2022 Turnaround Teams: Aberdeen Central

Today I jump up the ranks to Class 11AA for the Turnaround Team. The Golden Eagles of Aberdeen Central made the transition from 11AAA to 11AA last season and finished the season with a record below .500. They finished the 2022 season at 6-5 and clinched the #3 seed in the playoffs, bowing out in the semifinals to an always good Tea Area team. After stumbling out of the blocks to start the year with three losses, they caught heat and won five straight to jump them up the ranks to get the #3 seed. They had to replace some key athletes to start the year, against probably the toughest first two teams you could face to start a season, (Pierre & Tea Area). Once they filled those slots, the season seemed to go pretty smooth for Golden Eagles. Here are the standouts from the 2022 season.   2023   RB/LB- #4 [player_tooltip player_id='273693' first='Karson' last='Carda'] did all the little things well in each of his runs. He wasn't flashy at all in most of his runs, he waited for the blocks to develop and then exploded through the open gap. He accelerated fairly quick and found the open field. He lowered his pads and wanted to run through defenders, he would pound them all game long. After a full game of physicality, he could switch gears and go to speed and finesse late in the game. He showed good agility and footwork when he made his moves to get into the open field. He is good at making one cut and accelerating to full speed, finishing runs by falling forward. He has a pretty good spin move that avoids tackles and gains ground. He can also be a good lead blocker, using his physicality to put a good hit on the first wrong colored jersey to cross his path.   <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JqYV6">Senior Season</a>   WR/DB- #25 [player_tooltip player_id='101182' first='Aiden' last='Heimann'] was an excellent cover corner. Looking like a base Cov. 4 CB, he kept good depth, had a good back pedal and kept the QB and the WR in his zone in his sight at all times. He broke off his pass drop and jumped his receiver's routes quickly. His change of direction was really good along with his pass defense technique. Using his front arm to swat the ball and his trail arm to wrap up the receiver, not typically drawing flags. He also did a good job knowing when to turn and run, and had the speed to run with any receiver and played well in man coverage. He had a good vertical to go up and highpoint a ball to make the play.   <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jid9i">Senior Season</a>   DL- #86 [player_tooltip player_id='161295' first='Brian' last='Johnson'] did a great job sealing the edge for the defensive line. He got out of his three-point stance quick and engaged his blocker quickly. He didn't get too far up the field until he identified the play, then he made the play. He had a lot of speed to run with the ballcarrier and string out the plays on the perimeter, making the tackle on most of them. He blitzed off the edge well, collapsing the pocket quick and making the QB step up into more pressure. He moved laterally well and kept the shiftier backs from getting loose, giving his teammates time to come help him corral them as well. He had a high motor that kept him going on each play, which helped him make plays on the other side of the field with his speed as well. He tackled extremely well too, stayed around the legs and wrapped them up.   <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JrTLr">Senior Season</a>   LB- #17 Will Heinert was a good DL/LB hybrid type player for the defense. He could line up on the line of scrimmage and give the line more speed when they wanted a pass rush. He took a good angle off the edge to keep his contain and make the QB step up in pressure as well. His motor helped him finish a lot of plays as well, sacking the QB after making him step up, or flushing him out to his side so he could make the play. He could also sit back at LB depth and read the offense as well. He had a nose for the football, reading keys and finding the football. He wrapped up really well and finished his tackles, but he also did a good job attacking the football as well, forcing many fumbles.   <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JN44t">Watertown Highlights</a>   2024   FB- #45 [player_tooltip player_id='447240' first='Austin' last='Erickson'] was a vital piece in the Golden Eagle offense. He was the guy who made the big block down the field or on the edge to spring the ballcarrier to a big play. He had good footwork, hand technique, and pad level to make those tough blocks without getting flagged. He was one of those guys that would put you to sleep blocking every play, then slipping out on a pass route and being a very good target for the QB. He had a lot of speed, power and agility, making him very dangerous with the football, you had no idea what he was going to hit you with any time he got the ball. He also had a killer spin move that defenders had a hard time stopping.   <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JUTxb">Brookings Highlights</a>   P- #16 [player_tooltip player_id='174170' first='Jett' last='Carlson'] had good hang-time on his punts, a lot of returners calling for fair catches. He averaged around 35-40 yards in the air on his punts. He always seemed to get good bounces to go his way on the punts that would hit the ground, hardly ever out kicked his coverage. He took just enough time to make sure he got a good punt off and give his defense room, without getting blocked.   <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JELsj" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JELsj">Punt Highlights</a>

Today I jump up the ranks to Class 11AA for the Turnaround Team. The Golden Eagles of Aberdeen Central made the transition from 11AAA to 11AA last season and finished the season with a record below .500. They finished the 2022 season at 6-5 and clinched the #3 seed in the playoffs, bowing out in the semifinals to an always good Tea Area team. After stumbling out of the blocks to start the year with three losses, they caught heat and won five straight to jump them up the ranks to get the #3 seed. They had to replace some key athletes to start the year, against probably the toughest first two teams you could face to start a season, (Pierre & Tea Area). Once they filled those slots, the season seemed to go pretty smooth for Golden Eagles. Here are the standouts from the 2022 season.