Stock Up: Offensive Players Week 3
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Week three of the high school football season brought impressive performances as several players balled out on the field. As always, there were too many players to choose from, but these were the four who caught our attention in week…
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Continue ReadingWeek three of the high school football season brought impressive performances as several players balled out on the field. As always, there were too many players to choose from, but these were the four who caught our attention in week three.
Mateaki Helu Mateaki Helu 6'0" | 200 lbs | ATH Stansbury | 2023 State UT || ATH || 6’2 || 200 || Stansbury High School || 2023
Helu is now the state’s leader in touchdowns after finding the endzone six times in the Stallion’s win over Skyline, Idaho. What makes this feat even more impressive is that all six of his scores came in just three-quarters of action. Helu is one of the state’s most explosive athletes and showed everyone why on Friday night. He rushed for five touchdowns showing off his elite speed repeatedly. Helu also added one touchdown through the air to give him more touchdowns in a single game than any player from the state this season. Helu is electric in every sense of the word with the ball in his hand. His quickness and burst are elite and opposing defenses can never catch him from behind. His shiftiness in the open field is on another level, and the Stallions will continue to have one of the best offenses in the state because of him.
McCae Hillstead McCae Hillstead 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Skyridge | 2023 State UT || QB || 5’10 || 180 || Skyridge High School || 2023
Hillstead has been unstoppable to start the season, which continued on Friday night. Against Herriman, he rushed for three touchdowns and led Skyridge to another dominant win. The 5’10 quarterback is one of the toughest players to tackle in the state. He can change direction at a moment’s notice and excels when plays break down. There may be no better scrambler in the state than Hillstead. Every team tries to spy him, but no matter how athletic the defender is, Hillstead leaves them in the dust. If defenders manage to get a hand on him, Hillstead has the strength and agility to break tackles. The senior quarterback shows excellent anticipation in his throws and places them where only his receivers can get them. Skyridge has been arguably the best team in the state through three games, and one of the biggest reasons is their dual-threat quarterback.
Semisi Kinikine || RB || 5’9 ||185 || Mountain Ridge High School || 2024
The Sentinels had a dominant performance on the ground vs. Wasatch, where they rushed for over 400 yards. Two hundred twenty-four of those yards belong to Kinikine. The junior back hits the hole hard and displays good vision. He runs through arm tackles and keeps his legs churning for extra yards. Kinikine remains patient while running, waiting for holes to open, and if none materialize, he’ll take it to the outside. Kinikine rushed for two touchdowns in Thursday night’s game. Showing his ability to explode through running lanes and cutback holes. He embraces contact and is just as comfortable running to the outside as he is between the tackles. The 2024 back is part of a deadly one-two punch with Cade Uluave Cade Uluave 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Mountain Ridge | 2023 State UT , and the pair should continue to shin in the run game.
Tate Kjar || WR || 5’9 || 145 ||Corner Canyon High School || 2024
The Charge quickly brushed off their tough week two loss to get an impressive road win at Bingham, where Kjar was nearly impossible to cover. Kjar went for 106 yards and a touchdown in the Charger’s strong Friday performance. The 5’9 receiver is one of the top route runners in the state and excels at faking out defensive backs. He can cut up field or outside without slowing down, making him a tough cover for anyone. The sure-handed receiver is fearless going over the middle and adjusts to the ball exceptionally well. He and quarterback Isaac Wilson Isaac Wilson 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Corner Canyon | 2024 State UT share a great connection that will make them one of the state’s deadliest duos for the next two years.