can run through arm tackles and remain physical on designed runs between the tackles. Great arm strength with the ball almost leaping out of his hand. Generates good velocity on short and intermediate throws while also having the arm strength to stretch the defense to almost any level of the field. Displays good accuracy on throws outside the pocket/on the run, showing an ability to consistently hit receivers in stride, downfield, while escaping pressure. LaCrue is currently rated the number 2 QB and the number 4 player overall in the state for the class of 2023 and it’s easy to see why. He’s an extremely gifted player that, despite the loss, will continue to grow through next year and into college. Grant Cummins, Longmont Trojans (LB)(So.)(53) - Cummins was easily the defensive player of the night as he accounted for 7 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and a sack. Cummins was also responsible for sacking LaCrue on the Eagles’ final drive, all but sealing the win for Longmont. When watching Cummins’ performance, you can see that he displays a very tenacious and physical playing style despite his smaller size for a LB (5’10, 200 lbs). Shows good pop/force at the point-of-contact thanks to a strong core/lower body and low center of gravity. Displays good form when tackling, consistently getting his head across the core of the ball carrier, wrapping up, and driving his legs through contact. Adequate foot speed and explosiveness allow him to run with most RBs and TEs working out of the backfield/off the line and into the flat. Displays a good ability to convert speed-to-power when working the edge on opposing tackles. Great hand technique and strength when shedding blocks and pursuing the QB/ball carrier. While Cummins is still relatively early in his career, he’s certainly a talented player that will continue to develop into a defensive standout for the class of 2024. [player_tooltip player_id="22726" first="Keegan" last="Patterson"], Longmont Trojans (QB)(Sr.)(15) - The state’s leading passer from the 2021 regular season certainly didn’t disappoint in last Friday’s test against the Broomfield defense. Patterson was by far-and-away the games brightest star, as he went 24 of 38 (63%) for 316 yards, a touchdown, and a QBR of 98.1 while also adding a ridiculous 140 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns. When you watch Patterson’s performance, you can see he displays outstanding touch on deep ball and boundary throws, routinely dropping it on the outside shoulder of the receiver just passed the defender’s reach. Overall ball placement is good, as he consistently gives his receivers the best chance possible to make a play on the ball on contested catches, while also consistently hitting receivers in stride on short and intermediate level throws. Very savvy passer that can quickly identify the shell of the defense (middle of the field open/middle of the field closed) and understands where to go based off that look. Good athleticism that allows him to escape the pocket and buy time to throw, while also presenting another threat for the opposing defense in the running game. Patterson will look to finish out his high school career strong as the Trojans move on to the next round and if last week was any indication, they’ll be tough to beat with Patterson at the helm.