Week 0 Review: Westminster Wolves vs Denver East Angels
In this article:
A look at two of the best offensive and defensive performances from this interconference 5A matchup. Review Coming into this contest, it felt like both the Denver East Angels and the Westminster Wolves were fairly evenly matched – with many…
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Continue ReadingA look at two of the best offensive and defensive performances from this interconference 5A matchup.
Review
Coming into this contest, it felt like both the Denver East Angels and the Westminster Wolves were fairly evenly matched – with many hoping this game would be one of the more exciting ones from Week 0. For the 1st half, the game played out exactly like that, as both teams would trade scores in a tight contest that saw the Angels clinging to a tight 20-13 lead at halftime. The 2nd half, however, was a completely different story as the game turned into about as one-sided of an affair as it could’ve been with Denver East scoring 35 points in the 2nd half while holding the Westminster offense to a mere 6 points that was scored in garbage time. When it was all said-and-done, the Angels demolished the Wolves with a final score of 55-19. While the Wolves didn’t have many bright spots in this game aside from one player, the Angels had several players that stood out with it being difficult to only find three to write about. But, with that being said, here were the two players on each side of the ball who I felt had the strongest performances.
Players of the Game
Elijah West-Duah Elijah West-Duah 6'0" | RB Denver East | 2025 State CO , Denver East Angels (RB/DB)(Jr.)(9) – West-Duah was the bell-cow for a Denver East rushing attack that manged to rack up 342 yards rushing. West-Duah was an explosive play waiting to happen for the Angels offense, as he surpassed the 100-yard mark – with 77 of those yards coming on West-Duah’s longest touchdown run of the night – and accounting for multiple touchdowns out of the Denver East backfield. When you watch West-Duah’s performance on tape, you can see he is a highly explosive runner with a slashing, one-cut running style that allows him to turn any carry into a home run. Tall, long tailback with an upright running style that allows him to hit another gear when breaking into the 2nd and 3rd levels. Extremely elusive runner in the open field, consistently making defenders miss in on-on-one situations in space. His tall and long frame allow him to have a significantly physical running style, consistently running through arm tackles from smaller defenders with relative ease while also churning out tough yards after contact. Exceptional blocker in pass protection that can anchor against most blitzing LBs and DL pushing the pocket. Well-rounded tailback who’s traits translate to the collegiate level. West-Duah is currently ranked the number 7 RB and the number 41 player overall in the class of 2025, with it being fairly evident why he’s rated as high as he is. If West-Duah can continue to carry the offense like he did on Friday, the Angels ground attack will be tough to slow down.
Mason Kiewiet Mason Kiewiet 6'0" | 160 lbs | QB Westminster | 2025 State CO , Westminster Wolves (QB)(Jr.)(1) – Despite the lopsided loss, Kiewiet did everything in his power to keep the Wolves in the game and almost did single-handily. Looking at the numbers from Kiewiet’s night against a tough Denver East defense, you can see he was still fairly impressive all things considered as he went 11 of 22 (50%) for 163 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns against an interception, and a QBR of 95.3 while also accounting for 60 yards rushing. When you dive into the tape from Kiewiet’s night against the Angels defense you can see that he is an incredible athlete at the QB position with good arm strength. Displays the ability to remain elusive in the pocket when extending time to find a receiver downfield or as a ball carrier on both designed carries and when forced to tuck the ball and scramble. Deceptively physical ball carrier at the QB position that isn’t afraid to put his shoulder down at the point-of-contact to churn out extra yards at the end of a run. Displays good arm strength with the requisite ability to stretch the defense on deep balls and enough velocity on short and intermediate throws to squeeze balls into tight throwing lanes. Intelligent QB that displays a good understanding of coverages, DB rotations, and pre-snap coverage shells. Shows good accuracy when making throws off-platform and on the run, routinely hitting throws with accuracy to all three levels of the field. Kiewiet is currently ranked the number 16 QB and the number 112 player overall for the class of 2025, but if he can continue to shoulder a heavy load for the Westminster offense, that ranking will certainly rise in time.
Landen Holloway Landen Holloway 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Denver East | 2024 State CO , Denver East Angels (LB)(Sr.)(1) – Holloway might have had the most dominant performance of any defensive player, or really any player in general, in Week 0. Holloway was an absolute force on the defensive side of the ball, registering a remarkable 14 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. If there was ever an example of a player being a one-man wrecking crew, Holloway’s night against the Wolves offense would be it. When you turn on the film of Holloway’s performance against the Westminster offense, the first thing that jumps off the tape is the sheer amount of force he brings to the point-of-contact, straight-up leveling blockers and ball carriers alike as soon as contact is made. Incredibly powerful player at the Mike backer position that can fill running-lanes in the blink of an eye without giving up gap integrity. Lightning quick first step out of his stance that can allow him to crash downhill in run support quickly or drop into pass coverage fast enough to clog throwing lanes. Very savvy, smart Mike backer that can rapidly read and react to the offense’s play call, consistently being around the ball. Shows an incredible ability to stack-and-shed opposing blockers thanks to a combination of hand placement/strength and a low center of gravity, consistently maintaining a low pad level at the point-of-contact with the opposing blocker. Shows great ability in pass coverage whether dropping into zone coverage or when being asked to run with opposing TEs and RBs in man coverage. Extremely high effort player with a motor that runs white-hot on every play. If I’m being completely forthright, Holloway’s tape was some of the most incredible I’ve seen at his position and he might be my new favorite player to follow this season. Holloway is currently ranked the number 6 LB and the number 61 player overall for the class of 2024, with that number feeling criminally low given his production and his unreal tape. If Holloway can continue to dominate, however, the Angels will be very tough to beat this year.
DJ Crowe DJ Crowe 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Denver East | 2025 State CO , Denver East Angels (DL)(Jr.)(3) – Crowe had a performance that nearly surpassed Holloway’s, continuing to show why he’s one of the premier edge defenders in the state. The Westminster offense had no answers for Crowe as he accounted for an impressive 7 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. When you get into the film of Crowe’s night against the Wolves, the first thing that jumps out to you is how much bigger he is than most other players on the field (6’3, 225 lbs), often towering over most of the opposing offensive linemen. Extremely high motor defender that never gives up on a play, routinely still pursuing the ball carrier downfield well beyond the line of scrimmage. Prototypical stand-up 3-4 edge defender that can rush the passer with a combination of speed, power, and flexibility. Strong, flexible lower body allows him to maintain a low pad level and drive blockers into the pocket on bull rushes. Displays outstanding bend when turning the corner on a speed rush on the opposing left tackle, almost being parallel with the ground. Extremely physical, aggressive, and strong defender that consistently brings a ton of force to the point-of-attack when making contact with an opposing blocker or an opposing ball carrier. Exceptionally fast and explosive for his position, routinely overwhelming the opposing blocker with his first-step explosiveness alone, quickly getting into the backfield and disrupting the pocket. Crowe is currently ranked the number 4 DL and the number 19 player overall for the class of 2025 which, should be higher by the time this season ends if he dominates to the level that he’s more than capable of. If he can continue this level of play, Denver East will be an incredibly difficult matchup for any team.