Oregon’s Top Performers- Week 8 DEFENSE

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><br>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK</strong>- [player_tooltip player_id='270193' first='Erick' last='Gonzalez'] DB 23' North Salem- I cannot say enough good things about Gonzalez. He had another 2 INTs, returning one for a TD, in the 31-6 win over traditional power West Salem.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Alex Leontyuk</strong> LB 24' Nelson- Leontyuk had one of the best defensive performances of any player this year, racking up 10 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, with 1 sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. #10 Nelson continues to impress beating a decent Sandy team 28-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='263787' first='Austin' last='Goetz'] LB 23' Tigard- Goetz had (2) of his state leading 5 INTs against Lake O in the 14-6 loss. He is having a 1^st&nbsp;team all-state season, even with the&nbsp;back-to-back losses.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='130391' first='Parker' last='Williams'] ATH 24'/[player_tooltip player_id='342013' first='Zach' last='Wusstig'] ATH 23' South Salem- No one has been able to stop Sprague's [player_tooltip player_id='110179' first='Drew' last='Rodriguez']... Especially within the conference. The Saxons all league/all state DBs locked up the Colorado St commit, allowing 2 catches and no TDs, in the 42-12 win over the Oly's.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='407437' first='Tanner' last='Starbuck'] DB/ATH 25' Stayton- The sophomore standout had a career night defensively with 3 INTs and 14 total tackles, in the 40-20 win over Sweet Home. He is one of the top players in the state at the 4A level&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='278389' first='Tanner' last='Steinbach'] DB 24' Liberty- The 2^nd&nbsp;team all-conference returner had an outstanding night, making 10 tackles in the 31-21 win over a rising McMinnville program. Steinbach is one of the top two-way threats in the 2024 class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488914' first='Andre' last='Miller']</strong> ATH/DB 24' Gresham- The rising junior had a big night, picking off 2 passes and returning one for a TD. He also added 5 tackles in the 49-14 David Douglas.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D'Marieon Gates</strong> 25', [player_tooltip player_id='278407' first='Montral' last='Brazile Jr'] 24', [player_tooltip player_id='206766' first='Jeray' last='Mott'] 23' DB's Jefferson- The Demo DB's accounted for 5 INTs on the night, with Brazile and Mott grabbing 2 each, while Gates returned his for a touchdown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Houstyn Lee-Perry</strong> LB 24' Liberty- The junior stepped up big with fellow 2024 Steinbach on D, making 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack in the win over McMinnville. Grizzlies RB [player_tooltip player_id='271402' first='Austin' last='Rapp'] had been torching people prior to this.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->