Brian’s best: Prior Lake v Shakopee

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In easily the best game I have seen this young season, two Minnesota top ten 6A teams went head-to-head in Prior Lake. In a wild fourth quarter, Prior Lake held Shakopee one yard away from the end zone on the game's last play, clinching a 24-16 victory. Here are some players who made this game a memorable, early-season contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112055' first='Joey' last='Krouse'] <strong>Prior Lake RB/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before making the game-winning tackle on the game's last play, Krouse stopped an outside run near the goal line. On offense, he used his speed and got the corner on a sweep. He also caught a pass in the flat. On defense, Krouse assisted on a tackle on a third and short. He stuffed the option for a short loss on third down. I thought he sealed the game when he recovered a fumble from an errant option pitch. On the critical last play of the game, his open-field tackle prevented a sure touchdown. Krouse read a post route and made a tackle at the one yard-line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='295817' first='Jadon' last='Hellerud'] <strong>Shakopee RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hellerud was the Sabers' primary offensive weapon – especially between the tackles. Early in the game, his two runs right up the middle set up an early Shako score. A tough inside runner, Hellerud picked up a critical fourth and short late in the game. He made a physical run near the goal line, setting up his short touchdown run. He is not just a runner, catching a ball in the flat. His low pad level keyed a tough run up the middle on fourth and two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112105' first='Greg' last='Johnson'] <strong>Prior Lake OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson was the best player on the field. He opened a big hole early in the game. He sealed the edge, allowing running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208274' first='Grayson' last='Spronk']</strong> to get the corner and a touchdown. Johnson then opened a hole, and guard Evan Laughridge came across with a trap block to spring a running back. Johnson – a Gophers' commit, picked up a pancake block on a sweep. The senior was forced to play both ways due to injuries and an ejection. He was a physical presence at defensive end in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313267' first='Ben' last='Marty'],<strong> Carter Derendal </strong>and [player_tooltip player_id='313264' first='Preston' last='Keplin'] <strong>Shakopee OL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marty, Derendal, and Keplin keyed the fourth-quarter drives to nearly win the game, opening lanes for the option attack. Marty opened a hole on fourth and short and keyed the dive game on the final drive – opening up the option game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='313211' first='Aidan' last='McGowan'] <strong>Prior Lake LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGowan stopped an outside run early in the game. Then penetrated the line of scrimmage, allowing teammates to make a tackle for loss. He forced his way into the backfield again to force the runner into teammates. Finally, he stuffed an option run for a short gain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hunter Grommesch</strong> <strong>Shakopee DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grommesch made a tackle on the inside for a short gain. Then, he stuffed an off-tackle play near the goal line before stopping another run to the outside.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='208274' first='Grayson' last='Spronk'] <strong>Prior Lake RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spronk is a tough inside runner. He runs with a low pad level and especially showed his power with a physical run around the corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Laughridge</strong> <strong>Prior Lake OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laughridge played both ways and did much of his damage coming across the formation throwing trap blocks – keying many inside runs. On the defensive line, he helped keep the high-powered running game of the Sabers in check. His penetration allowed teammates to make tackles at the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='228471' first='Dominic' last='Jackson'] <strong>Shakopee QB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson threw an excellent corner route for a big gain. His most significant contribution was how he ran the option. He sidestepped a tackle at the line of scrimmage and carried tacklers for three yards. He made many great reads on their final touchdown drive. Dropping back for a pass, he faced immediate pressure up the middle. Jackson used a stiff arm, scrambled to the outside, and made a strong throw on the run for a completion. On the game's final drive, he cut up the field instead of pitching for twenty-five yards.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='368529' first='Jide' last='Abasiri'] <strong>Prior Lake DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abasiri was a critical part of the run defense for the Lakers. He made maybe the biggest play of the game – until Krouse made the play of the game – when he kept his pad level low, got into the backfield, and stuffed a fourth and short setting up points for his team late in the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->