Top 3A Performances of Week 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashton Crossen - Sr, RB, Banks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>158 yards and two touchdowns for the bruising Banks running back. Crossen really is a throwback player in how aggressively he runs with the football. If he wasn't one of the classifications top running backs–probably only competing with [player_tooltip player_id='209680' first='Zach' last='Smith'] for the title of best–his style of play suggests he might be one of the state's best tight ends with the way he blocks, or one of the state's best tackles for that matter. Crossen looks like a player you would've seen commonly in 2000 but don't very often anymore, he's a phenomenal weapon and tone setter for the Braves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209680' first='Zach' last='Smith'] - Sr, RB, Dayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>324 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and an interception for one of the best players in small school football against Salem Academy. Smith has solidified himself as one of the state's best regardless of classification in recent weeks, leading 3A in rush yards and touchdowns scored by non-qbs. Outside of Colten Stepleton of Vale, there probably is no greater all-around weapon in 3A football right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashton Moody - Sr, QB, Cascade Christian,</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three touchdown passes and one rushing for Moody against Douglas.&nbsp; May have misjudged the over-the-top ability of the Challengers this year with Moody under center. He uncorked some long ones against the Trojans that looked textbook. Douglas is a rebuilding team, so the prism the game is looked through is different than had they played someone like Banks, but this was nonetheless a week where Cascade Christian–and Moody specifically–seemed to take a step forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Umpqua Offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>62 first half points, seven shy of the state record. Jacob Logan (172 yards, four touchdowns) and Eli Earls (Three touchdown passes) are a skill group pair the state has to respect. Lakeview and North Valley successfully played keep away the last two weeks against the Lancers, but these two skill guys, if given the opportunity, showed this week they can run with the best of them. Hiccups happen, bad games happen, but the talent of these two will withstand the test of time and keep South Umpqua in the contenders column long term.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->