Ft. Osage vs Oak Park| Top Prospects & Performers

Last Friday the Class 5 State District 8 Championship was played on a frigid night in Kansas City between the Ft. Osage Indians and Oak Park Northmen. The game started out with both teams scoring back and forth trading touchdowns before Ft. Osage finally pulled away to a 44-25 win. Here are my observations on the top prospects and performers from the game.     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   FT. OSAGE   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='181613' first='Greg' last='Menne'] | 6'2" 210 | QB | 2023 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-134.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514741"/></figure>   The Indians senior QB did a great job with his leadership and smoothly running his teams offense on the night. Menne, who has verbally committed to Southeast Missouri, threw for 138 yards and 2 TDs on 7 of 12 passing. He has really nice touch and placement on his passes and doesn't force things. He has good vision and takes what the defense gives him, making good decisions. He's a good athlete, and while not a dual threat, can use his legs to pick up needed yards and keep plays and drives alive. He also ran for 22 yards on the night. On the season he has passed for 1,242 yards and 17 touchdowns heading into this weekend's game.     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='101698' first='Larenzo' last='Fenner'] | 6'0" 175 | WR | 2023 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-139.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514748"/></figure>   The speedy Fenner had a big night both receiving and on special teams with a 98 yard kick return for a score. He also was his usual big play self receiving catching 4 passes for 87 yards, including a 41 yard touchdown. Larenzo runs nice routes, isn't afraid to go across the middle, does a great job getting behind defenders using his speed, and has very good hands. This is why multiple colleges are in the running for his services.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='263502' first='Ryver' last='Peppers'] | 5'10" 175 | RB | 2025 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-135.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514754"/></figure>   The sophomore running back is an equally dangerous threat both running and catching the ball. He accounted for two of the Indians scores (one rushing, one receiving) while rushing for 108 yards on 23 carries, and had 34 yards on 3 catches, including a 22 yard touchdown catch and run. Peppers is a combination of speed, elusiveness and toughness. He did a little bit of everything, from running hard between the tackles, to utilizing his quick feet and agility to make defenders miss, to blocking and using his speed. He's run for almost 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year. He'll be back for two more to help lead Ft. Osage's offense.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Roman Tillmon | 6'0" 180 | DB | 2023 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-138.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514760"/></figure>   Tillmon had a monster night and was seemingly everywhere on the field on defense, and it showed in the stat sheet. Roman had 16 tackles on the night ( 2 for loss) one forced fumble, one interception, and also blocked a field goal attempt. He fly around making big plays using his speed and physical play to help hold the Northmen in check for most of the second half. He's a real playmaker with good speed and football IQ being able to snuff out plays and be a force at the point of attack.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='172578' first='Anthony' last='Thompson'] | 5'9" 185 | S | 2025 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-112.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514770"/></figure>   This sophomore safety was impressive with his ballhawk skills and play and made numerous plays on defense for the Indians. He finished the game with 13 tackles overall and plays with a physical style and headiness of an older player and has led the Indians in tackles this season with 123 total tackles.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Brock Branstietter | 6'0" 335 | DT/NG | 2023 |   The big defensive lineman did a great job being active and controlling the line and middle of the defense. He displayed nice quickness to go along with his size and strength to not only clog the middle of the line but also to make plays. Brock had 8 tackles on the night.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   OAK PARK     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='285152' first='Travon' last='Pankey'] | 6'1" 185 | RB | 2025 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-131.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514772"/></figure>   Pankey was a bright spot for the Northmen with his running ability. The sophomore back is a great combo of size, speed and strength, and has the ability to break loose for a long run to the house on any play. Travon has great vision, feet and stop/start ability. He does a nice job letting defenders commit and has the body control at his size to juke and then hit the burners and be gone. He scored on two long TD runs and finished unofficially with 181 yards on the night. He looks like a complete back and ran for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns in 10 games for the Northmen. He can also catch the ball when needed and does a nice job blocking as a complete back. He's a track guy with impressive speed and will continue to get faster, bigger and strong. He has a bright future ahead of him.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='186030' first='Logan' last='Westling'] | 6'3" 280 | OT | 2024 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-128.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514789"/></figure>   OL standout Westling did a good job opening holes for Pankey and with his pass pro on the night. The big offensive linemen is also a good athlete and has good feet for his size. He's a physical blocker and plays with tenacity sustaining and finishing his blocks. The junior was one of the top offensive linemen in his class in the Kansas City area in 2022 and will be back for one more year to head up the Northmen O-Line.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Jorden Bruce | 6'2" 210 | DE/OLB | 2024 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-126.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514795"/></figure>   Bruce is an athletic EDGE player who can play with his hand down or play more of an outside linebacker role. He has impressive burst and explosion off the snap and get get in the backfield in a hurry. I really like his potential going forward as he continues to develop as a play. He looks to have the athleticism needed to continue to elevate his game and ultimately his recruiting profile.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Aiden Hinkle | 5'8" 160 | QB | 2024 |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/Ft.-Osage-vs-Oark-Park-133.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-514808"/></figure>   Hinkle is the sparkplug that makes the Northmen offense go. Not a big night stat wise for him, but he does a really nice job running his offense and leading his squad. Aiden is a dual threat who can make you pay with his arm and feet, and makes defenses run hard chasing him as he can extend plays to find and open lane or receiver. He's also has good strength and can make yards after contact. On the year he had over 1,200 yards total offense - 773 passing yards and 7 TDs -472 yards and 5 more scores rushing. He'll be back for one more year to improve upon this year's showing.

Last Friday the Class 5 State District 8 Championship was played on a frigid night in Kansas City between the Ft. Osage Indians and Oak Park Northmen. The game started out with both teams scoring back and forth trading touchdowns before Ft. Osage finally pulled away to a 44-25 win. Here are my observations on the top prospects and performers from the game.