Sun Prairie West vs Oregon: Recap & Prospects of the Game
In this article:
I wrapped up my regular season live coverage with a trip to Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium to cover Sun Prairie West vs Oregon HS. It was a high stakes game. SP West was having their first ever homecoming, while…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingI wrapped up my regular season live coverage with a trip to Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium to cover Sun Prairie West vs Oregon HS. It was a high stakes game. SP West was having their first ever homecoming, while Oregon was trying to get their 4th conference win to ensure a playoff spot. It was a cold night, but it didn’t seem to effect any of the players on the field. They were ready to roll, so at 7 pm we kicked off!
The game started off exciting thanks to special teams. Oregon was held to a three & out, but the punt hit one of the defensive players guarding a gunner. The gunner quickly jumped on it giving Oregon the ball again. Oregon was able to then get things going on the ground. They attacked the edges and used misdirection with success. Unfortunately, an Oregon ball carrier fumbled and DL/RB Jay Dayne recovered it. SP West wasn’t able to do much on their drive, but when they got the ball back for drive #2 they began to get in a rhythm. WR John Hamilton John Hamilton 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Sun Prairie West | 2023 State WI made his presence felt with a great catch deep downfield. A few plays later Hamilton caught a TD from QB Brady Rhoads on a 13 yard slant route. Oregon looked ready to respond when DB/returner Evan Miles broke off a big return on the kickoff to put Oregon around midfield. Led by junior RB Max Mathews, Oregon powered their way down the field. It looked like a promising drive, but they were stuffed on 4th down by SP West LB/TE Ean Ackley Ean Ackley 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Sun Prairie West | 2024 State WI to force the turnover on downs. With the second quarter ticking away SP West again turned to junior QB Brady Rhoads. He led them down the field, and got them within range for a field goal. Unfortunately, the field goal sailed wide and missed. Oregon almost was able to put together a 2 minute drill with just their running game, but penalties killed the drive and sent us to halftime with West leading 7-0.
Oregon’s opening drive of the second half was one of their best. They stuck to the ground game, and looked to be setting the tone as they powered their way into West territory. That is where senior Jay Dayne again stepped up. He started getting a lot of penetration from his DT spot. That led to disruption, and eventually a turnover on downs. Oregon had so many promising drives throughout the night that they just couldn’t finish. SP West was stuffed on 4th down on their next drive also. Again Oregon couldn’t get any points. West was able to add to their lead on the following possession. TE/LB Ean Ackley Ean Ackley 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Sun Prairie West | 2024 State WI caught a deep attempt, and then a few plays later he caught a 6 yard TD pass from Rhoads. Oregon looked to be cutting into the 14-0 deficit as they worked inside the West redzone. Once again, they couldn’t finish and turned it over on downs. To finish the game, Ackley again caught a deep pass. One play later, RB/DB Jonathan Weah broke loose for a 32 yard TD run. The game officially ended after Weah intercepted a pas o the next drive allowing West to kneel out the clock for the Homecoming win on their first ever Homecoming, 21-0.
*Brackets were announced for D2 playoffs and both teams did make the playoffs*
Prospects of the Game
Brady Rhoads
Brady Rhoads
Stats: 19/27, 230 Yards, 2 TDsrnI’m looking forward to getting the SP West signal caller into the rankings this postseason. He is a raw prospect, but there are traits to build upon. First of all, he has elite size at 64″ 205 lbs. He looks the part, and he isn’t afraid to tuck the ball and pick up some yards with his legs. Brady isn’t a pure dual threat, but he can do enough with his legs to keep plays alive. I was impressed with his control of the game, and his ability to step up in the big moments. The Wolves went to the air a lot as the night went on, and Brady delivered. I liked that he knew when to put a little extra on the ball, and when to focus on placement and touch. As his footwork continues to develop so will the rest of his passing abilities. Definitely an athlete to follow.
Stats: 7 Receptions, 105 Yards, 1 TDrnMy top senior prospect of the game was WR John Hamilton John Hamilton 6’2″ | 185 lbs | WR Sun Prairie West | 2023 State WI . The 6’2″ 190 lbs receiver was a go to option all night long. The Wolves used him to attack every level of the field. He made plays on bubble screens, slants, digs, and going down the field. Hamilton has a knack for finding the open field or creating that separation with his route running. John tracks the ball in the air well, and he was able to make catches even while getting him. That concentration is key to playing out wide at the next level. John has a good frame for the next level as well. John was one of athletes I had marked as one I wanted to focus on in this game, and he delivered multiple key plays.
Highlights
Stats: 7 Receptions, 106 Yards, 1 TD, 15 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 SackrnThe most impressive performer of the night was the junior LB/TE. His most consistent plays came from his defensive efforts. The 6’1″ 205 lbs junior was a monster between the tackles. He timed his blitzes perfectly. Allowing him to get free runs at the QB or RBs. Ackley also did a good ob of mirroring RBs in the run game. He was able to slide and scrape laterally with the RB and meet them in the hole for stops. His instincts for the position caught my eye over and over, and they show up in his highlights from the night. Lastly, Ean made multiple key stops in big situations like 3rd or 4th down. Ackley’s play at TE really stood out in the second half. He doesn’t have typical TE size, but hew as able to use that agility to get open for his QB. Ean has naturally soft hands that lightly pluck the ball out of the air. The junior delivered over and over in a big game. It was fun to watch!
Jon had to show off some toughness this week as he played the game with his hand in a cast. He wasn’t able to use it much. That led the 6’4″ 255 lbs OT to rely on getting a good punch and then moving his feet to mirror defenders. That first punch was enough to allow him to not get beat off the snap, and his body control kept him from over extending. The big man is pretty light on his feet, and if he focuses on body control and footwork over the rest of his HS career he can transform himself into an impressive prospect. He deserves a shout out for his effort while facing that adversity. Junior to know.
Highlights
Evan Miles
Evan Miles
The top prospect for Oregon HS was senior Evan Miles. The DB/ return man was one of the top athletes in this game that I wanted to see live. He has the length you look for in a next level prospect at 6’2″. Evan also has the speed to continue playing. He used that speed to create big kick returns as well as to be able to close on the ball while on defense. Evan sees the field pretty in both those situations as well. He sees his blocks well, and reads the QB along with feeling who enters his zone. Miles has loose hips that allow him to quickly change direction and transition from his back pedal to attacking downhill. I don’t see any offers for the senior. Definitely an under the radar prospect.
Grant Wollangk Grant Wollangk 6'4" | 200 lbs | DL Oregon | 2024 State WI
Grant Wollangk Grant Wollangk 6'4" | 200 lbs | DL Oregon | 2024 State WI
Stats: 3 Total TacklesrnGrant caught my eye Friday night. He was a junior I wasn’t aware of coming into the game. His 6’3″ 220 lbs frame at DE caught my attention very early on. The stats don’t do his evening justice. Grant was quite disruptive off the edge for Oregon. He got the QB off his spot, and was able to turn ball carriers back inside. Grant has a lot of developing to do with his hand fighting and pass rush moves, but he has the tools you can’t teach. Size, length, high motor, and the ability to make an impact even without the stat sheet showing it. This looks to be the top junior on the team from what I saw. Make note of him. Looking forward to seeing his development over the next year.