Brian’s Best: Mayer Lutheran vs GFW
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In a rematch of a game earlier this season, the Mayer Lutheran Crusaders showed their opening day victory over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop was not a fluke. They made it 2-0 over GFW with a 35-12 victory that did not lack impressive individual…
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Continue ReadingIn a rematch of a game earlier this season, the Mayer Lutheran Crusaders showed their opening day victory over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop was not a fluke. They made it 2-0 over GFW with a 35-12 victory that did not lack impressive individual showings.
Jack Grimsley
Jack Grimsley
Grimsley was the most explosive player on the field. He made a catch in the flat on the game’s first play and cut upfield for fifty yards. A true dual threat out of the backfield, he made another catch on the sidelines in which he was interfered with but still made the catch for twenty yards. His cutting ability was not just reserved for receptions. At running back, he cut to the inside, then back to the outside for positive yardage. Later, he made multiple tacklers miss. Then, he showed his speed around the corner – getting down the sidelines for a 66 yard touchdown run. Then, he started to go outside and cut inside for a first down late in the game. He is not a big back, but he broke a tackle on the outside to pick up ten yards. At defensive back, Grimsley closed on a throw into the flat and deflected the pass. He made a tackle on the outside, and then the junior made an open field tackle on the outside, preventing a two point conversion.
Another two-way player, Hahn is an accurate passer on midrange and short throws – both from the pocket and on the move. He made a quick read on a one step and throw slant that he put right on the receiver. The junior made a strong throw to the outside for a first down. His best throw of the night came when he rolled to the right and threw back to his left for a completion and a first down. He has good pocket awareness and is willing to pick up yards with his legs. It should not come as a surprise that Hahn is not afraid of contact – he also starts on the defensive line. He made a tackle on the outside, stopping a fourth and short. Later, he immediately got into the backfield for a sack.
Neitzel was physical on both sides of the ball. He made a handful of tackles on the inside for short gains. Then he stuffed an off tackle run. Neitzel is also a solid inside runner. He bounced off tacklers up the middle for eight yards. His block on the edge sprung Grimsley for a first down on fourth and short. Again, between the tackles, he broke two tackles to pick up six yards.
Highlights
Dominic Rose
Dominic Rose
Rose didn’t get many opportunities to shine on offense, but he hit a deep crossing route. Then, he was about to get sacked but somehow got the ball out into the flat to a receiver. Defensively, he made a good open field tackle.
Blake Aurich
Blake Aurich
Aurich made an open field tackle on the outside early in the game. Then, he came up aggressively against the run from his defensive back position to make a tackle. The senior showed discipline by staying home – stopping a reverse. Later in the game, he undercut an out route in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.
Alexander Johnson
Alexander Johnson
His quickness of the ball helped him get immediate penetration to make a tackle for loss. Later, he stuffed a third and short.
Josiah Clark
Josiah Clark
Defensively, he deflected a deep crossing route. Then, he high-pointed a ball on the goal line for a contested interception. He showed great hands and footwork on offense with a catch on the sidelines. His hands were on display again – catching a quick slant.
Treay Taylor
Treay Taylor
Taylor fought off a block and made a tackle for no gain. Then, he showed good awareness combining with Tristian Kruger reading a screen and forcing an incompletion. Later, he made a physical tackle on the edge for a short loss.
Garret Schmidt
Garret Schmidt
Schmidt demonstrated excellent concentration when he caught a deep post that the defensive back tipped. Later, he got into the end zone on a four yard touchdown run.
The offensive line as a whole played great, but the left side of the Crusaders’ offensive line was especially impressive. Johnson, Brayden Bury – 6’1 2023, and Gavin Lofgren 6’3 2024 dominated the first quarter with multiple runs behind the left side of the offensive line. They opened a hole big enough to drive the cliqued truck through for eight yards. Later, they sealed the edge for an eight yard touchdown run. Lofgren and Bury opened another big hole. Then Lofgren threw the key block on a 66 yard touchdown run by Grimsley.
Highlights
Sam Shipler
Sam Shipler
Shipler, Carson Gutknecht 5’11 2024, Bury, and Lofgren, packed the inside over the guards and center, shutting down the inside running game of GFW. Bury and Gutknecht combined for a tackle on the inside. Later, Johnson and Shipler closed the edge on a fourth and short for a first down. Later, Shipler’s aggressiveness on the pass rush resulted in a sack.