2022 Dakotas Preseason Preview: Rapid City Christian Comets
RAPID CITY, SD– I start my Preseason Previews in Rapid City as we take a look into the up-and-coming Rapid City Christian Comets. Head Coach Matt McIntosh took over the program this spring, coming over from 11AAA’s Rapid City Stevens,…
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Continue ReadingRAPID CITY, SD– I start my Preseason Previews in Rapid City as we take a look into the up-and-coming Rapid City Christian Comets. Head Coach Matt McIntosh took over the program this spring, coming over from 11AAA’s Rapid City Stevens, and brings a strong offensive mind to the Comet’s future in 2022. When speaking with Matt and chatting about his upcoming roster in the upcoming 2022 season, there is a good sense of strong potential when you look at this roster from the class of 2023 with good depth, all the way down to the class of 2026 with plenty of key contributors coming back from all the classes listed. We will start with the Prospects to Watch, Games to Watch in 2022, what Matt’s looking to grow with his kids in year one as a Head Coach, and the game schedule for the Comets in 2022 that has a plethora of games I will be tracking a bunch in the near future. Meet the Comets!
2023 Prospects to Watch from the Comets:
Coach’s Take on Wyatt:rnWyatt has been playing the game of football for a long time. He is a multi-sport athlete and a grinder that played some of last season with a broken arm. He logged 21 solo tackles last season as a junior and is a sizeable contributor on both sides of the ball for the Comets. The 5’9 165 pounder plays slot receiver and defensive back. A hard-working senior that will be a senior to watch in 2022.
Christian Maseman
Christian Maseman
Coach’s Take on Christian:rnChristian is a crisp route-runner that possesses great footwork along the outside of the field. He also shows off solid hands and will cause problems for the outside corners in 2022. Also will be a significant contributor on special teams for us.
Elijah Hoyt
Elijah Hoyt
Coach’s Take on Elijah:rnElijah is a first year player with our program, but we like his potential at the wide receiver position. He gets his athletic ability from the hardwood, but at 6’6 180 pounds he has shown off in the early weeks of practice quick hands and footwork. We also like his route-running as a big WR target on the outside of the field.
Sam Fischer
Sam Fischer
Coach’s Take on Sam:rnSam is a big-time utility player for us going into his senior season and strongly desires to continue the game of football at the next level. Sam logged over 1100 total yards last year on the ground and throwing the football in 2021 for the Comets. He is a well-put-together slot WR at 5’11 180 pounds and should be one to track heavily as he grows in 2022 and hopefully gets an opportunity to play on Saturdays.
More OL Prospects to Watch in 2023 for the Comets:
Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards
2024 Prospects to Watch from the Comets:
Daniel Jacobs
Daniel Jacobs
Coach’s Take on Daniel:rnDaniel has a very athletic build for his 5’9 160-pound frame. Daniel is one of the fastest players on our team and shows that off from both sides of the ball.
Drake Lindberg
Drake Lindberg
Coach’s Take on Drake:rnDrake has an excellent blue-collar work ethic with everything he does on and off the field. He shows mobile footwork for his size at the linebacker position. His strong work ethic comes from his farming background, as Drake will be a kid that will start his day at 5:30 on the farm, go to work, and then show up at practice with a chip on his shoulder to get the job done. Drake plays with a bulldozer mentality at linebacker.
Zach Palmer
Zach Palmer
Coach’s Take on Zach:rnZach is another new name on this 2022 Rapid City Christian Comets and one that is another prospect bringing his talents over from the gridiron. Zach shows a lot of early athleticism on the football field and has grown a quick football IQ that has quickly picked up the game of football.
Micaiah Grffith
Micaiah Grffith
Coach’s Take on Micaiah:rnMicaiah is another basketball player turned football player that will see immediate contributions for us this year. Micaiah is a tough kid at 5’10 and will likely play on both sides of the line for us in 2022. He has some raw ability at the moment but the great potential with two years left in the program to learn.
2025 Prospects to Watch from the Comets:
Simon Kieffer
Simon Kieffer
Coach’s Take on Simon:
Simon will likely take the reigns as QB1 for us in 2022 and comes from a big football/baseball family, as we have three Kieffer’s on our roster in the 2022 season. Simon uses his baseball arm on the football field with the amount of strength he has to it. He is another hard worker on our team with the rally mentality to get his teammates more involved in getting to the weight room, watching tape, etc. A QB prospect that loves to study tape. Stands about 5’11 165 pounds.
Braylon Marshall
Braylon Marshall
Coach’s Take on Braylon:
Braylon will play linebacker and fullback for us in 2022 and has an excellent football pedigree as his dad Aaron Marshall played college football at the University of Colorado in the late 1990s on the same team as Kordell Stewart. 6’0 170 pounds, but certainly as some more growth likely coming soon (dad was 6’4 280). One of the fastest kids on our team and will be a stud linebacker for us this year as he does a nice job with his spying ability within reach of the ball carrier. Super athletic and a big-time tackler when given a little space. Certainly a 2025 prospect to watch closely over the coming years for the Comets.
Wesley Schlabach
Wesley Schlabach
Coach’s Take on Wesley:
Wesley is another prospect with a great football pedigree with two older brothers playing Division III football in Minnesota at Northwestern. He has big goals for his long-term future with the Comets to try and break his brother’s tackle record in a season. As just a freshman, Wesley logged 33 solo tackles and 3 tackles for a loss. Works his tail off in the weight room and will play wide receiver and safety for us.
Jadon Moreno
Jadon Moreno
Coach’s Take on Jadon:rnJadon will be the biggest player (6’2 185) on our team in 2022. He will provide us with significant length on the defensive line this season. Jadon is a baseball player that brings that arm talent as well at the QB position this coming fall. Jadon has great size and speed, especially when he gets to run downhill on you. He will be one to track over the next several years.
2026 Prospects to Watch for the Comets:
Lars Keiffer
Lars Keiffer
Coach’s Take on Lars:
Lars will another athletic kid on our 2022 Comets roster from the 2026 class. He has yet to play the game of football, but his athletic skillsets paint him a solid picture when looking at his football future. So far in practice, Lars shows off that he has a quick learning ability regarding the playbook, schemes, etc.- Lars also shows versatile hands and can make the catch when the ball comes his way. He will likely be one of the only 2026s that will be a varsity contributor in 2022.
Favorite Games on the Schedule:
Rapid City St. Thomas More
On Friday, September 2nd, the Comets will face off at 6 PM at home against Rapid City rival Rapid City St. Thomas More in a huge Week 3 battle for Rapid City bragging rights in 11B. Head Coach Matt McIntosh told Prep Redzone Dakotas, “this game should have a good-sized crowd, and with most of the kids from Rapid City Christian and St. Thomas More growing up together, it just adds to the adrenaline on this particular Friday night.”
Biggest Teaching to The Kids in Year One at Rapid City Christian:
Head Coach Matt McIntosh stated that his biggest focus in year #1 as head coach of the Rapid City Christian Comets comes with two words. “Be Great” is the quick mindset we have brought to the table as a team with everything we do, whether that is on the field or off the field. “We want to have the ability to achieve by doing the little things right on and off the field by building good discipline as a football program.” “In the classroom, we want our football guys to always show up ready to learn with paper and a pencil.” “As a Christian school, we focus on doing what is right, by winning the right way, losing with grace.”
2022 Rapid City Comets Schedule:
Friday, August 19th: Away at Lead-Deadwood, 6 PM
Friday, September 2nd: Home vs. Rapid City St. Thomas More, 6 PM
Friday, September 9th: Away at Custer, 6 PM
Saturday, September 17th: Home vs. Mount Vernon-Plankinton, 2 PM
Friday, September 23rd: Home vs. Lakota Tech, 6 PM
Friday, September 30th: Away at Hill City, 6:30 PM
Friday, October 7th: Away at Hot Springs, 6 PM
Friday, October 14th: Home vs. Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, 6 PM
*Full Bold. Listed as Games to Watch by Rapid City Christian and Prep Redzone Dakotas.