Week 2 Reactions: Top Performances From North Central Iowa
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Football fans were treated to another hot and humid Friday night during Week 2 around north-central Iowa. And the action on the field matched the temperature. Athletes from several schools showed out and put their name out there for all…
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Continue ReadingFootball fans were treated to another hot and humid Friday night during Week 2 around north-central Iowa. And the action on the field matched the temperature.
Athletes from several schools showed out and put their name out there for all the see with strong performances.
Here are a few that really stood out and warranted being discussed:
Connor Carver Connor Carver 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Fort Dodge | 2023 IA – Fort Dodge – QB
A returning starter for the Dodgers, senior Connor Carver Connor Carver 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Fort Dodge | 2023 IA continues to show why he has earned plenty of attention from college coaches. Carver committed to Bemidji State this offseason, and after his 300-plus yard performance vs. Ames, it is easy to see why.
Carver used several “tricky” plays to help the Dodgers nearly pull off the upset. He was strong in the QB power run game, completed 20 of 34 passes without an interception and combined those two things to keep Ames off balance. Carver hit Javion Jondle Javion Jondle 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Fort Dodge | 2023 State IA twice for TDs and also hooked up with Grant Williams for a score.
He ran for 141 yards, including a 65-yarder that saw him nearly out-run the entire Little Cyclone defense.
Cayden Schultz – Eagle Grove – RB/DB
It has been a process for Eagle Grove to turn the program around. But thanks to players like Cayden Schultz, the Eagles have shown signs of life again, including a big win over MVAOCOU.
Schultz did a little bit of everything for Eagle Grove, running for 113 yards with a touchdown, while also catching three passes to help the offense continue moving. On defense, he had a pick-6 where he darted 45 yards for the score.
Lance Coon Lance Coon 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Humboldt | 2024 State IA – Humboldt – RB
Keep an eye out for Lance Coon Lance Coon 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Humboldt | 2024 State IA , a junior speedster at Humboldt. The Wildcats lost a lot due to graduation after reaching the Class 3A semifinals a year ago, but Coon and his teammates have kept the ship moving with two wins to start the year.
In a throttling of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura this past week, Coon ran for 191 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown. He has an insane amount of speed, displays great vision doesn’t need many totes to make a difference.
Eli Johnson – Southeast Valley – WR
The Southeast Valley offense continues to be a bit of a work in progress after losing all-stater QB Kolson Kruse to graduation. But returning wide receiver Eli Johnson has helped ease the transition for Dalton Crouse and Cale Vansickle.
Johnson made his job a little easier this past week, catching eight balls for 151 yards with three touchdowns. Talk about a difference maker on that side of the ball, Johnson caught all but seven of Crouse and Vansickle’s passes, beating his defender – and more – time and time again.
Jaxon Cherry Jaxon Cherry 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Webster City | 2024 State IA – Webster City – RB/LB
It was back to the norm for Webster City in Week 2, as the Lynx ran for 428 yards in a shutout of Boone. Many of those yards came from Jaxon Cherry Jaxon Cherry 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Webster City | 2024 State IA , as the junior racked up 218 with four touchdowns.
Cherry, also a standout wrestler, is a very big, very strong, very fast, very skilled back who has all the necessary tools to be dominate. He also shines on defense, where he made a sack and three tackles.