Quarterfinal Review: Heritage Eagles vs Broomfield Eagles
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A look at the three best performances from this quarterfinal 4A matchup. Review I previously wrote about the regular season finale between these rival 4A programs, with that contest turning out to be one of the most exciting games from…
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Continue ReadingA look at the three best performances from this quarterfinal 4A matchup.
Review
I previously wrote about the regular season finale between these rival 4A programs, with that contest turning out to be one of the most exciting games from the final week of the regular season as the Heritage Eagles nearly pulled off the incredible upset of the 6th ranked Broomfield Eagles – falling just short, 17-13. Most would expect that this rematch in the 4A quarterfinals would be an equally exciting game. Unfortunately for Heritage and for those hoping for a dramatic matchup, this game was a one-sided demolition in favor of the Broomfield Eagles – with this game never really being close. Broomfield jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead at the end of the 1st quarter and held a 19-0 lead at the end of the 1st half. The 2nd half would turn out to be even more of a nightmare for Heritage, as the Broomfield offense poured on 28 unanswered points to seal the extremely decisive 46-0 shutout of the Heritage Eagles. As one might expect from a game that resulted in a goose egg on the scoreboard for one side, the three best performances all came from the Broomfield Eagles side of the contest. With that being said, however, here were the three players who had the strongest individual performances.
Players of the Game
Canon Juarez Canon Juarez ATH Broomfield | 2023 State CO , Broomfield Eagles (DB/WR)(Sr.)(4) – Juarez had, in my humble opinion, the best all-around performance of any player for Broomfield – making his presence felt in every phase of the game. Juarez was a force for both the Broomfield offense and Broomfield defense, accounting for 73 yards receiving and 2 receiving touchdowns on 4 receptions (18.3 YPR) as a receiver while also registering 2 tackles, a pass deflection, and an incredible interception that he returned 109 yards for a touchdown. For the sake of this piece, we’ll focus on what Juarez shows on the offensive side of the ball. Diving into the tape from Juarez’s performance against the Heritage defense, the first thing that jumps out to you is his excellent first-step explosiveness out of his stance at the line, often winning the release against the DB off of foot speed and first-step explosiveness alone. Excellent athlete with the agility and elite top-end foot speed necessary to take the top off of a defense on deeper routes and take short to intermediate routes the distance if given enough space in the open field after the catch. Highly elusive ball carrier in the open field that can find daylight in even the tightest running lanes, presenting a challenge for 2nd and 3rd level defenders to tackle in 1-on-1 situations. Displays strong, consistent hands in tight coverage when going over the middle and working through traffic on short and intermediate routes. Shows great tracking ability when working through defenders on deeper routes. Versatile receiver that can be lined up on the boundary or in the slot, but is at his best in the slot where his strengths as a player in tight spaces can be accentuated. Juarez isn’t currently ranked on any recruiting boards, which is surprising to see given how talented he is and the size of his role on a talented Broomfield team. Regardless, he’ll continue to be an extremely important piece of a Broomfield state title run heading into the semifinal round next week.
Cole LaCrue Cole LaCrue 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Broomfield | 2023 State CO , Broomfield Eagles (QB)(Sr.)(18) – Much like his performance in the regular season against the Heritage defense, LaCrue was easily one of the better players on the offensive side of the ball for Broomfield. Diving into his numbers against the Heritage defense, LaCrue went 13 of 20 (65%) for 198 yards passing, 2 passing touchdowns, and a QBR of 130.8 while also adding 9 yards rushing on the ground. When you go to the tape of LaCrue’s night against the Heritage defense, you can see that LaCrue is a very gifted athlete. Highly explosive and elusive runner in the open field routinely making multiple defenders miss in the 2nd and 3rd levels. Very balanced runner that can run through arm tackles and remain physical on designed runs between the tackles. Great arm strength with the ball almost leaping out of his hand. Generates good velocity on short and intermediate throws while also having the arm strength to stretch the defense to almost any level of the field. Displays good accuracy on throws outside the pocket/on the run, showing an ability to consistently hit receivers in stride, downfield, while escaping pressure. LaCrue is currently rated the number 4 QB and the number 37 player overall for the class of 2023 and, given his performance against Heritage, it’s not hard to see why he’s so highly regarded. He’s an extremely gifted player that will look to close out his remarkable career as the Broomfield Eagles signal-caller with a 4A state title and an undefeated senior season.
Mikhail Benner Mikhail Benner 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Broomfield | 2025 State CO , Broomfield Eagles (DB)(So.)(9) – Benner was, without a doubt in my mind, the best player on the Broomfield defense in this game and might have had the best performance of any DB in the quarterfinal round last week. Benner was the definition of a ballhawk against the Heritage offense last week, as he accounted for 2 tackles, a pass deflection, and 3 huge interceptions with 2 of them being returned for a touchdown. Turning on the tape of Benner’s night against the Heritage offense, you can see he displays an uncanny ability to find the football, with this being the result of a combination of excellent top end foot speed, lateral agility, and tracking ability while the ball is in the air. Outstanding athlete with excellent first step explosiveness that allows him to hit top gear quickly and run stride-for-stride with most boundary receivers. Has the ideal build for a top-flight boundary corner as he has outstanding size and length (6’1, 175 lbs) that most lock down DBs have. Technically sound DB that rarely ever panics or gets handsy if he is in a less than ideal position to make a play on the ball/receiver. Prototypical ball-hawk DB that can shut down an entire quarter of the defensive backfield, routinely making opposing passers pay when they decide to test his side of the field. Benner is currently rated the number 2 DB and the number 11 player overall for the class of 2025, which isn’t really a surprise at all. He has elite talent and despite only being a sophomore, will continue to be a key piece of the Broomfield defense as they prepare for their matchup in the semifinals.