St. Clair/Mankato Loyola Spartans: Nate’s Big Dogs of the Game
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NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA– We take a look at the St. Clair/Mankato Loyola Spartans from their Week 1 battle with Norwood Young America. Their production offensively and defensively was a tale of two halves, as their defense was able to slow…
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Continue ReadingNORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA– We take a look at the St. Clair/Mankato Loyola Spartans from their Week 1 battle with Norwood Young America. Their production offensively and defensively was a tale of two halves, as their defense was able to slow down the Raiders offense to just one touchdown in the second half. Lets meet the Spartans standouts!
Lucas Loeffler
Lucas Loeffler
I said it last night, I thought Spartans 2024 defensive linemen Lucas Loeffler was the meat-grinder in the trenches to their defense especially in the first half. He was consistently in on every play with the Raiders power rushing attack and did a solid job inside and had the range to get to the edges of the inside box. I liked watching the amount of power he had in his 6’1 220 pounds with his hands on tape, getting off his blocks to get to the ball. He also showed off good amounts of physicality with his contact level and looks like a DL prospect that looks like a prospect that should be playing on Saturdays as a small school prospect.
It wasn’t a big game of stats for Spartans 2024 quarterback Dylan Blount Dylan Blount 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB St Clair | 2024 MN , however there were a handful of skillsets that popped out in my eyes last night. He showed off some poise with his quick release and from what I have seen from 7v7 season, as I thought his athletic mobility outside of the pocket looked more instinctive as he has grown his skillsets. He also reacted quicker to heavy pressure which again, consistently shows off the reactive instinct thru the air that he is developing with the first game of his senior season. Twitter
The big motor Jacob played with all game long was one of the biggest skillsets that popped out to me about this young man as it didn’t matter what the scoreboard showed, as Jacob showed off an excellent work ethic until the final whistle blew. In the second half, Jacob was a menace that consistently got pressure in the backfield as that had some solid mobility with his clear-cut vision as well. Jacob is one that should certainly get a next-level opportunity soon in my eyes, as I see him as a sleeper. Twitter
Austin Ward
Austin Ward
Austin was a raw prospect that showed off some appealing skillsets as one of the youngest standouts from the Spartans roster. I have scouted Austin on the hardwood in recent years, as he has certainly grown taller and longer since my last look at him. He showed off good bases of physicality with some of the tackles he made as a defensive back on Friday night. He has a high ceiling to grow up his football IQ in my eyes offensively as an athlete on both sides of the ball over the next three seasons. A 2026 to watch his development in the coming years.
Elijah Kruse
Elijah Kruse
If I had to hand out an MVP on the Spartans offense on Friday night, my vote would be for 5’10 175 pound running back Elijah Kruse. I liked his production with the Spartans rushing attack especially in the second half, as Elijah showed off a sturdy downhill presence when the ball was in his hands and his durability showed off way bigger than the measurables he has on paper. This young man ran fearlessly thru contact, and at times it took multiple defenders to bring him to the turf as Elijah ran with an effective pop thru contact efficiently on Friday night. Elijah in my eyes, could be a small school sleeper at the next-level. Twitter