Playoff Recap Round 1: Grandview vs. Douglas County
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Round 1 of the playoffs pitted the Grandview Wolves against the Douglas County Huskies. The Wolves started off hot, with all 28 of their points scored in the 1st half. However, the Huskies fought back in the 2nd half out…
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Continue ReadingRound 1 of the playoffs pitted the Grandview Wolves against the Douglas County Huskies. The Wolves started off hot, with all 28 of their points scored in the 1st half. However, the Huskies fought back in the 2nd half out scoring the Wolves 21-0. The Grandview Wolves ended up victorious with the final score being 28-21 to advance to Round 2. There was a plethora of great players in this game, and here were a handful that stood out to me.
Szarka had a phenomenal game against the Huskies. Leading the Wolves to victory, he went 18/29 for 342 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He rushed for 16 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. He’s got a big arm, and will punish defenses with his feet. Szarka has a quick snappy release. Demonstrates good accuracy at all three levels, plus on the run. One thing that stood out to me, was his poise in the pocket to find the man downfield. He has good speed to get out of the pocket and create plays, and is not afraid to get physical with the defenders, often times shedding the tackle.
Highlights
Xay Neto
Xay Neto
Xay Neto was un-guardable throughout the night. He racked up 257 yards on 9 receptions for 2 touchdowns. At first glance, Neto looks like the real deal. Neto displayed all the qualities you want to see in a wide receiver. He took it another step further in the 1st playoff game. Neto has very good athletic ability. Demonstrates very good change of direction. He’s slippery and runs through the defense like a hot knife in butter. He’s a crisp route runner, and will sit in the open voids in zone. He’s a natural catcher and plucks it out of the air. After the catch, he demonstrates home run speed, running past the defenders making it look easy. Run blocking isn’t always a positive when it comes to wide receivers, however Neto excels. He uses a low pad level to out leverage the defensive back and create running lanes. Stellar performance.
Absher had a monster game against Grandview. Absher was a constant thorn in their side. Accounting for 17 total tackles (10 solo, 7 assisted), 1 TFL and 1 fumble recovery. Whether he was lined up at edge or off ball linebacker, he was making plays. First thing you see on the tape is his high motor and competitive toughness. He was everywhere, and wouldn’t give up on plays. High tenacity as well. He demonstrates good burst of quickness at the line of scrimmage. Mixed with a low pad level, he’ll beat the offensive line and make a play. Absher is like a rocket being propelled into space. He has very good downhill and side to side speed. He has good vision, and reads the QB’s eye to know where to go. He runs through gaps to plug runs and will wrap defenders like a bear hug. He was also showcasing his punt return skills. Great performance to end the season, and I’m excited to see what he can do next season.
Highlights
Kahre had a great game against the Huskies. He accounted for 9 total tackles (4 solo and 5 assisted) and 1 pass deflection. Kahre is a physical corner and his high motor is on display throughout each play. He’s a hard hitting safety, and doesn’t shy away from contact. He engages in it first. He has very good speed like a heat seeking missile. Kahre can be on one side of the field, and get to the opposite in seconds. A WR was 5 yards ahead up of him, and he was able to catch up to him with ease. Kahre showcases good mental processing. He’s always watching the QB’s eyes and figuring out where he’s throwing.
Rogelstad was a major cog in the Huskies’ defensive machine. He accounted for 10 total tackles (7 solo and 3 assisted) with 1 TFL. Rogelstad was all over the field creating plays. Good competitive toughness as he demonstrates a high motor, and will play after the whistle. Good mental processing, as he is able to identify the gaps and rush them with ease. Rogelstad has very good downhill speed. He trusts his instincts and goes where the ball is at. He’s a physical linebacker, and loves to create contact.
Highlights
Marcus Nesbitt
Marcus Nesbitt
Powerful defensive tackle who also plays off the edge. Nesbitt was killing it all night long. He accounted for 3 tackles (1 solo, 2 assisted) and 3 TFL. Whether affecting the run game or the pass, his presence was felt throughout the night for the Huskies. His strength is evident. He was bullying offensive linemen and creating pressure. He would identity the gap, and rush through the offensive line with ease. Nesbitt demonstrates a strong power move off the edge and bends around it. Good low pad level to out leverage the offensive line. He’s a very versatile defender who should create some more buzz in the upcoming weeks.