Brian's Best: Woodbury vs. Eagan

In a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/royals-tested-early-take-control-late/">one-score game until late</a>, players on both sides of the Eagan and Woodbury game, Thursday night at Eagan High School made plays that were highlight reel worthy – sometimes changing the course of the game in significant ways. Here are some of the performances that stood out to me.   [player_tooltip player_id='105394' first='George' last='Bjellos'] Woodbury QB   Bjellos made a perfect throw on a seam route for an 83-yard touchdown. He was right on the money on a short swing pass, allowing his receiver to catch the ball in stride. He showed good arm strength, completing a deep out, but his favorite route was the crossing route. He led his receivers nicely many times during the game. He got the ball into a tight window with an 11-yard slant for a touchdown. He showed he could throw on the run on more than one occasion. A solid deep ball down the seam put the game away for the Royals.   [player_tooltip player_id='287254' first='Keenan' last='Wilson'] Eagan DL   Wilson caused all kinds of problems in the first half. Lined up inside most of the first half, he got down the line of scrimmage and stuffed a run to the outside. Later, he got immediate penetration and hit the quarterback and running back before they could make a read on the mesh for a short loss. He got into the backfield and stuffed a run in the backfield to force a fumble. His penetration again stuffed a run in the middle for a short loss. His pressure up the middle forced the runner off his spot and into Wilson's teammates for a short gain.   [player_tooltip player_id='242497' first='Charlie' last='Jacobson'] Woodbury WR   Jacobson caught the 83-yard seam route. He caught it in stride and used his speed to pull away from the defense. The junior showed his athletic ability with a leaping catch in the flat. He showed off his speed again to get up the field on a swing pass for 15 yards. He showed some toughness catching a crossing route - breaking multiple tackles after the catch. The deep cross was his go-to route – catching at least two other deep crosses for first downs.   [player_tooltip player_id='348810' first='Jeri' last='Tella'] Eagan LB   Tella was all over the field for the Wildcats. Early, he stuffed a run for a short loss. Then, the senior strung a run out wide for a short gain. He showed great footwork with an open-field tackle for a five-yard loss. He showed good anticipation making a tackle for loss on the goal line.    Liam Frommelt Woodbury WR   Frommelt made a catch on the sidelines and then caught a middle screen to pick up a first down. Frommelt showed good feet with a cut after making a catch. He made a catch on the outside and broke a tackle. He showed he could be physical again with an out route in which he broke two tackles. He got in the end zone catching a slant for an 11-yard touchdown.   Carson Schwamb Eagan QB   Schwamb looked good throwing the ball underneath. His best throw might have been a wheel route where he hit the receiver in stride. His biggest contribution was his ability to run the option. One of his best moments wasn't a huge gain, but he ran the ball for five yards before making the pitch for more yardage. His two longest runs were based on successful option reads. He kept the ball and got around the corner for a 49-yard touchdown. He made a quick cut off the option read for twenty yards. It was a shorter run, but Schwamb showed his athletic ability with a spin move at the line of scrimmage picks up five yards.   [player_tooltip player_id='383734' first='Jordan' last='Dunigan'] Woodbury DL   Dunigan did a great job shutting down the Wildcats' inside running game. He took on blocks and blew up at least four inside runs for minimal yardage – including a run inside the ten-yard line. When he didn't make the tackle, he kept his linebackers clean and free to make plays.    Sam Eichacker Eagan LB   Eichacker did a little bit of everything on defense for the Wildcats. He made a play against the pass with a deflection. Then, the senior stuffed a run to the outside. Finally, he stopped a Royals' drive with a fumble recovery near the red zone.   [player_tooltip player_id='19022' first='Kayode' last='Amusan'] Woodbury DL/LB   Amusan is a long, lean athlete. He set the edge and often had the difficult task of reading the option coming to his side. He made plays on the edge but also scraped down the line of scrimmage and caused problems when Eagan tried to run inside.   [player_tooltip player_id='313009' first='Peter' last='McGivern'] Eagan WR   McGivern made a pair of catches on the sidelines, showing good hands and body control. To keep the catch legal, he had to be aware of his feet and toe tap on the sidelines.   [player_tooltip player_id='242496' first='Quentin' last='Cobb-Butler'] Woodbury DB   Against the run, Cobb-Butler read a jet sweep and stopped it for a five-yard loss. Later, he made an open-field tackle for a short gain. Versus the pass, he defended a slant and forced an incompletion.   [player_tooltip player_id='348741' first='Jack' last='Kruger'] Eagan DB   Kruger showed his athletic ability with a tackle in the open field. Then he showed his toughness and tackling ability stuffing a run for no gain.   Mathias Sengsouvanna Woodbury DL   Using good strength and leverage, Sengsouvanna stuffed a handful of inside runs.   Mason Gugino Eagan DB   Gugino made an open-field tackle on the outside against the run. Then, he deflected a pass.    David Rocheford Eagan DB   Rocheford shed a block and forced the runner into teammates on the goal line. Later, he deflected a ball on a crossing route.

In a one-score game until late, players on both sides of the Eagan and Woodbury game, Thursday night at Eagan High School made plays that were highlight reel worthy – sometimes changing the course of the game in significant ways. Here are some of the performances that stood out to me.