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 3 of this series. [player_tooltip player_id="24007" first="Dawson" last="Forgy"], C/O 2022, RB, Winterset, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11504869/Dawson-Forgy">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DawsonForgy02">Twitter</a> Forgy is one of a few ball carriers to be a member of the 30 touchdown club in 2021 and his numbers are jaw dropping: 235 carries for 2,307 yards and 34 touchdowns. He even added another 5 scores catching passes out of the backfield. Forgy is one of the most patient high school backs with some of the best field vision that can be found. The way he breaks through gaps just as blocks are setting up to get in the open field could not be timed more perfectly. He glides to full speed and makes it look effortless; everyone in pursuit is visibly straining to run him down and Forgy pulls further and further away. He had a 76 yard touchdown run on Inside Zone in the 4A semifinals that illustrates this to a T. The same can be said when he reversed field for a score from 70 yards out on Veer against ADM earlier in the year. [player_tooltip player_id="156461" first="Cam" last="Buffington"], C/O 2024, ATH, Winfield-MT Union, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11757541/Cam-Buffington">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CamBuffington">Twitter</a> Buffington is just one of two Sophomores to reach the 30 touchdown milestone this fall and join the club; the Iowa Hawkeyes commit got there by throwing for 17 scores, running for 18, and notching a pick six on defense. The interception returned for a score was especially impressive. He got plenty of depth in his middle zone, opened his hips to run under the ball once it was thrown, leapt and pulled it in with one hand, and somehow maintained his balance to be able to outrun everyone up the sideline. His carries on direct snaps were just as impressive. The physical strength used to absorb contact, break tackles, and keep moving through contact that he possesses is rare. Many of Buffington’s touchdown runs looked like plays that were going to be contained, but he ran through, and threw defenders out of the way, to reach the end zone. [player_tooltip player_id="148854" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"], C/O 2022, ATH, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12176079/Landyn-Van-Kekerix">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/VanLandyn">Twitter</a> Van Kekerix could very well be the MVP of the 30 touchdown club; the versatility of his play and efficiency with which he was able to find the end zone is among the elite tier of players in Iowa. He carried 69 times for 707 yards and 18 touchdowns, caught 32 passes for 811 yards and 15 touchdowns, returned 2 kicks for touchdowns, and even threw a touchdown pass. If points scored per touch were a tracked stat Van Kekerix would be right at the top. He did all of that while playing Linebacker as well as anyone in the state. Van Kekerix took a trick play 65 yards for a touchdown in the state championship that showed off speed, power, elusiveness, agility, and vision all in the same play; he had to work for it. The week before in the semis he scored on a vertical route and a direct snap. He really is just operating on another level. Tanner Te Slaa, C/O 2022, QB, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12162892/Tanner-Te-Slaa">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/tannerteslaa">Twitter</a> Te Slaa, a solidified star on the basketball court, went from being a bit of an unknown on the football field in 2021 to one of Iowa’s best passers and a member of the 30 touchdown club. All of his 34 touchdowns came through the air, which is extremely impressive in and of itself, on 132 of 208 passing for 2,565 yards. Te Slaa averaged nearly 20 yards per completion and finished top 10 in the state in both passing yards and touchdowns. He put up video game type numbers in back to back weeks to help the Nighthawks reach the state finals. He threw for 278 yards and 5 touchdowns against Sergeant Bluff-Luton and 336 yards and 4 touchdowns against Solon. Te Slaa’s deep ball, as it was all year, was a spectacle in these contests. The command he had over his passes and the trajectory and placement of them, was a sight to see. [player_tooltip player_id="148361" first="Caden" last="Matson"], C/O 2022, QB, Humboldt, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11403057/Caden-Matson">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CadenMatson">Twitter</a> Matson, one of many immensely talented members of the Humboldt offense, was one of the top dual-threats in Iowa this fall. He was electric on his way to throwing for 2,611 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushing for another 1,636 yards and 16 scores. Matson’s 4,247 yards came in second in all of Iowa, which is an outstanding achievement for a player competing in 3A. One of his most impressive plays came in the semis on a QB Draw; he pulled the ball down, broke through the B gap, wove through the second level of defenders untouched, broke the tackle of 3 defenders at once about 20 yards downfield, and then sprinted up the sideline to the house. Matson is a very capable pocket passer, but his mobility and the threat of his legs often allowed him to create and make plays once coverage had broken down. He’s also a terrific Free Safety. [player_tooltip player_id="104080" first="Dylan" last="Wiggins"], C/O 2023, QB, West Sioux, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10242806/Dylan-Wiggins">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Dylan__Wiggins">Twitter</a> Wiggins led the charge in West Sioux’s aerial attack, one of Iowa’s best passing teams, with 3,011 passing yards on 209/330 passing and 34 touchdowns; he added 1 more on the ground and gained membership to the 30 touchdown club. Wiggins is a gunslinger if there ever was one. The way he plays shows just how much confidence he has in his arm. Wiggins also happens to have a ton of arm strength. He launched a ball 50 yards in the air off of his back foot in the state semis to a target streaking behind coverage that landed right in the basket. Being able to connect on the deep ball was a habit for Wiggins this fall. He was just as impressive underneath, though, getting a ton of zip on the ball into tight windows on crossing and timing patterns. The footwork and mechanics of his release are very well-trained. [player_tooltip player_id="148359" first="Jack" last="Pettit"], C/O 2022, QB, Van Meter, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11270722/Jack-Pettit">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jackpettit16">Twitter</a> Pettit and the Bulldogs capped off a perfect 13-0 season by capturing the 1A title and Pettit’s 36 total touchdowns that landed him in the club was a big factor in Van Meter’s dominant run. He threw for 21, ran for 14, and even caught a touchdown pass. Pettit gave the offense an excellent change of pace and added dimension in the run game; his expertise and Van Meter’s overall success on the ground opened up the passing game and kept the offense balanced all year long. Part of his game that led to a lot of points, and is incredibly mature for his age, is his pocket mobility and awareness. Pettit gets an appropriate amount of depth in his drop to keep edge rushers from having an easy time, steps up and around pressure when space in the pocket is taken, and stays active with eyes downfield when most others would panic. [player_tooltip player_id="104088" first="Braylon" last="Kammrad"], C/O 2023, QB, Lewis Central, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13140480/Braylon-Kammrad">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KammradBraylon">Twitter</a> Kammrad joined the 30 touchdown club on a rushing score in Lewis Central’s quarterfinals matchup against Indianola on the Titans’ way to a 4A state championship. He finished his outstanding Junior campaign completing 62% of his passes for 2,506 yards and 25 touchdowns with another 11 scores on 358 yards rushing. Kammrad led 4A in passing and total yards. The end of year stats are especially impressive when considering the quality of opponent he put these numbers together against: Kammrad competed against some of the state’s best defenses including Xavier, Waverly Shell-Rock, Harlan, and more. Kammrad puts such incredible touch on his passes and is so consistent with his throwing mechanics regardless of the play called or situation he is throwing from. Pause his film at the point he releases the ball and see.