Rain-Soaked Battle of Defenses: Minneapolis North vs. SMB

Nate Wahl September 24, 2022 @ 11:43 AM

HOPKINS– I spoke too soon on my superstition about wearing my rain jacket to games as it decided to start pouring as we got into the first quarter, and my rain jacket was left in the car until the second half, which didn’t matter because I love football regardless of what mother nature wants to give me. This game was a straight-up defensive battle, to say the least, on both squads, and likely featured the most imposing defensive ends we will scout this season like Trent Page Trent Page 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Minnehaha Academy | 2024 State MN , Dane Borene Dane Borene 6'6" | 240 lbs | DL SMB | 2024 State MN from SMB and Azrie Yeager Azrie Yeager 6'2" | 280 lbs | OL MPLS North | 2024 State MN , Jeremiah Sims Jeremiah Sims 6'7" | 295 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN , and Auvon Sager Auvon Sager 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN from Minneapolis North. With the rain pouring throughout the game, the run game was the key component to stop for these young men as battled thru the elements to give us one of the best games we have watched in person in the last few years.

The Game Recap

1st Quarter

The SMB Wolfpack dealt with back-to-back muffed punts to start the game and on the second drive with a very short field, the Minneapolis North Polars made the most out of the second turnover, as senior running back William Smith William Smith 6'2" | 215 lbs | RB MPLS North | 2023 State MN used his 6’2 195 pound frame on the inside run from three yards out to give the Polars their first score of the evening. The Polars missed the opportunity on the two-point conversion but basically made up for it on their upcoming defensive drive. Minneapolis North 6, SMB 0

The Wolfpack offense continued to struggle late in the first quarter, especially deep in their own zone. The massive size of 6’7 senior DL Jeremiah Sims Jeremiah Sims 6'7" | 295 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN closed the gap of attack for SMB QB Merrick Woods Merrick Woods 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Minnehaha Academy | 2024 MN in the end zone to get the sack and the safety. Minneapolis North 8, SMB 0. End of 1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

In the second quarter, the Wolfpack offense started to show much more life, especially from junior running back Landon Dillon Landon Dillon 6'0" | 215 lbs | RB SMB | 2024 State MN , who I will hand out my Offensive Big Dog of the Game for the Wolfpack from last night’s game due to the fact of his excellent durability and explosive lower body thru first contact. This young man was using every bit of his lower body to drive his feet for more yardage and, with a 6’1 225-pound frame, got his handful of yards, including the Wolfpack’s only touchdown on the night deep in the second quarter, to make this a nail bitter going into halftime. 2024 DE Dane Borene Dane Borene 6'6" | 240 lbs | DL SMB | 2024 State MN also grew a tempo shift at the end of the half by stuffing the run of the Polars for a tackle for a loss, and then two plays later to close the half used his agile moves with his hands and got a sack on Polars QB Keishaude Gilmer

Minneapolis North 8, SMB 7. Halftime

3rd Quarter

One of Minneapolis North’s top playmakers offensively last night was by far junior WR Zashon Rich Zashon Rich 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB MPLS North | 2024 State MN as he brought in a 68-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Keishaude Gilmer, and it wasn’t at all an easy one, but Zashon used his impressive ball skills he’s strongly developed on both sides of the ball to outlast the SMB defensive back and get the Polars what turned out to be their game-winning touchdown in the end. Minneapolis North 14, SMB 7.

The third quarter also saw one of the most complete quarters I have seen from a defensive end in my five seasons scouting for Prep Redzone. We saw senior Polars defensive end Auvon Sager Auvon Sager 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN show so much versatility in the trenches for the Polars front defensively, as he got into the backfield and wreaked havoc with sacks, tackles for a loss, and pass breakups. He was one of the biggest key parts of the Polar’s defense in keeping this small lead throughout the third and fourth quarters, and he, along with Azrie Yeager Azrie Yeager 6'2" | 280 lbs | OL MPLS North | 2024 State MN and Jeremiah Sims Jeremiah Sims 6'7" | 295 lbs | DL MPLS North | 2023 State MN , controlled the tempo of the Wolfpack’s rushing attack for the rest of the game

4th Quarter

No Scoring. Final Score, Minneapolis North 14, SMB 7

Yet again, Minneapolis North’s Zashon Rich Zashon Rich 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB MPLS North | 2024 State MN made the biggest key play at the end of the game. After a big tackle for a loss from the SMB Wolfpack, which caused a loss of eight, the Polars were forced with a 3rd and 18. With the rain still pouring down all game long, the Polars took Zashon into the backfield, where he was able to use his agility and locked-in athleticism to weave in between the tacklers to get the 3rd and long situation to put the icing on the cake for Minneapolis North.