Longmire-Knight and Wooten Lead Austin 6th Graders Over Dallas
I walked in not expecting to see the game of the day, but Austin and Dallas were in a physical battle. Austin’s defensive line was quite versatile with big interior defensive tackles and relentless edge rushers. Dallas was trying to…
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Continue ReadingI walked in not expecting to see the game of the day, but Austin and Dallas were in a physical battle. Austin’s defensive line was quite versatile with big interior defensive tackles and relentless edge rushers.
Dallas was trying to get the ball into the hands of stud athlete, Landon Brazelle. They repeatedly tried to hit Brazelle deep, but his skill set is more of a slot receiver that makes things happen with the ball in his hands, rather than a deep ball guy. The long pass connection couldn’t happen deep. However, he is quick and just needs a little space to win most 1-on-1 situations if he gets into them.
Austin was a jet motion team that used run/pass option play action. The central Texas boys found success with the use of RPO’s (jet motion, X Slant).
William Lane had a big sack in the game and when I saw his celebration with the team, it showed me he was Dallas’s key pass rusher and their leader. He is a lengthy kid and has a great run and pass-stopping ability.
Austin’s A’zari Longmire-Knight executed a beautiful punt return, without even making a move, he ran down the sideline without being touched.
Trey Wright of Dallas was my favorite quarterback of the entire weekend. He is a big playmaker, keeps his eyes downfield when the play breaks down and stays calm when the pocket collapses. He was comfortable throwing on the run to the right, but when he goes left, he tended to run more. He’s an agile runner who can make defenders miss in the second and third levels. I didn’t realize he had a cast on his non-throwing arm that forced him to carry the ball with just one arm. He was a tough kid and fought through it. Despite pressure, he made throws on the run look easy, spinning it cross-body like a short stop in baseball
Down 16-0, Dallas defense took their physicality to another level. Oladipupo Oluajo began to be more vocal and lead his team with enthusiasm.
A’zari Longmire-Knight and Tano Wooten were both versatile athletes for Austin. Wooten shifted to split out wide or into the slot when Longmire-Knight was in the game at running back. Wooten also played defense very well, flying to the football making big hits. He was clearly not scared to get his nose dirty. Though lethal on offense, Longmire-Knight was solid on defense too. He wasn’t the most aggressive defensive back, but with great timing and a high vertical he was making plays on the ball.
Justyce Hendricks of Austin was a smaller quarterback but displayed a big arm. His throwing motion has room for improvement to eliminate the defensive hitting or swatting his arm, as he throws.
Austin’s Zhamar Pie had a big 30-yard run after the catch and made a defender wiff on a tackle and fall in the open field.
Austin got comfortable and started sprinkling in some trick plays for Wooten, like a double pass.
Dallas nearly executed a successful onside kick.
Wooten of Austin continued dominant play by hurdling defenders who left their feet trying to hit him low, which made his vertical look outstanding.
Austin took control of the game early with the two-headed monster of running the ball with Longmire-Knight and Wooten, who chewed up the clock successfully.
Oluajo was astutely aware of what Austin was doing in the run game and started shooting the B and C gaps for Dallas. The big man had a plethora of tackles for loss in the second half. He did everything he could to help reverse the tide of the game but the 16-0 deficit was too much to combat.
Final score: Austin over Dallas 16 – 0.
Contributed special to PRZ Next by Dimitri Waller