Week 4 Review: Grandview Wolves vs Fruita Monument Wildcats

A review of game action from this interdivisional matchup and the three players that stood out the most.   Review   The fourth week of regular season action in Colorado has passed and with it, some incredible games that played out over the weekend. One of the highlights of last Friday's match-ups, however, was the overtime thriller between the 3rd ranked Grandview Wolves (5A) and the 12th ranked Fruita Monument Wildcats (4A). This game was an absolute barn-burner, as both offenses almost moved the ball at will against the opposing defense, keeping it neck-and-neck from start to finish. The Wildcats struck first with a 61-yard touchdown run by senior RB Kaison Stegelmeier on the opening drive. The Wolves quickly responded with a score on their opening drive as well when junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'] hit sophomore WR Xay Neto for a 20-yard touchdown. This game remained a back-and-forth slug-fest for both teams through regulation and overtime, with Grandview ultimately pulling out the nail-biting 38-37 finish when QB [player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'] took it in himself for the game-winning 2-point conversion. Obviously, with a game as exciting as this, it was hard to pick three players who stood out the most but these were the three who I felt had the biggest roles for their respective team.   Players of the Game   [player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'], Grandview Wolves (QB)(Jr.)(12) - I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that the Wolves don't pull out the win against Fruita Monument without the night [player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'] had. For the night, the junior QB went 14 of 19 (74%) for 171 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a QBR of 118.6. While those numbers might not jump off the screen, he made the biggest plays when they mattered the most for the Wolves. When you watch the tape of Szarka against the Wildcats defense, you can see that he has an extremely strong arm that allows him to hit receivers on short and intermediate routes in between tight windows while also giving him the ability to take the top off of even the most dynamic defensive backfields. Smart and poised QB that moves through his progressions quickly and decisively while limiting turnover worthy plays. Confident passer that takes calculated risks without forcing throws into no-win situations. Shows accuracy and great anticipation to all levels of the field. Precise passer while making throws on the run and against his body. Hard-nosed runner that isn't afraid to be aggressive at the point-of-contact with the defender to gain extra yards. Displays good vision finding day light on designed runs. Displays a knack for escaping the pocket and creating big plays when forced to scramble. Shows great lateral agility and top end foot speed that allows him to pull away from most 2nd and 3rd level defenders. Szarka possesses all the traits, production, and has the frame (6'2, 190 lbs) that college recruiters covet. He is currently rated the number 3 QB and number 25 player overall in Colorado for the class of 2024, but if Szarka can take another step as a passer through the rest of this season and next, there's no reason to believe he shouldn't continue to grow his recruiting profile.   Donavon Vernon, Grandview Wolves (RB)(So.)(35) - Much like Szarka, it's not a stretch to say that the Wolves don't get the victory Friday night if it wasn't for Vernon, who probably had the best game of any player on either team. Against the Wildcats defense, Vernon accounted for a remarkable 174 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns on 15 carries (11.6 YPC). When you look at the tape from Vernon's night against the Wildcats, you can see he displays outstanding vision when running between the tackles or when working the boundary and finding running-lanes at the 2nd and 3rd level of the defense. Strong lower body and a low center of gravity allow him to change direction on a dime and possess incredible lateral agility. Highly elusive ball carrier that is tough to get a hand on in the open field, routinely making multiple defenders miss when he's in space. Displays good explosiveness through the line and great top-end acceleration that make him a threat for a big play at almost any point in the game. Deceptively strong for his smaller stature (5'7, 170 lbs), routinely running through arm tackles on inside carries and holding his own when being asked to pass protect. Displays good top-end foot speed when he gets in space, consistently being able to outrun slower 2nd and 3rd level defenders. Shows an aggressive running style with the ball, not shying away from contact with a defender and driving his legs through contact. Very smart RB that shows an understanding of how to set up blocks for his teammates, allowing him to gain more yards in space. While Vernon isn't ranked on any recruiting boards for the class of 2025, he is fairly young as he's only a sophomore. If he continues to dominate against top competition like he did against the Wildcats, he won't be unranked much longer.   Kaison Stegelmeier, Fruita Mountain Wildcats (RB)(Sr.)(6) - While the Wildcats might have come up just short against Grandview and there were many reasons why the Wildcats were able to keep it tight, the biggest reason is the performance that senior RB Kaidon Stegelmeier put on against the Wolves defense. After everything was said and done, Stegelmeier accounted for 94 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns on 10 carries (9.4 YPC). Much like Szarka's performance for Grandview, Stegelmeiers might not stand-out on paper, but he made the biggest plays for the Wildcats offense when they mattered the most. When you dive into the film of Stegelmeier from that game, you can see he is a powerful, down-hill ball carrier that is extremely tough to bring down in the open field when he has a full head of steam. Displays a highly aggressive running style that shows a willingness to play with physicality behind his pads and lower his shoulder at the point-of-attack with the defender. Long athlete, that displays a lethal stiff-arm against smaller 2nd and 3rd level defenders. Shows great vision when working to space on carries to the boundary, consistently looking to find more daylight if given enough room to work. Displays an excellent ability to anchor as a blocker in pass protection while also having the tenacity and technical savvy to be an effective lead blocker on designed runs as well. Long-stride runner with excellent top-end foot speed that allows him to cover a lot of ground quickly in the open field, consistently pulling away from most 2nd and 3rd level defenders if given enough space. While Stegelmeier has the size (6'2, 190 lbs), production, and tape to indicate he is talented enough to play collegiately, he currently isn't rated on any recruiting boards for the class of 2023. However, whether Stegelmeier takes his talents to the collegiate level or not, he'll be an invaluable piece of the Wildcats offense this year.

A review of game action from this interdivisional matchup and the three players that stood out the most.