Brian’s Best – Jefferson vs. Cooper
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Bloomington Jefferson made a statement on their home field Friday night – showing they were more than worthy of a spot in the state’s top ten rankings. Here are some of the standout performances – from both teams – during…
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Continue ReadingBloomington Jefferson made a statement on their home field Friday night – showing they were more than worthy of a spot in the state’s top ten rankings. Here are some of the standout performances – from both teams – during Jefferson’s 34-20 victory over Robbinsdale Cooper.
King was electric all night. Early, he got down low to make a catch below his knees. He made a short catch and made multiple defenders miss until he was brought down. He caught a crossing route for ten yards and made a diving catch down the middle of the field to set up a first and goal. He grabbed an out route and immediately got upfield for a big gain. On a fourth and three, he made a short catch for the first down and then broke three tackles to get up the field for a 16-yard touchdown. His block on the edge allowed Tevin Ekse to cut up an end-a-round.
Highlights
Gurley was the best player on the field for the Hawks. His speed and quickness helped him break a long kickoff return near midfield. He showed good body control with a six-yard catch on an out route on the sidelines. He caught a crossing route for a first down. Then, he made a series of quick moves at the line of scrimmage to pick up twenty yards down the sidelines. Late in the game, the junior made a highlight catch for 40 yards through double coverage. On defense, Gurley made a one-on-one tackle on the outside, forcing a fourth and goal. He also made an immediate tackle on an outside throw for a short gain.
Jonathan Weber
Jonathan Weber
Weber is not a big back, but he has excellent feet and good speed. He gets very low to the ground and doesn’t give defenders much to hit. Because of his low center of gravity, he often breaks arm tackles. Jefferson ran a pitch to him that was shut down by the defense, but a quick cut by Weber picked up good yardage. Later, he broke a tackle in the backfield, turning a three-yard loss into a three-yard gain. Some of the senior’s best moments were small statistical moments. Multiple times, he made a guy miss in the backfield and turned what should have been a loss into a short gain. He has a lot of power to,o. He was hit after one yard but dragged a tackler for a few yards.
Early, Fox put not one but two spin moves on Jaguars’ defenders to get out of a sack and pick up five yards. He not only has quick feet, but he is accurate throwing the ball. He throws a great deep ball and was really airing the ball out effectively late – nearly getting his team back in the game.
Highlights
Tevin Ekse
Tevin Ekse
Most of Ekse’s damage was done on the ground. His speed made him a threat on end-a-rounds. On one such play, his speed got him to the corner, but he broke a tackle and carried a guy for another five yards. Later, he made a nice cut to the inside on an end-a-round to pick up yards. He then caught a short pass and made multiple guys miss for ten yards and a first down. He even threw a great downfield block to spring King.
D’Marion Hoskins
D’Marion Hoskins
Hoskins showed excellent patience, picking his way through the line to pick up a first down. Later, the play was designed to go to the left, but nothing there. Hoskins made two guys miss and went back right for a five-yard gain. Later, he made three guys miss to pick up five yards.
Schultz has a quick release when in the pocket. He is efficient in the short passing game, making a lot of solid throws – especially in the middle of the field. He is a physical runner in the short-yardage running game. Credit goes to the interior of the offensive line as well, but without a Philadelphia ‘tush push,’ Schultz picked up four or five yards more than once running quarterback sneaks. Late in the game, he made two outstanding plays with his arm. On third and long, the senior threw a dart to the receiver on the outside for the first down. Later, under immediate pressure, he completed a short pass to convert on a third down.
Kollie made a pair of plays that stood out to me. He got off a block and made a tackle for a short gain. Then, he got into the backfield without losing contain and stopped a sweep with a tackle in the backfield.
Henry Largo
Henry Largo
Largo helped shut down the Hawks’ running game most of the night. He made life difficult for the Cooper offensive line all night. A couple of standout plays for Largo included a play where he beat his blocker and made a tackle for loss. Then, he showed good quickness, making a tackle on the outside for a short gain.
Semaj Young Semaj Young ATH Robbinsdale Cooper | 2026 MN
Semaj Young Semaj Young ATH Robbinsdale Cooper | 2026 MN
Young caught a deep ball down the sidelines, adjusting to a badly underthrown ball. He made a great catch down the sidelines for twenty yards. Later, he caught a short pass and made multiple tacklers miss to pick up extra yardage.
Nicholas Donley
Nicholas Donley
Donley did a great job on the outside for the Jaguars. He started early with a tackle for loss. Then, he blew up an option play with a big hit and solid tackle for a loss. The senior made another tackle on the outside – this time keeping the runner short of the first down.
Abel Nason
Abel Nason
Nason kept contain on a fake and didn’t allow the quarterback outside – making him throw before he wanted to. Nason also timed his leap perfectly to deflect a pass at the line of scrimmage.
Cormac Radford
Cormac Radford
Radford had tight coverage most of the night. He prevented a touchdown by batting a ball away in the end zone. Late in the game, his tight coverage helped him make a solid tackle short of the first down.
Evan Feller
Evan Feller
Feller made a pair of splash plays on defense. He got into the backfield to make a tackle for loss. Then, he tracked down the quarterback on a rollout, making the hit for a sack.
Dylan Goedderz
Dylan Goedderz
Goedderz was a weapon in the kicking game. He was four for four kicking extra points and two for two kicking field goals – a 30-yard field goal and a 22-yard field goal.