Brian’s Best: Simley vs. Rocori
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It was a hard-hitting, defensive battle Thursday night during a battle of Spartans in one of the Class AAAAA semi-finals. In a game that would come down to the final minutes, the Spartans from Simley outlasted the Spartans from Rocori…
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Continue ReadingIt was a hard-hitting, defensive battle Thursday night during a battle of Spartans in one of the Class AAAAA semi-finals. In a game that would come down to the final minutes, the Spartans from Simley outlasted the Spartans from Rocori – moving to the Prep Bowl with a 17-16 victory. Not surprisingly, the players who stood out to me were mainly on the defensive side of the ball.
Not surprisingly – with the understanding that both are committed to wrestle for Minnesota next year – Nelson looks a lot like a poor man’s Max McEnelly Max McEnelly 5’10” | 205 lbs | ATH Waconia | 2023 State MN . Nelson has quick feet through the hole, but he is more likely to look for contact than avoid it. He used his power and a spin move to pick up a first down early. Then, Nelson showed more power, driving through tackles for a big gain. Defensively, he made life difficult when Rocori tried to run between the tackles, getting off blocks and filling holes. In the passing game, he came on a blitz late in the game – coming up with a big quarterback sack.
Highlights
Tay’vion McCoy
Tay’vion McCoy
On offense, the opposite of Nelson was McCoy. Quickness and great footwork keyed his offensive success. He used his speed around the corner to pick up a first down. Then, he caught a short pass and made several moves in the open field for ten yards. Later, he made a great series of cuts to gain 40 yards. His speed was key down the sidelines catching a 69 yard bomb. He later made two quick cuts to pick up ten yards when it looked like Rocori’s defense had boxed him in. A defensive back on the other side of the field, he was part of a secondary that did a great job against the pass all game. He also made an open-field tackle, preventing a big gain.
Jackson Primus
Jackson Primus
Primus was one of the keys for Rocori keeping the Simley running game contained. He did a great job stuffing the run – most notably when he stuffed a run on fourth and two short of the first down. Fellow linebacker Blake Tylutki Blake Tylutki 5’11” | 220 lbs | LB ROCORI | 2023 MN and Primus did a great job forcing Nelson to bounce runs to the outside, where he was not as effective.
Renslow wasn’t a huge part of the game plan, but he made the most of his opportunities and showed a little bit of everything as a quarterback. He only threw the ball eleven times but completed eight of those throws for over 100 yards. He showed patience as a runner – able to find space – on designed runs. He has enough speed to get to the corner. Renslow has nice touch on his passes in the flat. He also throws well on the move – including being right on target on the move for a 69 yard touchdown pass.
Highlights
Tylutki was the second half of the two-man wrecking crew disrupting the Simley running game. He made an early tackle for a short gain and did a great job stuffing inside runs and forcing Nelson to bounce to the outside.
Highlights
David Gogins
David Gogins
Defensively, Gogins read a reverse and got a tackle for loss. Then, he fought off a block, held the edge, and allowed teammate Derrik Dohman to make a tackle for a short gain. On offense, Gogins made a spinning catch in the flat for a first down.
I would guess even Johnson would admit he got lucky but still had to make the play when he caught a deflected ball for the team’s first touchdown. Later, he made a quick cut and picked up eleven yards when he should have only had two yards.
Hunter Collins
Hunter Collins
Collins stood out during a strong game for the entire defensive line. He scrapped outside for a tackle for a short gain. Then, he got off a block to make a tackle on the inside for a short gain. Collins and Danny Martin then combined to drop a runner for a big loss.