Week 8 Review: Arapahoe Warriors vs Cherokee Trail Cougars
A look at the three best performances from this interconference, 5A matchup. Review Coming into this game, both the Arapahoe Warriors and the Cherokee Trail Cougars were at a fork in their respective seasons, hoping to gain some much needed…
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Continue ReadingA look at the three best performances from this interconference, 5A matchup.
Review
Coming into this game, both the Arapahoe Warriors and the Cherokee Trail Cougars were at a fork in their respective seasons, hoping to gain some much needed momentum with a win against the opposition. Once opening kickoff was booted, it certainly played out that way for all four quarters, as it was a hard-fought defensive battle from start to finish with neither team generating much offensively. The Warriors were able to hold a 16-6 lead late in the 4th quarter, with the Cougars scoring on a fade from 2-yards out to close the gap to 16-12. On Arapahoe’s ensuing possession, they were able to salt the clock away; stifling any hope from Cherokee Trail of a comeback, and sealing the 16-12 victory. With the win, the Warriors have gained some significant momentum entering the last few weeks of the season, while the Cougars are hoping to close out their 2022 season on a high note in the closing weeks of the regular season. Moving on to the individual players who made this incredible game possible, these are the three who I believe had the strongest performances.
Players of the Game
Alonzo Ramirez, Arapahoe Warriors (RB/DB)(Sr.)(2) – Ramirez was, without question, the Warriors most important piece offensively while also playing a part on the defensive side, in the Warriors win over Cherokee Trail. Taking at look at Ramirez’s numbers from his night against the Cougars, he accounted for 114 yards rushing on 18 carries (6.3 YPC) and 22 yards receiving as well, while also adding a pass deflection on defense. When watching Ramirez on tape, you can see that he displays a great amount of physicality and aggression on both offense and defense despite his smaller frame (5’9, 175 lbs). Brings plenty of force behind his pads at the point-of-contact when finishing runs as a ball carrier and when running down-hill to fill his run fits/sealing the edge on plays to the boundary. Elusive ball carrier with exceptional vision and lateral agility that allows him to take tight running lanes and turn them into big plays. His elusiveness is also displayed in the open field when working 1-on-1 against 2nd and 3rd level defenders in space. Great top-end foot speed allows him to turn any play offensively to a chunk gain while also allowing him to run stride-for-stride with most boundary receivers. Shows good explosiveness out of his stance as both a 2nd/3rd level defender and as a ball carrier. Versatile, high-motor player that can play multiple positions on either side of the ball, with that versatility creating multiple matchup problems for opposing offenses and defenses. Ramirez isn’t currently ranked on any recruiting boards, but he’ll look to finish his last year of high school ball strong after his strong night against the Cougars.
Kalib Davis, Cherokee Trail Cougars (DB)(Sr.)(9) – There were several players defensively for the Cougars who were instrumental in almost completely shutting down the Warriors offense and almost pulling out the victory, but Davis was probably the most instrumental. Looking at the numbers from his night against the Arapahoe offense, Davis registered a remarkable 15 tackles, a tackle for a loss, and two pass deflections. When you watch the tape of Davis’s night against the Arapahoe Warriors, you can see he displays a knack for finding the football, whether dropping into coverage or coming up in run support. Versatile chess piece of a player that lined up in multiple different positions depending on the formation; lining up as a deep safety, in the box safety, and nickel corner. Aggressive tackler that brings plenty of force to the point-of-contact. Displays consistently good form when making a tackle (head across the core, wrap-up, drive through contact), routinely stopping the ball carrier’s progress as soon as contact is made. Shows a good understanding of his gap responsibilities when coming up to make his run fits. Shows adequate ability as a deep defender in zone coverage, but shows consistent success when lined up in the slot as a nickel in both underneath zone coverage and man coverage. While Davis is a highly talented and productive player, his smaller frame (5’9, 165 lbs) could explain his lack of recruiting attention but ,regardless, there are players with similar frames at every level of football that have had great success. While he is currently unranked, Davis is certainly worthy of more recruiting attention and will be an interesting player to follow through the last couple games of his prep career.
Sam Ballas, Arapahoe Warriors (DB)(Sr.)(15) – Ballas was, arguably, the biggest contributor defensively for the Warriors in a game where the result was largely decided by the performances of the defenses. Diving into the stats from Ballas’s game against the Cherokee Trail offense, he accounted for 6 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and a massive interception. Turning on the tape of Ballas’s night, he quickly shows that he is a physical DB that doesn’t shy away from contact at the point-of-attack in both press coverage and when coming up to make a tackle in run support. Tall (6’0, 180 lbs), long DB that can recover quickly and can overwhelm opposing receivers on the boundary with a combination of size, great top-end foot speed, white-hot motor, and aggression. Smart defender when dropping into zone coverage and understands how to bait opposing QBs into dangerous throws. Exceptional athleticism allows him to play the role of a high-level boundary defender and ball-hawk in the defensive backfield, as he always seems to be around the ball and plays it well while it’s in the air. Displays requisite technique in both off and press coverage, rarely panicking in tough situations in coverage, consistently being able to maintain technical discipline against most boundary receivers. Ballas is currently rated the number 29 DB and the number 255 player overall for the class of 2023, but can certainly see more attention in the recruiting world if he continues to consistently play at a high-level.