Brian’s Best – Stewartville vs. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
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After a tightly played first half, a big second half propelled the Stewartville Tigers over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in a Class AAA semi-final. Which individual Tigers and the Rebels stood out during Stewartville’s 28-7 victory? Ayden Helder Ayden Helder 6'2" | 195…
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Continue ReadingAfter a tightly played first half, a big second half propelled the Stewartville Tigers over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in a Class AAA semi-final. Which individual Tigers and the Rebels stood out during Stewartville’s 28-7 victory?
Most of the offense ran through the arm of Helder. He showed his arm strength early with a strong throw to the outside. He was clutch on a fourth and five completion. He has a quick release – highlighted on a short throw to the outside. Then, he showed he doesn’t just hurt defenses with his arm. Helder ran the ball for a first down. His arm was highlighted again when he hit a deep post to pick up a first down on third and long. After another quick throw to the sidelines for a first down, the senior didn’t see an open receiver, so he tucked the ball away and ran for twelve yards and a first down. After an eight-yard touchdown pass, Helder was perfect on a pair of deep crossing routes. His best throw might have been late in the game – a throw down the boundary for a touchdown.
Stewartville OL
Ridge Hatz Ridge Hatz 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Stewartville | 2025 State MN JR, Lincoln Dube JR, Antony Nelson SR, Jamisen Hart SR, Caleb Jannsen Caleb Jannsen 6'4" | 220 lbs | LB Stewartville | 2024 State MN SR
Early in the game and most of the second half, this group gave quarterback Ayden Helder Ayden Helder 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Stewartville | 2024 State MN a lot of time to find his receivers. Although most of the group’s damage was done through the air, the Tigers also found success – especially in the second half – specifically running to the right side behind Hatz, Dube, and Nelson. On the left side, Hart came across the formation to pick up an excellent kick-out trap block. Jannsen’s great block on the outside sprung the running back for a first down. Defensively, Dube got off a blocker and made a tackle for no gain on third and short. Also, playing both ways, Jannsen made a tackle on the inside for a short gain and, later, even dropped into coverage to knock down a pass. Hatz played the run well – stuffing an inside run for a loss of two yards.
Especially in the first half, Johnson was on target with the short passing game. He showed his athletic ability when he faked like he was going to bootleg, turned back, and threw across the field to set up a third and short. The junior used his power on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. Later, he showed a nice arm and accuracy with tight coverage down the sidelines for 46 yards. A two-way player, early in the game, he made a big hit coming up from the secondary and later had tight coverage on the outside.
Mikhail Heydt
Mikhail Heydt
Heydt kept contain and made a tackle on the outside. Then, he held the edge again, making the runner bounce outside where his teammate could make the tackle. Early in the second half, the sophomore made the game’s biggest play. He read a throwback pass the Rebels had success with in the first half, reached up, and snagged the pass for a pick-six.
The Rebels’ offense struggled most of the game against the Tigers’ defense, but Macziewski showed his skill specifically on two impactful runs. He showed his rugged running style on an inside run in which he broke three tackles. Then, he kept a drive going with an eight-yard run between the tackles on fourth and short.
Wangen caught two touchdowns – the second catch highlighted his speed covering fifty yards down the sidelines. Earlier in the game, the junior caught a pass across the middle and bounced off a tackler to pick up another five yards. Late, he picked up a first down, showing his quickness with an end-a-round for a first down.
Carter Miller
Carter Miller
Miller started his game with a good punt return to give his team great field position. He showed good feet with a nice cut to work off a block. Then, he showed good patience, setting up his blockers on a run around the right side. Miller showed good vision and footwork when he cut back to get to the middle of the field. He helped seal the team’s spot in the Prep Bowl when his running kept the chains moving by making another cut off the right side of the line and then bouncing a run to the outside for five yards when he should have been stopped at the line of scrimmage.
Turner was a huge part of the passing and running games. Early, he made a catch on the outside for a first down. Then, the senior caught a deep post for a first down. After making a catch to convert on a two-point conversion, he started to show his blocking skill. His block on the outside sprung a run around the corner, and then a good seal block allowed the back to get the corner.
Tschetter supported the run effectively. He strung out a run to the outside to allow his teammates to make the tackle for a short gain. He took care of business on his own with a tackle for loss on fourth and short. On the offensive side of the ball, he made a catch on the sidelines for a first down, but his most impressive catch was a deep cross in which he was hit immediately after he caught the pass.
Justice Deno
Justice Deno
Deno made a pair of excellent tackles, basically back-to-back. Then, on fourth and short, he held outside leverage and fought off a block. He made the initial hit, forcing the runner backward so his teammates could clean it up.
Larson played the pass well throughout the game but stood out on this day by defending the run. He came up in run support and showcased his open-field tackling ability. He made at least three tackles tackle on the outside for short losses. The most impactful stopped a run short of the sticks on fourth and short.