Game Notes, Observations, Archbishop Wood @ Roman Catholic
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Jameial Lyons PA #2 DL #1 HEIGHT 6'4" WEIGHT 245 POS DL CLASS 2023 View Profile Jameial Lyons State: Pennsylvania School: Roman Catholic Jordan Montgomery PA #37 LB #5 HEIGHT 6'2" WEIGHT 220 POS LB CLASS 2023 View Profile Jordan…
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Continue ReadingRakeem Refile
Rakeem Refile
The casual fan might say the story of this game was the relatively slow Roman attack. They couldn’t be more wrong. There’s no questioning what the lead of this matchup should be, that’s how dominant this Roman defense was each and every snap.
The dominant performance stemmed from a familiar name. Earlier in the week, I compared Jameial Lyons Jameial Lyons 6’4″ | 245 lbs | DL Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA to Penn State’s Abdul Carter. I noted watching Carter at La Salle and thinking he was ahead of the curve from a physique and frame standpoint, a man amongst boys. The same can be said about Jameial Lyons Jameial Lyons 6’4″ | 245 lbs | DL Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA . The man looked incredible in run defense. Incredible pursuit, Lyons was often left unblocked by Wood to attempt to negate his pursuit. In this matchup, Lyons was far and away the best player on the field. Great timing, considering Penn State Head Coach James Franklin and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein were in attendance.
The rest of the gang, all D1 prospects, lent a hand whenever Lyons wasn’t wrecking the game. As I expected, Montgomery, Refile, and Patterson all played with their heads on fire. Flying to the football, Montgomery and Patterson are legitimate elite run-stoppers in the state. Their talents were especially on display considering Wood couldn’t throw the football in this one. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, having this foursome in the front seven isn’t fair.
Brandon Mack Brandon Mack 5’10” | LB Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA came away with an interception in this one, the first one of his senior campaign. Jaleel Davis-Shabazz Jaleel Davis-Shabazz 6’1″ | 185 lbs | DB Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA recorded a ton of reps inside the box, letting the young gun DBs play in pass coverage a bit more. JDS came away with some game-altering plays in this one. Davis-Shabazz blocked a punt in this one and came up with a huge TFL in the redzone, a solo tackle at that. There were also some quality reps of JDS covering routes out of the slot. Like what I saw out of both of these kids.
Highlights
Another week, another three interceptions performance put on by this secondary. That’s the fourth time recording three interceptions in one game, that being in seven games played. Unheard of turnover rate from picking off passes alone. Richard Mosley Richard Mosley 6’0″ | 175 lbs | DB Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA is a newer name to the site, yet it’s becoming increasingly harder to ignore this young man’s play. Boyd and Preston came away with interceptions in this one and Wood hardly targeted Mosley’s side of the field. Yet for the most part, I like what I saw in terms of pad level, physicality, as well as his ability to run with guys downfield. Jah Jah Boyd and Mikey Preston Mikey Preston 5’11” | 170 lbs | DB Roman Catholic | 2024 State PA continue to shut quarterbacks down. I had a good look at Preston all game long, the kid is unfazed by physicality from kids close to his size. Preston has unshakable confidence too, no amount of talk from any opposing player could phase him. His interception in this one was special. As was the game-sealing interception by Jah Jah Boyd. It’s going to be tough to hold Boyd out of the top 15 DB rankings this coming December.
Highlights
Have to give credit where credit is due. Shout out to the Wood defense for making things difficult for the Roman offense all game long. Many will discredit Roman, yet they proved they can still win in a scrap fight led by their defense. Huge props are in order for the Roman offensive line, opening running lanes for both Jamir Robertson Jamir Robertson 5’10” | 180 lbs | ATH Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA and Mao Howell Mao Howell RB Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA to each rush for over 100 yards. What’s more impressive, most of this yardage came from wildcat sets, where Wood was fully expecting the run. The tandem of Robertson and Howell will test all defenses they go up against this Fall. Walt Clymer caught a touchdown pass in this one, a tough catch at that. Excited to see him involved in the passing game, this being just his second catch of the year. Trey Woodley Trey Woodley 5’11” | 165 lbs | ATH Roman Catholic | 2024 State PA went out early in this one, Clymer’s efforts were much needed.
This wasn’t a game Denmark could impact too much. The top-ranked athlete did all he could each time he touched the football. I will say, this is the first time in over a year I got to see him play in pads. Not too many players look equally as shifty and twitchy with or without pads, Tyseer Denmark Tyseer Denmark 5’11” | 180 lbs | WR Imhotep Charter | 2024 State PA is one of them. This kid separates at will. Watching him navigate the defense, even without many targets, was still a pleasure to see up close. This game was won by the defense, but still, credit to the line and the run game for creating something out of nothing.
Although it was tough sledding on offense, especially through the air, I came away really impressed by Clemson’s commit Markus Dixon Markus Dixon 6’5″ | 230 lbs | TE Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA . Hearing Dixon communicate in both offensive and defensive huddles was refreshing. Hearing and seeing him take charge and get his teammates in line was equally refreshing. Dixon didn’t have ample opportunities to show off his skills as a pass-catcher, yet watching him stop the run from his safety spot, or track down passes and stay with elite names like Tyseer Denmark Tyseer Denmark 5’11” | 180 lbs | WR Imhotep Charter | 2024 State PA was spectacular to see in person. Dixon’s play recognition from his LB/S spot seems to be getting better and better as the weeks progress. I actively watched how quick he was to discerning run or pass, he passed all tests.
Highlights
Momentum shifted when Ryan Wilson Ryan Wilson 6’1″ | 200 lbs | DB Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA took the reigns at quarterback in this game. The passing attack still lacked real potency, but having the senior serve as the wildcat passer led to Wilson naturally seeing running lanes. Wilson’s a tough prospect who is willing to do whatever it takes to give his team a shot at victory. He, combined with Nakai Robinson Nakai Robinson 6’1″ | 230 lbs | RB Archbishop Wood | 2025 PA ‘s bruising running style, allowed Wood to move up and down the field. Robinson and Wilson combined for 75 yards rushing in the second half against this daunting defense.
Highlights
Highlights
Props to both offensive and defensive lines for Archbishop Wood. The Roman defensive front had its way in the first half, yet when Wilson entered the game, life was seemingly breathed into these lines. Cole Evans Cole Evans 6’2″ | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA looked great on both sides of the ball, elite hand placement, showing off his smarts as a trench player. I’d trust this young man to play almost everywhere along either line. Evans was able to clog holes defensively even with elite DL Eric Gardner Eric Gardner 6’1″ | 250 lbs | DL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA not participating in this one. My opinion of Cole Evans Cole Evans 6’2″ | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA continues to trend in the right direction.
This might have been one of the best outings I’ve seen out of Jason Baldwin. It’s tough to watch guard play from the field, yet nearly every time I keyed in on Baldwin from his guard spot, he was standing a defender up or driving them off the ball. Hardly any panic in his play, his footwork development shows. Baldwin did most of his work against IDL, happy to see him work hard to keep up with this Roman defense.
This marked the first time I got to see highly-touted recruit Kevin Heywood Kevin Heywood 6’7″ | 300 lbs | OL Pope John Paul II | 2024 State PA in person. The pressure couldn’t be higher, this kid was ready for it all. With Lyons, Montgomery and Patterson lined up across the Heywood for the duration of the match, with the Penn State staff looking on, Heywood was up for it. It’s always a bit jarring seeing someone this big move the way he does. Franklin and Trautwein had to be drooling seeing Heywood move the way he did in this one. The junior is still raw on both sides of the ball. Yet when everything clicks, and he stops thinking instead of playing, he’s easily one of the best linemen his class has to offer. The defensive reps are a plus, watching him get a hold of players off the edge is a sight to see, considering he’s got a nice blend of power and athleticism. Heywood might not see a more formidable defensive front, here’s to hoping he learned a thing or two.
Highlights
Luke Shaeffer
Luke Shaeffer
Dariel Tiburcio
Dariel Tiburcio
Two new Vikings to the site are Luke Shaeffer and Dariel Tiburcio. Both prospects are senior defensive backs that have their hands in everything. Dariel Tiburcio came up big with an interception in this one, adding on plenty of tackling assists too. Luke Shaeffer provides a similar role, yet is the more versatile prospect of the two. Shaeffer wasn’t involved in the passing game in this one, yet he was all over the field assisting and soloing tackles to help clog the machine that is Roman Catholic. I’ll be on the lookout for future performances from these two.