5A Playoffs Round 2 Recap: Legend vs Valor
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The 10th ranked Legend Titans upset the 7th ranked Valor Eagles in a thrilling Friday night matchup. The final score was 20-13 at Valor’s Stadium. Over the past couple of seasons, Valor has been the one to end Legend’s playoff…
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Continue ReadingThe 10th ranked Legend Titans upset the 7th ranked Valor Eagles in a thrilling Friday night matchup. The final score was 20-13 at Valor’s Stadium. Over the past couple of seasons, Valor has been the one to end Legend’s playoff dreams. However, the Titans got revenge in the 2nd round of the 5A playoffs. Lets get into the analysis of the stars.
Saying Lawrence is a baller is an understatement. Kid’s a dominator on the field. Lawrence had a total of 232 yards (198 rushing, 34 receiving) and 2 touchdowns. Jaden was electric anytime he touched the ball. Demonstrated great vision to identify and run through gaps. He has very good speed and acceleration allowing him to achieve home run speed. Shifty back who exhibits very good change of direction. Multiple times he’d break off for a big gain with 80 yards being the longest. He’s not afraid of contact and sheds tackles with ease. Great catcher, and makes it look easy. Dude’s a game changing back, and can change momentum instantly. Sky’s the limit for him, and I’m ecstatic to see what he can do in the remaining playoff games.
Highlights
Garrett Dial
Garrett Dial
Dial plays DE/WR/TE. His athleticism is off the charts, as he’s able to play multiple positions and be a playmaker for each one. Dial had 8 tackles (3 solo, 5 assisted) 1 TFL and 1 strip sack fumble & recovery. On offense, he accounted for 2 receptions for 36 yards. Dial has a high tenacity, and really dials it up to another level. As a ball catcher, he’ll sit in the open void and come back to the QB in the scramble drill. Great catching, as he was able to catch and hold onto the ball with 3 defenders attacking him. He’s physical and makes defenders miss with contact. Dial brings that same energy to the defensive side. Garrett has a natural ability to bend the edge and get around tackles. He’s got good acceleration coming out of his stance and uses his good strength to keep the offensive line on their toes. Good bull rush mixed with a low pad level to knock the OL off their feet. Phenomenal performance as his last game as a Valor Eagle.
Elijah Frakes-Belair Elijah Frakes-Belair 6’0″ | 205 lbs | LB Legend | 2024 State CO was killing it all night long. Legend has a ton of defensive playmakers, so sometimes EFB’s performance gets overshadowed. Frakes-Belair accounted for 12 total tackles (5 solo, 7 assisted) and 1 pass deflection. He’s consistently where the ball is. EFB will read the QB’s eyes and follow them to the ball carrier. Good downhill & side to side speed. He demonstrates good physical toughness. For example, he was able to get a stop while being blocked out in space. He’s also got good mental processing as he can identify the gap and bull rush multiple offensive linemen to create pressure. EFB is a stud on that defense, and I expect to see him continue balling out throughout the rest of the playoffs.
Highlights
Cash was Valor’s leading receiver and led the team with 140 total all purpose yards. Spence is a very versatile receiver and showcased that to full effect. Valor will occasionally use Spence as the wildcat QB. Cash excels in the role, and it consistently threw the Legend defense off. Spence is electric with the ball in his hands. He’s got good speed and acceleration. Spence has a good release against press coverage, using the shake technique to beat his man at the LOS, creating separation. He’s a natural catcher, whether in traffic or stationary. His physicality during the game stood out to me. He wasn’t afraid to create contact and put his shoulder down, which demonstrates good physical toughness. He’s a competitor, and doesn’t give up on plays. I’m very excited to see him add more tools to his belt during the off-season and watch him next year.
Highlights
Banks was used heavily during the beginning of the match. Felt like every other play during the 1st quarter, I was hearing his name. Banks accounted for 19 rushing yards paired with 57 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Right off the bat, Banks’ home run speed and very good change of direction are evident. He had a big 40 yard gain, and it looked like he was gliding across the field, juking out defenders. He’s physical as well, not afraid of contact or getting his hands dirty. He’s got good separation quickness, and uses his good athletic ability to get open.
Highlights
Weiner is already committed to Princeton, but that didn’t stop him from having a good last game for Valor. Weiner accounted for 14/26 184 yards with 38 rushing yards. It wasn’t the prettiest stat line, but he fought to keep the Eagles in the game. Quick snappy release mixed with good accuracy on all 3 levels makes him a formidable opponent for defenses. When Legend’s defense would create pressure, Weiner stayed poised in the pocket, delivering a rocket to the open receiver. He’s shown to have good mental processing by progressing through his reads. His competitive toughness was highlighted too. When he would run the ball, he wouldn’t give up and kept trying to gain extra yardage. I’m excited to see how he’ll do at Princeton.
I had to mention Jeff, he was making plays even though he wasn’t the main focal point of the offense. Baca’s only reception came on a crazy throw to the end zone. He ran back to the QB to catch it at the 1 yard line. He has very good body control to adjust and keep 2 feet in bound. Great position for his team to get a touchdown. He also had a big kick return to set up Legend in plus territory. I put his catch and return below.