MICDS vs Westminster: Defensive Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season in full swing, I was able to catch another intriguing matchup in the state of Missouri this past weekend. On Saturday, I went to MICDS to see the Rams take on Westminster Christian Academy. While the game got off to a slow start, the Rams were able to eventually take over to cruise to a 40-14 victory. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are my top performers on defense from Saturday's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["957344"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='957344' first='Peyton' last='Simon'] is a player that jumped onto my radar on Saturday. Simon lined up at middle linebacker where he was very impressive against the run. He showed the ability to read his keys and come downhill in a hurry to make tackles, finishing Saturday with eight total tackles. Simon also showed the ability to time his blitzes perfectly, shooting through the gap before the offensive line could react and finishing the game with one strip sack. He also showed some ability in pass coverage, coming away with one interception on Saturday. Peyton doesn't currently hold any offers but should definitely be a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["130198"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='130198' first='Carter' last='Enyard'] is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to impress on Saturday. The senior outside linebacker was very impressive in pass coverage this past weekend. He showed the ability to drop into coverage and read route combinations in order to put himself in a position to make a play, finishing the game with multiple pass deflections. Enyard also showed the ability to use his speed to his advantage to rush the passer, finishing the game with a sack. Carter is committed to Kent State where I can see him developing into a key piece of their defense once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Ben Peterson","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"MICDS","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Ben Peterson is another defensive player from MICDS that jumped onto my radar on Saturday. Peterson is a big, physical defensive lineman that did a great job against the run. He showed the ability to stack and shed blocks quickly then use his high motor to get to the ball carrier to make tackles in the open field. Peterson also showed the ability to rush the passer, exploding out of his stance and driving straight through the opposing offensive lineman to get into the backfield. He had several quarterback pressures and finished the game with one sack. Peterson has yet to receive any offers but will be a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["215752"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='215752' first='Joseph' last='Anderson'] is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to impress on Saturday. He was the obvious focal point of the Westminster defense on Saturday, drawing very frequent double teams. As a pass rusher, he showed the ability to use his speed and strength to win off the edge and get to the quarterback. Once he got to the quarterback, he finished with a ton of physicality, making sure his presence was felt. He also showed a high motor, showing the ability to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field against the run. Anderson is committed to Iowa where I can see him turning into one of their next great edge rushers once he gets his opportunity.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"AJ Powers","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Westminster","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another Westminster defensive lineman that stood out to me in Saturday's game was AJ Powers. Powers lined up on the interior where he was very impressive as a pass rusher. He showed the ability to explode out of his stance and use his speed to blow by opposing offensive linemen and get to the quarterback in a hurry. Powers had multiple quarterback hurries and finished the game with one sack. He also showed some reliability against the run, showing the ability to fight through blocks and get to the football to make tackles in the open field. Powers doesn't currently hold any offers but should be a player to keep an eye on during his senior year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Ridley Jowdy","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Westminster ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Another Westminster defensive player that jumped onto my radar on Saturday was Ridley Jowdy. Jowdy lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive in pass coverage. He showed the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball with perfect timing, coming away with two interceptions on Saturday. Jowdy was also reliable against the run, showing the ability to get to the ball in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. He showed great awareness for the ball as he also finished the game with one fumble recovery. Jowdy doesn't currently hold any offers but is a player to keep an eye on this season.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64ff95947c7bd"} /-->