#PRZTN Game of the Week: Top Performers

There was an assortment of talented playmakers from the Middle Tennessee area on display in the Prep Redzone Tennessee Game of the Week in Franklin last night. In a close battle, Centennial (6-0) remained undefeated at home in week six, narrowly escaping Nolensville (5-1) in the final eight seconds of the contest by a final score of 17-14. After an intense four quarters of play, here's my list of the top performers from the action-packed matchup.    At the top of my list of notable standouts is [player_tooltip player_id='148876' first='Elisha' last='Nieves'], a 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback at Centennial High School. Nieves had an outstanding first half, blasting Nolensville's defense with his calculated decision-making, solid arm strength and pin-point accuracy on deep passes. Nieves stood out on the Cougars' first drive, completing a deep pass to put the offense within scoring range followed by another successful drive before the half that put Centennial up by two scores. Another aspect of Nieves that stood out was his composure and footwork, proving he can get the ball out of his hands under pressure and deceive the defense with his footwork.    I am additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='310897' first='Kani'' last='Johnson'], a 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete at Centennial High School. Johnson was a highly explosive playmaker on both sides of the ball on Friday night, impressing me with his undeniable athleticism and ability to attack the opposition with his quick execution, versatile edge and ability to apply pressure. Johnson stood out with his ability to blast the defense and disrupt the run game by quickly getting to the offense off the snap. Johnson stood out on the other side with his breakaway speed as a receiver, his ability to maneuver the field and his efficiency in staying on his feet under heavy pressure. Johnson made a significant kickoff return in the fourth quarter to put Centennial in prime scoring position with only a few minutes left in the game.    Claiming the number three spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='288620' first='Ty' last='Collins'], a 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback at Nolensville High School. Collins was hard to ignore in the final two quarters of play, showing off his arm strength on several crucial deep passes that helped the Knights come roaring back from a 14-0 deficit. Collins showcased his ability to get the ball out of his hands quickly off the snap and impressed with his pin-point accuracy in the second half, hitting his receivers in stride on a few key long shots. Collins also threw an impressive deep pass in the third quarter resulting in his team's first touchdown. Another aspect of Collins' playstyle that stood out was his ability to pick up yards on the ground in crucial moments and stay on his feet under pressure.    Another skilled prospect that caught my attention is [player_tooltip player_id='540040' first='Oliver' last='Bender'], a 6-foot-3, 170-pound wide receiver at Nolensville High School. Bender was one of the more impactful offensive weapons on the Knights' roster, proving himself as a reliable target down the stretch as he elevated off the ground to attack the ball. Bender impressed me in the first half with a long-range catch in the backfield, beating the defense to the ball with his ability to stay in front of the ball. I'm additionally fond of Bender's quick turnaround and ability to counter contact with his strength. Bender proved he can catch quick passes, pick up considerable yardage and blast into the endzone.    Coming in at number five on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='820916' first='Jyrine' last='Otey'], a 5-foot-11, 160-pound athlete at Centennial High School. Otey made his presence known for the Cougars shortly before halftime, blasting past the Knights' defense from a few yards out to increase the home team's lead to 14-0 before heading into the locker room. Otey impresses me with his overall physicality and durable edge in the pocket, remaining on his feet after getting hit while using his size and speed to his advantage. Otey dodged and weaved tackles to eventually breakaway from defensive pressure and barrel into the endzone to put the Cougars up 14-0 at the end of the second quarter.    Another playmaker worth mentioning is [player_tooltip player_id='1104288' first='Caleb' last='Pharr'], a 5-foot-10, 175-pound wide receiver at Nolensville High School. Pharr made a big difference in the second half, using his breakaway speed to haul in a long-range pass and escape the defense into the open field, kickstarting the Knights' comeback effort in the third frame of play. Pharr impressed me with his ability to stay locked in down the stretch as well as his ability to use bursts of speed to escape the defense in the pocket and along the edge. Pharr's catching ability and physicality in coverage allowed for him to get in front of the ball, quickly turn around and escape into the endzone with his electric speed.    [player_tooltip player_id='345967' first='Jayden' last='George'], a 6-foot-2, 180-pound defensive back from Centennial High School. George was crucial on the defensive side of the ball for the Cougars in the week six matchup, proving he can reject clean passes down the field with his physicality and aggression, utilizing his footwork and arm strength to swat away dangerous throws and quickly down receivers. In addition to his versatility and speed, George's ability to remain locked in on third-down scenarios and keep the offense away from the first-down marker made him one of the most impressive talents on Centennial's roster in the close battle with the Knights.    It was also hard to ignore [player_tooltip player_id='220386' first='Zion' last='Tamaska'], a 5-foot-8, 175-pound running back at Nolensville High School. Tamaska was a key offensive weapon for the Knights through four quarters, advancing offensive production on the ground with his ability to pick up speed off the snap and run over the defense in the pocket. Despite being met with heavy contact from the Cougars' defense, Tamaska impressed me with his footwork and durability, showcasing his ability to both maneuver the field and withstand strong defensive opposition en route to the house. Tamaska also made a difference with his quickness along the edge and ability to cut the corner and juke out the defense with his turnaround speed.

There was an assortment of talented playmakers from the Middle Tennessee area on display in the Prep Redzone Tennessee Game of the Week in Franklin last night. In a close battle, Centennial (6-0) remained undefeated at home in week six, narrowly escaping Nolensville (5-1) in the final eight seconds of the contest by a final score of 17-14. After an intense four quarters of play, here's my list of the top performers from the action-packed matchup.