Top 5A Semifinals X-Factor Receivers

We will look at this weeks top receivers and how they impacted the game for their teams.   Receiver of the Week   [player_tooltip player_id='447835' first='Josh' last='Rillos'], Ralston Valley Mustangs (WR)(SR.)- This effort comes in a loss but he did not disappoint and played his tail off in trying to get his team to state. Rillos balled out in his matchup against valor as he put his hands on display with 17 receptions for 182 yards and 1 touchdown. Rillos is a great blocker on the perimeter and uses his aggression to block the DBs and take them out of the play. He has great hands catching passes with his hands instead of his body and is a good route runner as well. At the next level he will be a great addition to wherever he goes because he is a physical receiver. He is not afraid of contact and will block downfield as well. Rillos has good speed as well and was able to capitalize on that with a 62 yard touchdown reception. This will be a standout game for Rillos just with the amount of receptions and the game going to overtime. You can't ask for anything else in your last high school game. Rillos has had some great games this season with 3 games over 150 yards and had good performances against some of the top teams on the Mustangs schedule. You hate to see a season end the way his did but definitely look forward to seeing where Rillos lands.   Other Notable Performances   Jackson Hansen, Ralston Valley Mustangs (WR)(JR.)- I have covered Hansen several of times this year and he had another great game pulling in 9 receptions for 113 yards to go along with 2 touchdowns. The Mustangs will be losing some key players so Hansen will have some big shoes to fill but he has built a great rapport with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='527105' first='Logan' last='Madden'] who will also be returning for his senior year. The biggest lose to the Mustangs on the offensive side of the ball is running back [player_tooltip player_id='150203' first='Diano' last='Benallo']. Hansen was the second leading receiver this year so he figures to be thrust into the top receiver role next year. He has great speed and can be a gadget player. He has great hands and will high point the ball. He is a player that can get the 50/50 balls and make it easier on his quarterback. He will have to work on his route running some more this offseason. He is a good route runner but will have to master the route tree because I think he will play a major role in the Mustangs offense next season. Will be someone to add to a watch list this upcoming year.   Jake Graver, Pine Creek Eagles (WR)(SR.)- Graver is a speed guy that uses his speed to get away from his defenders. Not a big receiver so doesn't break many tackles. Graver is used on end around and gadget plays. On what was technically the eagles second drive due to a fumble on there first play. Graver was able to come up with one of his two scores on a corner route that he ran against what looked to be a busted coverage. This was the Eagles first play on the drive as well. He was lined up in the slot and was able to uses his quickness to run the corner route, put his foot in the ground to get up field and outrun the slot corner as well as the other dbs for an 80 yard touchdown. Graver has 2 receptions for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns. Graver was a difference maker for his team with his big play ability and great top end speed. He was able to lead this run heavy team in receiving and the Eagles have a young core team that will rely on the running game again next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='22761' first='Ismael' last='Cisse'], Cherry Creek Bruins (WR)(SR.)- Cisse was able to get his first score of the game on a jailbreak screen where he went in untouched. Cisse got under one of his blocks from his lineman and walked into the endzone to give the Bruins a 13-7 lead with 7 minutes still left to play in the 1st. Cisse finished the game with 4 receptions, 123 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. The things I would like to see Cisse work on is being a more effective blocker and staying active looking for work. Can tell when it's a run play or if he isn't getting the ball by how he comes off the line, if he makes everything look the same it will make him a more effective blocker downfield. Against the Eagles his man made a couple of the tackles that could've turned into a longer play. On Cisse second touchdown reception he got matched up against the safety when the back motioned outside of him and ran a post route, the safety went for the corner and could not catch up after. Cisse plays very smooth and when he runs routes his strides make it look effortless. He has good speed and uses head fakes to make the defender bite on the fake. Makes the most out of his opportunities.   [player_tooltip player_id='62225' first='Kyair' last='Johnston'], Cherry Creek Bruins (WR)(SR.)- Johnston had 3 receptions for 81 yards and 1 touchdown. He is a speed receiver and uses his speed when he gets in the open field to pull away from defenders. On his scoring reception against the Eagles he ran a seam route but put a double move on the safety. He didn't press the safeties alignment which caused him to have to put a move on the safety. After he was able to get past the safety it turned into a foot race and he was not going to get caught by anyone. On that play you can see the speed difference and how smooth his moves are in his breaks. He is not losing speed when he is using his fakes which makes it hard for DBs when guarding him. I would like to see him work on pressing the alignment of his defender because that will make him much more dangerous in single coverage. Johnston has great hands and he has a great willingness to block, plays with speed when he's on the field and this makes him difficult to guard because defenders have to react late. He attacks defenders with aggression when blocking and this is something that makes him standout.

We will look at this weeks top receivers and how they impacted the game for their teams.