Brian’s Best – Lakeville South vs. Lakeville North
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I am a sucker for rivalry games. Even when one or both teams are not very good, rivalry games always up the level of everything about a football game. The players, the fans, the whole game-time experience is amped up.…
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Continue ReadingI am a sucker for rivalry games. Even when one or both teams are not very good, rivalry games always up the level of everything about a football game. The players, the fans, the whole game-time experience is amped up. The atmosphere at a Lakeville North, Lakeville South football games is excellent, even when one of the programs is down. When they both have good teams – like this year – the whole stadium is electric. Friday night was no exception. Here are the players who stood out in South’s thrilling come-from-behind victory.
Rateliff was a problem for the Panthers’ offensive line all night. He got off a block early and made a tackle for a short gain. He repeated the feat later with another tackle for a short gain. Against the pass, he got into the air and deflected a pass. Late in the game, he showed good range, making a tackle on the outside for a big loss.
Although in a losing effort, Menard was the overall most impressive player I saw. On offense, he threw several impact blocks. He blew open a big hole and then destroyed another defender on another running play early in the game. Late in the game, his lead block sprung running back Sawyer Wilkie Sawyer Wilkie 5’11” | 205 lbs | RB Lakeville North | 2024 State MN on a long run. On defense, he made a tackle on the outside. Then, he was immediately in the backfield to make a tackle on the outside for a short loss. Against the pass, he chased down the quarterback on a rollout for a sack on third down. He capped off his night with a sack late in the game.
Like Rateliff on the outside, Larson was trouble on the interior – especially in the second half. First, he fought off a block and made a tackle for a short gain. Later, he beat a block and made a stop on the inside for another short gain. Late in the game, he stuffed a run on third and short, forcing a punt.
Highlights
Sebastyen Fries
Sebastyen Fries
Fries caught a couple of crossing routes and showed good footwork, turning up-field for fifteen yards and then for twenty yards later in the game. In the running game, he made a nice block on the outside to spring a runner for a solid gain.
Gavin Dean
Gavin Dean
Dean threw more than I have seen a Cougars’ quarterback throw in a long time. Of course, this wasn’t the Mike Leech Air Raid offense, but Dean made some game-altering throws – including the game’s biggest play. He throws well on the move. Early on a rollout, he completed a deep out while being hit by a defender. The play of the game was a completed deep out on fourth and long to set up the tying touchdown. Oh, and he unleashed a 50-yard punt that rolled dead inside the ten-yard line.
Grossman was especially effective early on short throws on crossing routes and short out routes. Two throws stood out. First, he made a quick pass into the flat to pick up a first down on fourth down. Later, he completed a similar throw, but he did it while being hit this time.
Cin made the special teams play of the game and gave his team the jump-start the Cougars absolutely needed when he blocked a punt in the end zone. On defense, he undercut a crossing pattern to knock a pass down.
Calvin Schmelzle
Calvin Schmelzle
Schmelzle made an impact on both sides of the ball. He made a catch in the flat on offense, turned up-field, and got down the sidelines for a touchdown. He stuffed a running play on defense and then made a tackle for a short gain.
It took some time for the South running game to get going. When it did, Cade was at the center of it. He had two early second-half runs to pick up first downs. Then, he bounced a run to the outside for a 64-yard touchdown.