Brian’s Best – Mahtomedi vs. Hastings
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It was an old-school defensive struggle Thursday night when Mahtomedi visited Hastings. Defenses dominated and made several plays when they had their backs against the wall. Here are the players who stood out to me during Mahtomedi’s 14-7 victory. Cole…
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Continue ReadingIt was an old-school defensive struggle Thursday night when Mahtomedi visited Hastings. Defenses dominated and made several plays when they had their backs against the wall. Here are the players who stood out to me during Mahtomedi’s 14-7 victory.
Saenger was a problem on both sides of the ball. He punished the middle of the Raiders’ defense. He is a tough inside runner with a low center of gravity and quick feet. Offensively, his most impressive plays included a powerful inside run for twenty yards. Then he had another physical run between the tackles for a first down. Later, he showed good feet when he bounced a run to the outside and made two or three cuts in the open field for 30 yards. Late in the game, a 51-yard touchdown run showed his speed once he was in the clear. As an outside linebacker, he came flying around the corner and put a highlight reel hit on the runner for a short gain. The senior stopped a runner for a loss of two with another big hit. Then, he shot a gap and hit the ball carrier in the backfield. He didn’t make the tackle, but he set up his teammates to make a tackle for loss.
Alec Mahoney
Alec Mahoney
Mahoney was an excellent complement to Saenger. He is more of a tailback and is more elusive than his counterpart in the backfield. He was still effective between the tackles with a sixteen-yard run early. He caught a crossing route and got out of bounds to stop the clock at the end of the half. Mahoney showed good feet with a quick cut at the line of scrimmage to pick up yards. He showed his feet and speed when he bounced a run outside for thirty yards.
Blake Vandehoef
Blake Vandehoef
Vandehoef read an option and made the tackle for a short gain. Later, he stepped in front of a throw and intercepted a pass in the red zone – keeping the contest a one-score game.
Luke Foss
Luke Foss
Foss didn’t find anyone open on a rollout and ran for a first down. He made a quick pass to the outside for nine yards. He struggled in the first half but made several good throws on crossing routes in the second half. Those good throws included hitting a post route late in the game for a touchdown.
Max Strecker
Max Strecker
Strecker came up strong on a sweep to his side and made a tackle for a short loss. Later, he made an open-field tackle on a throw to the outside.
Brady Nickel
Brady Nickel
Nickel put a hit on a running back to force a fumble. Later, on fourth down, Mahtomedi tried a naked boot, and Nickel read it and forced the play inside so his teammates could make the tackle and prevent the first down.
Michael Kasel
Michael Kasel
On a third down, Kasel read quarterback draw and got enough of the quarterback’s ankle to make the tackle for a short gain. Then, he made a tackle on an inside run for a short gain. He was part of an interior group that stuffed a quarterback sneak on third and short. As a pass rusher, Kasel deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage and then sacked the quarterback on fourth down in the red zone.
Allton Majetich
Allton Majetich
Although Mahtomedi had a ton of success between the tackles, Majetich was able to make a few plays to help his defense. He shed a block and made a stop on the inside for a short gain. He made a tackle that keyed a goal line stand on third and goal.
On fourth down, Brandt rolled out and threw a perfect strike for a first down. Running the read option, he kept the ball and ran for eight yards. Then, he made a nice move at the line of scrimmage to turn a loss into a four-yard gain. Late in the game, he dragged tacklers on a fifteen-yard run to ice the game.
Will Newman
Will Newman
Newman made a huge catch on fourth down to pick up a first down. He moved the chains again with a ten-yard catch. Later, he showed his speed as he ran a reverse for nine yards.
Tyler Gunderson
Tyler Gunderson
Gunderson made a tackle on the inside for no gain. Later, he dropped into coverage and deflected a pass.
Cade Kimmes
Cade Kimmes
Kimmes deflected a pass on the goal line on a post pattern. Later, he disrupted an out pattern, causing an incompletion.
Charles Thein
Charles Thein
Thein, at defensive end, deflected a pass. Then, he pressured the passer – forcing a bad throw.
Kyan Esterby
Kyan Esterby
Esterby was the most consistent offensive threat for the Raiders – especially in the second half. The junior has good size and made good use of it. He made a catch across the middle for 15 yards. Later, he made another catch on another crossing route. He cut upfield to pick up a first down. He made yet another catch on the outside for another first down.