Check out SD’s Top Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week
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Offensive Players of the Week Burk Blasius Burk Blasius 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Wall | 2024 State SD – QB, Wall Blasius was consistent for his team last week and that is what they look for him to…
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Continue ReadingOffensive Players of the Week
Burk Blasius Burk Blasius 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Wall | 2024 State SD – QB, Wall
Blasius was consistent for his team last week and that is what they look for him to do every week, and that is exactly what he did for them. Blasius might not take the big shots downfield or always look for that big yardage gain but he gives you a high level of consistent QB play and this week was no different. He was a perfect 10 for 10 in throws last week and also had 184 passing yards on top of that. Wall plays in a pretty run-heavy offense so Blasius might not have the most chances to air the ball out but when he does, he does it at a high level. Not to mention he was his team, main offensive contributor, having 4 passing touchdowns of his own. While Blasius might not have the big plays or high numbers on the sheet, he is consistently great and that lands him on the list.
Karson Carda Karson Carda 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Aberdeen Central | 2023 State – RB, Aberdeen Central
Carda has been an underrated power rusher this year and he had a great game this last week in a tough opponent of Brookings with their very stingy defense. This seemed to be no issue for Carda who had powered through the game and managed to be able to find holes or in his case more often make them. He had 27 total carries on the night which went for 188 yards overall, which was the best on his team, and led his team to the victory. Carda benefited from a lot of motion and well planning done by his team to set up him for the best overall scenario to get him into. Carda has been doing this type of thing all year and this stat sheet popped out to me for the fact it shows that he grinded out all game and was a force overall. Add on 2 rushing touchdowns on the night which were the main scoring output for Aberdeen Central, and he lands on this list as one of the top players of last week.
Ben Brooks – QB, Madison
If you have not been watching the tape that Brooks puts out every week, you might be late to the party since he is a very talented dual-threat QB who makes it look too easy sometimes. He has been a consistent dual-threat option for his team last week and is the main focal point for his offense. He racked up 163 passing yards on the night while going 12-20, pretty good efficiency for a QB who likes to run, and run he did in this game. He rushed 15 times overall for 111 yards. What stuck out to me with his stat line is how well he does both, he does not sell out at the expense of the other and makes both of them key parts to his overall. His scoring output was also something that showed me his talent by having 2 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns on the night. Brooks is an underrated QB who plays his heart out every single and makes him a force to be reckoned with he is on the field.
Tyler Hettich – RB, Ipswich
Hettich was a dual threat as an RB this last week and he showed how great he can be doing a little bit of everything for his team. Hettich was that guy for his team by not only rushing the ball at a very high level but also getting some catches to add to his total yardage on the night. His rushing totals from the night were simply elite, with him having 10 rushes overall while having 193 rushing yards on the night. Hettich was a fan of the big run this past week, always looking for a chance to either find a hole or make one go off for a big run overall. Much like his rushing game, he only had 2 catches overall on the night but those went for 65 yards overall, putting his total yards from scrimmage at 258. Add on 4 rushing touchdowns and 1 receiving touchdown and you have an elite offensive performance on the night. Hettich played great in all aspects of offense and for that, he is this week’s South Dakota Offensive Player of the Week.
Defensive Players of the Week
Zane Backous – MLB, Aberdeen Roncalli
Backous was all over the field for Roncalli and man it was hard for anyone to do anything when he was on the field last week. He was lockdown in the middle of the field and was not letting anything come his way. His box score was fantastic him having 7 tackles on the night and 2 interceptions. He racked up those seven tackles by doing just a little bit of everything, no matter if that was run stuff up the middle or stopping a big play from happening in the open field. those interceptions were signs of the athleticism that he shows playing in and out, and how well he played after getting those picks too. Backous was not someone who I had on my radar but I see him now as someone who can make those big stops when you need him to, and be an unselfish player at heart.
Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State – LB, Sioux Falls Lincoln
Gutierrez balled out last week and it felt like he left it all out on the field when he walked off when all of the time was up and that is something you love to see at this level. Gutierrez did so much for his teammates that are hard to explain and something that the stat sheet cannot do. Make no mistake, he stuffed the stat sheet too with having 7 total tackles on the night, 2 TFLs, and 2 sacks as well. He was in the pocket pretty much all night and was giving constant pressure overall, and was not allowing the QB any breathing room at all. He was a leader on the field and also gave an all-out attack as well, making his defensive presence key for his team. Gutierrez will always give you max effort no matter how badly you are losing or how many points you are up by, showing the character of his ability this early.
Sam Jacobsen – LB/DB, Sioux Falls O’Gorman
Jacobson was lockdown in the coverage he gave his team last week and he showed us why being so fast and versatile benefits players overall. Jacobson is about the farthest thing from a one-trick pony, he does so many things on the defensive side of the ball that it is impressive to see be done, I view him more as a gadget-style defensive player. He loves to be in zone coverages since, in that sense, he can move around the field to read what the offense is going to do and have his team benefit from it. Benefit from it his team did with him having 2 interceptions on the night, and 7 tackles overall. He can lock on other plays too with some great man coverage, making offensive players sweat when he is on them and making them work for every pass that went his way. He was a defensive stopper and was a key piece for his elite defense and showed that he is up there with just about every elite player on his team.
Abraham Myers Abraham Myers 6'4" | 215 lbs | DL Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State – DL, Sioux Falls Washington
Myers was fighting in the trenches last week and was simply out of this world with the show that he put on for his team and fans last week. The QB and offense were looking out the entire game to make sure they were not being run down by Myers but when he got into the backfield, it was already too late for them. Myers had 6 tackles on the night but where he shined was the 3 TFLs he had along with the 3 sacks as well. He was not able to be contained last week and it showed, it was like at times he could kick it into another gear and move at such fast speeds that the offensive line was not able to stop him at all. Myers put on a show of a lifetime last night and was bullying anyone in his way, making this week’s South Dakota Defensive Player of the Week. Make sure you go out and watch this kid in action, he truly is something special when he is on the field.