Recap & Prospects of the Game: McFarland vs Mount Horeb/Barneveld

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We made it folks! Football is back here in WI with teams hitting the gridiron across the state Thursday and Friday night. Week One found me gambling against the elements in McFarland, WI for Mount Horeb/Barneveld vs McFarland. The first was an exciting brawl of defensive and special teams highlights that allowed the MHB offense to capitalize on excellent field position. The first score of the game came on MHB/s 4th drive of the game. They started with great field position after a muffed punt attempt by McFarland, an issue that plagued them throughout the first half. That score came from a pass thrown by QB <strong>Kasey Helgeson</strong> to WR <strong>Landon Ellestad</strong>. After a successful two point conversion MHB led 8-0. Then on the first play of McFarland's next drive, MHB LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599870' first='Zach' last='Maguire']</strong> reeled in the ball for an INT that he returned to the McFarland 10 giving his offense even better field position this drive. It didn't take long for RB Trenton Owens to find his way in for 6 more giving MHB the 15-0 lead. Just before the half ended McFarland found their groove on offense. QB <strong>Cooper Kennedy</strong> found his receiver for a huge gain down the left sideline to the MHB 6. From there, RB/LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414655' first='Paul' last='Morris']</strong> reached in for the 6 yard score to cut the halftime score to 15-7. Besides those three big plays putting the offenses in great field position the defenses were dominant. The first half was heavily three and outs, and turnover on downs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half began after an hour long lightning delay. It was going to be interesting to see who was able to get themselves back in the game mentally for the second half. It looked like it was McFarland's game in the second half. Their defense dominated. It flew around the field and was stout against the MHB rushing attack. It was the McFarland offense who was able to get things going early. Kennedy and his RB <strong>Thomas Zadra</strong> ran the option to perfection for 6. Then ATH <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304387' first='Dadon' last='Gillen']</strong> caught an acrobatic 2 point conversion in the back corner of the endzone to tie it at 15 apiece. From there the defenses again stared trading blows. Neither team could dig in an put tog ether a drive. That was until the final 5 minutes. MHB found themselves with their back against he wall on their own 2 yard line. In that 5 minutes they drove all the way down the field meticulously milking the clock and nearing the endzone. Finally, with 20 seconds left, QB <strong>Kasey Helgeson</strong> found RB <strong>Tyler Buechner</strong> in the endzone to take the 23-15 lead and the win! This was as great of a game as you could ask for this earl yin the season, aside from the delay. These two teams are going to be in every game with their dominant defenses. As the offenses get more comfortable they will be very hard to beat going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Prospects of the Game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6300d7c865cb8","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Austin Leibfried","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mount Horeb/Barneveld","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The 6'6u0022 250 lbs athlete was a force in the trenches on both sides of the ball. His frame is long and lean, and ready to add a ton more size. That frame is already very strong though. every time I focuses in on him Austin was easily driving defenders off the ball and opening up holes and cut back lanes. He also maintained the line of scrimmage at the NG position with that strength. Leibried is still growing into his  body, but the future looks very exciting for the raw, powerful, two way lineman. Easily one of the top two best prospects in this game.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560792207396900869[/embed]","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["304530"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Elijah was the biggest surprise of the game for me. He has added so much size this offseason compared to what he looked like in 2021. His play reflected that as well. He was so stout against the run and easily tracked down outside carries. His ability to shed blocks really jumped off the tape as well as he used his length to get separation. Krantz is a big, powerful ILB that will be making a jump in the rankings when we update them after the season. Coaches need to get on this 2023 early in the season.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560784858187796482[/embed]","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Kasey Helgeson","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Mount Horeb/Barneveld","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another suprsie was 2024 QB  Kasey Helgeson. He has a big frame at 6'3u0022 195 lbs with a solid arm. When needed, he was able to get the ball out with some noticeable velocity. His poise in the pocket and ability to avoid pressure in the pocket was key to several MHB big plays. He also proved to be clutch in the biggest moment as he led the 98 yard game winning drive. Definitely a name to now going  forward.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560827959547764736[/embed]","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Landon Ellestad","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Mount Horeb/ Barneveld","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The 6' 160 lbs WR showed up every time MHB needed a big play. It was crazy how consistent it was to watch live. On the game winning drive he made the big play to kick start the drive. He scored the first points of the game. Any time they had to go to the air they looked for Landon. Even though everyone knew they were looking for him, Landon was still always wide open on those huge plays. His ability to find the openings was a clear natural talent of his. Keep an eye on this one this season if you are a D3 coach.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560788643383582720[/embed]","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["414577"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"In the running for best prospect of the day is the 6'6u0022 275 lbs LT. I was looking forward to seeing how the big man had developed this offseason , and I wasn't disappointed. His lower body mechanics have cleaned up a ton. He played with a more consistently wide, and strong base and we saw it lead to a lot more push and ability to reset the line of scrimmage downfield. With a full season of growth still to come I think we could see a big rise in recruitment for the LT. Definitely a lineman to know.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560823063469608961[/embed]","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["270796"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Kaden was another lineman I wanted to get eyes on. He is currently in our Watch List due to no film to watch, but I came away impressed and intrigued for the big man's future. The 6'4u0022 260 lbs RT/DL looked comfortable at OT, bu the looked best at DL where he could use his athleticism and power to collapse the edge and wreck havoc in the backfield. He is only a junior, so we are going to get plenty of looks at him at both positions. I think he can play either side of the line at he  next level.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["304387"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"The top senior prospect of the night was the safety/WR [player_tooltip player_id='304387' first='Dadon' last='Gillen']. He made his best plays, and looked the best at safety. His range shined all night long as well as his ability to read the QB and field. That combination allowed him to make so many plays on the  ball. The biggest proof of his talent and importance to the team might be the game winning drive by MHB. Gillen left the game with an injury after taking a hit from a defender called for targeting. That hit knocked hi m out of the game, and with him gone MHB was able to find success through the air and on the ground at a rate they hand't had all game while Dadon was out there. This dude is extremely under recruited right now. He is a need to know prospect.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560811361244008449[/embed]","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["414655"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"The final standout prospect was the RB/LB/H back [player_tooltip player_id='414655' first='Paul' last='Morris']. The 6'2 05 lbs athlete did it all for McFarland. On defense he proved to be a stout defender against the inside run. His hit power stopped ball carriers in their tracks repeatedly throughout the night. On offense, his strength came through in his blocking where he was able to make a lot of holes with his double teams. Also his ability to get to the second level was key. Lastly, he also had the speed to carry the ball on the edge and that led to his score in the clip below.rnrn[embed]https://twitter.com/MJ_NFLDraft/status/1560795481973956608[/embed]rnrnCheck him out.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-678433838d3e2"} /-->