Brian’s Best: Waconia vs. Holy Angels

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have been lucky to cover a ton of great, close games. At least four of them were not decided until the last play or overtime. On paper, Waconia and Holy Angels looked like a good matchup. They both came into the game with 5-2 records and had eyes on at least a two seed in their section. As the saying goes, games are not played on paper. Here are some players who stood out during Waconia's 64-14 regular season-ending victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63557b768e0c7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["19002"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"What is there to say about McEnelly? I have seen roughly thirty teams during the regular season, and no one has come close to how dominant the future Minnesota Gophers' wrestler was on Wednesday night. About the only thing I don't know he can do is catch the ball – as there was very little reason for the Wildcats to throw. He has the speed to get around the corner as a running back and close down the corner at outside linebacker. He has terrific footwork and makes people miss in the open field, but let's not bury the lead. McEnelly's power is unmatched in Minnesota. He flat-out punishes defenders. If he gets going downhill, I don't know what defensive backs are supposed to do. He can make a move on defenders or physically run them over. He used speed around the edge to break two tackles for 30 yards. His stiff arm floored a defender, and a lead block set up a twenty yard touchdown run. He broke another tackle for twenty yards. On defense, he stuffed a handful of off tackle runs, including one on fourth and short.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["313317"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Riley might be the most underrated player in the state. McEnelly overshadows everyone – for good reason - but Riley would be a starter on most teams in the state. He caught a pass in the flat and made three guys miss for 15 yards. Then, he showed his speed around the corner on a sweep. His quick feet in the open field were on display next when he made a guy miss for a first down. His speed was on display again around the corner for a touchdown. The senior showed his power when he got hit in the hole but bounced off the tackle for ten yards. Later, he broke multiple tackles showing great balance for twenty yards. On defense, he stuffed a sweep for a loss. Then he held the edge allowing [player_tooltip player_id='313318' first='Anders' last='Rodning'] to make the tackle. Then, he closed quickly on a third down run to force a punt. Speaking of punts, Riley made an impact in all three phases of the game by blocking a punt.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["313316"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"McEnelly was able to get downhill a lot in this game because the offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. They sealed corners to get backs to the outside but were especially effective between the tackles and inside counters. I could have highlighted double-digit plays for this group, but a few plays that stood out - Coleman Monskey, Leen, and Marshall Kilian opened a big hole up the middle for a touchdown. Later, Monskey and Alex Mansager opened a big hole for a first down. Finally, Leen and Kilian open a massive hole for a touchdown.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["313318"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The senior did a good job stretching out a run to the outside, allowing teammates to make a tackle for a loss. He showed some pass rushing skill forcing the quarterback into an errant throw. Later, he was able to fight off a block and drop a running back for a loss. On the offensive side of the ball, the tight end's seal block sprung running backs all night. He should be mentioned with the offensive line helping the Wildcats to a dominant running game.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Aaron Boarman","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Holy Angels","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"There were not a lot of positives to take from the Stars' game, but Boarman has some game. He showed solid arm strength, completing a deep out route. The senior showed his deep ball accuracy when he completed a pair of deep crossing routes. Later, he hit a deep ball down the seam for a touchdown.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":"","_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":"","_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":"","_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"Jack Dalbec","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Waconia","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Dalbec closed down quickly from his linebacker spot, stopping a third and short. Then, he pressured the quarterback, which led to a bad throw.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["112068"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Miller is a great athlete who could not get anything going like the entire offense. That does not negate his overall talent. He plays all over the field for the Stars. The one time he got some space, he got loose for a twenty yard run up the middle.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_10_player_details_player_name":"Lincoln Vick","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_10_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_10_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_10_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_10_player_details_school":"Waconia","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_10_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_10_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_10_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"Vick supported the run well by stopping a sweep for a short gain. Then, the senior got off a block during a wide receiver screen and made an open field tackle.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["312909"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"Boehm-Peterson made an open field tackle on the outside. He held the edge and got off a block to make a tackle for loss. On offense, he made a series of moves in the open field on a catch on the outside.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_12_player_details_player_name":"Colby Brueggemeier","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_12_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_12_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_12_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_12_player_details_school":"Waconia","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_12_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_12_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"Brueggemeier made an open field tackle on a sweep. He read a wide receiver screen, beat his blocker, and made a tackle for a loss.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_13_player":["368540"],"_player_evaluations_13_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"Rieckhoff broke on a pass and deflected the pass. Then, he intercepted a deep ball down the middle. After making the pick, he got upfield and added a forty yard return.","_player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":14,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->