Top Performing Players from SFA’s Primetime Victory

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Frances Academy Panthers, led by head coach Messay Hailemariam, dominated the former Florida state champions, Venice (FL), 34-17 on ESPN 2, and it was only because of poor officiating that the final score differential was not at least two touchdowns more. The following St. Frances players, and the entire team, performed at a super-elite level and achieved national recognition because of their incredible primetime performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offense: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 6'0 175 QB - [player_tooltip player_id='172210' first='Michael' last='Van Buren']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172210' first='Michael' last='Van Buren'] continues to deliver clutch performance after clutch performance, and this time he did so on a national stage. St. Frances defeated Venice (FL) 34-17, and the touchdown scoring began early with a ten yard pass on 4th down from MVB to TE [player_tooltip player_id='262211' first='Chase' last='Wilkens'] to take a 7-3 lead. Van Buren absolutely threaded the needle on this high-pressure fourth down touchdown throw, and this type of conversion is why scouts nationwide are really excited about MVB's future. He has incredible poise inside and outside the pocket, and he plays the game with incredible maturity at such a young age. There's no doubt in my mind that [player_tooltip player_id='172210' first='Michael' last='Van Buren'] will continue to showcase his national talent victoriously, as he and the Panthers continue on their cross country football showcase of the nation's finest high school programs. St. Frances faces Dutch Fork next in a primetime matchup in South Carolina @7:30PM Eastern. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights: <a href="https://twitter.com/mike3k_/status/1570851466474303488?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw">https://twitter.com/mike3k_/status/1570851466474303488?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 6'2 190 RB - Durell Robinson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Durell Robinson completely dominated this primetime game from start to finish. So much so, in fact, that he earned GEICO Player of the Game honors with: 15 carries, 111 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Robinson had close to 100 yards before the first half even ended, and he had a handful of breakout runs that went for at least 25 yards or more. The Boston College committ just made the Golden Eagles' program extremely happy with that spectacular performance he just put forth, and there's no doubt that a program like BC that prides itself on running back development should be beyond happy with such a special player. Durell Robinson will continue to dominate this season, and it wouldn't surprise me if he and the Panthers won every game on their supremely difficult schedule which consists solely of away games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights: <a href="https://twitter.com/RellOfficial/status/1570634529144176646?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw">https://twitter.com/RellOfficial/status/1570634529144176646?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 6'5 245 TE - [player_tooltip player_id='262211' first='Chase' last='Wilkens'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='262211' first='Chase' last='Wilkens'] had a breakout performance in this game, and he scored the first touchdown of the contest with a clutch ten yard 4th down catch on a dime throw from quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='172210' first='Michael' last='Van Buren']. It was an absolutely incredible conversion all-around, and Wilkens deserves a lot of credit on the catch with his phenomenal concentration and ball-control skill. Wilkens' fantastic performance did not stop there, however. Late in the 2nd Quarter it seemed like St. Frances was lined up to punt, but, right after the snap, out of nowhere Wilkens gets the ball and throws it down the field to Sam Greene for a huge conversion on 4th down. While the trick play didn't lead to points, [player_tooltip player_id='262211' first='Chase' last='Wilkens'] still delivered a web gem play on a massive fourth down conversion that easily could have resulted in a score for St. Frances. [player_tooltip player_id='262211' first='Chase' last='Wilkens'] showed that he's a top-tier tight end in the 2023 class, and he will absolutely continue to deliver big-time performances as the season continues. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights: <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseWilkens/status/1570620786322608129?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw">https://twitter.com/ChaseWilkens/status/1570620786322608129?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 6'0 185 RB - [player_tooltip player_id='249100' first='Dejuan' last='Williams'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='249100' first='Dejuan' last='Williams'] was absolutely the next best performing running back behind Durell Robinson in this contest. Williams ran for an 80 yard touchdown on the very first snap of the second half and it was definitely one of the plays of the game. [player_tooltip player_id='249100' first='Dejuan' last='Williams'] truly delivered a fantastic performance, and each time he carried the ball he did so with high-energy and intensity. He rounded out the running game so well that you could argue Williams was the overall difference maker in this contest. As a Junior, the sky is the limit for [player_tooltip player_id='249100' first='Dejuan' last='Williams'], and scouts nationwide must know his name if they do not already. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights:<a href=" https://twitter.com/ErnestThird/status/1570783350008455169?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw"> https://twitter.com/ErnestThird/status/1570783350008455169?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 5'11 177 UTL - [player_tooltip player_id='218618' first='Blake' last='Woodby']</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='218618' first='Blake' last='Woodby']'s incredibly high offensive production was certainly a surprise to me, but it was a happy surprise! As it consisted of Woodby scoring on a 63 yard jet-sweep play, how could it not be a happy surprise?! Woodby's touchdown was, for me at least, the trick play of the game and it was also just the play of the game overall. The fact that [player_tooltip player_id='218618' first='Blake' last='Woodby'] is this productive as a Sophomore is extremely impressive, and his elite performance last night definitely puts him very high-up on the 2025 player rankings. [player_tooltip player_id='218618' first='Blake' last='Woodby'] will have a very special high school career, and we only saw a glimpse of that last night on primetime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights: <a href="https://twitter.com/SCNext/status/1570595009740812288?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw">https://twitter.com/SCNext/status/1570595009740812288?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 6'2 260 DT - Sam Greene</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The moment of the night was absolutely when Sam Greene made his official commitment to the University of Southern California. Greene's entire family was present, and it made for a very special moment that was more than deserving of national recognition. Greene's constant tenacity, relentlessness, and hard work on the football field and in the classroom all cumulated into this moment, and I could not be more happy for him and and excited for his bright future. Greene also delivered an elite performance in this game against Venice, which absolutely had Lincoln Riley's staff smiling as they watched out in California. Sam Greene is one of the top overall players in the country, and there's zero doubt in my mind that he's going to do great things at USC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights:<a href=" https://twitter.com/CALEBcsw/status/1570672869067354114?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw"> https://twitter.com/CALEBcsw/status/1570672869067354114?s=20&amp;t=5txE5N28HW1X1WWJTayTvw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 6'0 190 DB - [player_tooltip player_id='172217' first='Edrees' last='Farooq'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172217' first='Edrees' last='Farooq'] made the play of the game in what should have been ruled a forced fumble recovered by St. Frances. Those officiating actually ruled that the ball carrier was down and that it was not a fumble, in one of the worst live officiating decisions I have ever seen on any level of sport regardless of type. Farooq was completely robbed of what should've been a nationally celebrated moment for him, and Venice went on to score one of their few touchdowns in the game. The fact that Farooq's efforts did not result in possession for St. Frances is absolutely ridiculous, as it was not the only blatant Venice turnover that the officials somehow missed, and the GEICO National Showcase must initiate an investigation into their officials if they're going to continue to retain such esteemed credibility. [player_tooltip player_id='172217' first='Edrees' last='Farooq'] displayed that he's one of the top defensive backs in the class of 2024, and scouts should be looking at him with the utmost seriousness if they're not doing so already. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlights:<strong> </strong><a href="https://t.co/ctC8GtkUIw">https://t.co/ctC8GtkUIw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->