Week 4 – Offensive Players of the Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A look at three standout offensive performances from Week 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players of the Week</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='232153' first='Austyn' last='Modrzewski'], Mountain Vista Golden Eagles (QB)(So.)(13) - Despite the tough 41-28 loss to the Legacy Lightning, Modrzewski had one of the more prolific nights of any passer in Week 4. After the clock hit zero and the game was over, Modrzewski finished 22 of 38 (58%) for an impressive 437 yards passing and 3 passing touchdowns, as well as a QBR of 102.6. When you watch Modrzewski's performance on film, the first thing that jumps out is his ball placement and overall accuracy, as his passes are consistently hitting his receivers in stride or in between defenders who are sitting in zone coverage. Poised passer that displays good pocket presence and is not easily rattled by the opposing pass rush. Highly intelligent QB that can quickly work through his progressions. Good understanding of structure and how to break it when forced to ad-lib. Displays good arm strength that allows him to make most throws at every level of the field. Shows a good ability to throw on the run, outside the pocket, and from different arm angles. Modrzewski is currently ranked the number 3 QB in the state for the class of 2025 and it's easy to see why. He has the size (6'4 185lbs), the tape, and the production that you could want from a blue-chip QB prospect. He'll definitely be a name worth following the next two plus seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='218214' first='Brycen' last='Mhlanga'], Littleton Lions (RB)(Sr.)(3) - Mhlanga was, without question, the catalyst for the Lions' 44-33 win over the Englewood Pirates, as the senior RB showed why he's one of the best in the state at his position. Looking at the numbers from Mhlanga's night against the Pirates defense, he accounted for a remarkable 283 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns on 27 carries (10.5 YPC). When you put on Mhlanga's tape, you can see he fits the prototypical mold of a workhorse RB, wearing down the defense throughout the game and ripping off bigger and bigger plays as the game goes on. Every down back that can handle a heavy workload throughout the game and double as a viable receiver in obvious passing situations, while also serving as an extremely effective player in pass protection. Highly explosive athlete for his size (5'10, 205 lbs) that can hit the running lane quickly and create a chunk play on any given carry. Explosive acceleration and great top end foot speed allow him to hit another gear in the open field, consistently pulling away from most 2nd and 3rd level defenders. High motor athlete that runs with a ton of power behind his pads, routinely lowering his shoulder at the point-of-attack and driving his legs through combat. Lethal short yardage RB because of his size and physical/aggressive running style. Mhlanga is currently rated the number 6 RB and the number 64 player overall for the class of 2023 and he showed why he's ranked so highly against the Pirates. He'll be a fun player to watch through the rest of this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='271172' first='Solomon' last='Latimer'], Doherty Spartans (WR)(Jr.)(8) - Latimer might have had the most dominant performance of any offensive player in Week 4 with his all-world performance despite the heart-breaking 42-30 loss to the Mesa Ridge Grizzlies. Regardless of the result of the game, the Grizzlies had no answer for Latimer, as he accounted for an eye-popping 208 yards receiving and 3 receiving touchdowns on 17 receptions (12.2 YPR). When you watch Latimer on film, you can see he displays outstanding vertical ability that allows him to catch the ball at it's highest point consistently and win on most jump balls. Tall, long receiver that knows how to use his size (6'2, 170 lbs) as his biggest strength and creates a matchup nightmare for smaller/shorter DBs. Strong, sure-handed receiver that consistently shows the ability to make the tough catches in traffic. Good route runner that knows which release off the line to use based off the alignment of the DB, while also showing an innate knowledge of how to use a DBs leverage against them. Shows outstanding body-control and awareness of where he is on the field, consistently making tight rope catches on the sideline and along the backline of the endzone. Long-stride runner that can cover a lot of ground quickly when getting up to his top end foot speed, consistently out running most 2nd and 3rd level defenders in the open field. Latimer is currently rated the number 4 WR and the number 38 player overall for the class of 2024, with it being pretty obvious why he's rated so highly. He certainly has more than enough potential to play at a high level of college football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->