Game Balls From Around the State: Week 6

In the Prospect Matchup for Week 6 we mentioned how the sixth week of the '22 campaign looked to be one of the most thrilling of the season. Week 6's slate of games did not disappoint, as there were a number of high profile programs that duked it out this past Friday night. Fans across the state were treated to some unbelievable games such as Maize vs. Derby, Kapaun Mt. Carmel vs. Bishop Carroll, Aquinas vs. Miege, and so many more. It's safe to say Week 6 had folks on the edge of their seats.   The saying “Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games” is an accurate representation for this week's Game Ball piece. When their teams needed them the most, these players rose to the occasion and delivered some outstanding performances. Here are the eight Game Ball winners from Week 6.    Offense:   [player_tooltip player_id='87642' first='Avery' last='Johnson'] – Maize, 6'2”, 175, QB, Class of '23   Johnson's performance against 6A powerhouse Derby was yet another example of just how special the quarterback is. Maize faced a three-score deficit at one point in the game, and Johnson helped the Eagles storm back to win 52-51. The top-ranked prospect in our Class of '23 rankings accounted for over 500 yards of total offense and seven total touchdowns. Johnson and the Eagles' offense have been rolling this season, and they look like a team poised for another state title run.   [player_tooltip player_id='87702' first='Jesse' last='Greenly'] – Atchison, 5'11”, 220, RB, Class of '23   The matchup between Highland Park and Atchison didn't receive the coverage it truly deserved. It was one of the highest scoring games of the week, and it featured two of the top offensive playmakers in this senior class. One of those seniors was standout running back, [player_tooltip player_id='87702' first='Jesse' last='Greenly']. He put together the best performance of his career in a 70-56 win over the Scots. Greenly rushed for 335 yards on 38 carries, and came close to tying the state record for most touchdowns in a game (13), as he made his way to the end zone nine times.    [player_tooltip player_id='131237' first='Sean' last='Carroll'] – St. Thomas Aquinas, 6'0”, 220, RB, Class of '23   Carroll was another prospect that helped will his team to victory during Week 6. Aquinas trailed 20-0 in the third quarter against their bitter rival Bishop Miege, but they would prevail behind Carroll's big night. The Saints would look to Carroll for a spark, and he came up with his first 200-yard performance of the season. Carroll had a whopping 40 carries and rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns, which helped end the Stags' win streak, as Aquinas upset Miege in a final score of 29-26.   <a href="https://twitter.com/coreycrumrine?s=21&t=7PGUwOqaXFzRJ7ET0XNZCQ" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/coreycrumrine?s=21&t=7PGUwOqaXFzRJ7ET0XNZCQ">[player_tooltip player_id='1112380' first='Corey' last='Crumrine']</a> – Sedgwick, 5'9”, 160, QB, Class of '25   Crumrine has had a roller coaster season in his first year as the starting quarterback, but Week 6 was his best performance of the season thus far. The sophomore picked apart Remington's secondary, as he went on to complete 30 of his 39 pass attempts for 451 yards and five touchdowns, and also had 50 yards rushing with one score. Crumrine's monster night came at the right time, as his postseason debut is right around the corner.    [player_tooltip player_id='316979' first='Jaydon' last='Winans'] – Rock Creek, 5'10”, 180, RB, Class of '23   Rock Creek has typically been highlighted for their aerial attack, but [player_tooltip player_id='316979' first='Jaydon' last='Winans'] dominated on the ground in the Mustangs' Week 6 win over Hiawatha. Winans exploded for 233 yards on just 11 carries for six touchdowns. The senior could see more touches come his way, as he'll be a key player for the Mustangs come playoff time.    Defense:   Braden Young – Northeast, 5'11”, 160, ATH, Class of '24   Junior linebacker, Braden Young, came up huge for the Northeast Vikings in their narrow victory over Uniontown. Young's play helped the Vikings secure their first win of the season in a defensive battle. The Vikings managed to hold Uniontown to just six points behind Young's team-high 22 total tackles. He is also one of the leading tacklers in the state through six weeks, as he now has 93 total on the season.    [player_tooltip player_id='87703' first='David' last='Signs'] – Wellsville, 6'1”, 180, ATH, Class of '23    [player_tooltip player_id='87703' first='David' last='Signs'] was another defender that had a busy night during Week 6. The senior led Wellsville in total tackles with 15, and he came up with an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown. Signs' strong defensive performance helped the Eagles remain unbeaten, as they now stand at 6-0 on the season.    Special Teams:   [player_tooltip player_id='262728' first='Blaise' last='Hoover'] – McPherson, 6'1”, 180, K, Class of '24   [player_tooltip player_id='262728' first='Blaise' last='Hoover'] becomes the third kicker to earn a Game Ball this season after his clutch performance in McPherson's close victory over Wellington. Hoover was a perfect 4-of-4 on PAT's, but his biggest kicks would come from his two field goal tries. The junior went 2-of-2 and nailed the game winning field goal to help the Bullpups pick up their fifth win of the season.

In the Prospect Matchup for Week 6 we mentioned how the sixth week of the '22 campaign looked to be one of the most thrilling of the season. Week 6's slate of games did not disappoint, as there were a number of high profile programs that duked it out this past Friday night. Fans across the state were treated to some unbelievable games such as Maize vs. Derby, Kapaun Mt. Carmel vs. Bishop Carroll, Aquinas vs. Miege, and so many more. It's safe to say Week 6 had folks on the edge of their seats.