Western New York Rising Stars: Class B

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are student-athletes with at least 2 more years of High School left that are on the rise and looking to make an impact in their team's success in Class B of Section VI</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["473979"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In 2 years as Iroquois' Varsity Quarterback, Kleitz has shown exceptional accuracy and great efficiency completing 69.2% of his passes and throwing 36 TDs to just 9 INTs. Justus has very good mechanics and can stay in the pocket to deliver a strike to his receivers. He also has the ability to improvise when a play breaks down, scrambling away from defenders and completing unconventional type throws. 2023 was a down year for Kleitz, who as a Freshman in 2022, threw for 2,267 yards and 24 TDs while leading the Chiefs to an 11-1 record and a Section VI Championship, Iroquois' first since 2004. In his Junior season, [player_tooltip player_id='473979' first='Justus' last='Kleitz'] will look to have the success he had in his first season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":1128657,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Cole Gabel","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Springville-Griffith Institute","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A true u0022North-Southu0022 runner, Gabel shows extraordinary speed, mixed with power. He is always moving forward, even in the process of being tackled. In his first year on Varsity, the Griffins struggled in the win column but that didn't stop Cole from leading the team in rushing with 872 yards and 12 TDs in just 8 games. There were a few games where Gabel was in a timeshare role with other backs but when his number was called, he showed up big time, like in his record breaking 293 yard 7 touchdown performance Week 5 vs Maritime. Given the chance to be a full-time workhorse Running Back, there's no reason Cole Gabel can't achieve 1,500 yards and 15 TDs as a Junior.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":1128659,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1344712' first='Kurt' last='Stevens']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Lackawanna High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"In 2023, Lackawanna's running game was on fire, torching defenses for 2,172 yards and 33 TDs in just 9 games. Sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='1344712' first='Kurt' last='Stevens'] was a major part of that success with complete domination. Kurt blocks to the whistle every play and manhandles defensive lineman. When he is not down blocking, he is an amazing pulling guard and brings great physicality to the position. Every time he hits a defender, it is a collision. [player_tooltip player_id='1344712' first='Kurt' last='Stevens'] has that mean streak that you look for in an Offensive Lineman. 2023 ended in an upset loss in the first round of the playoffs but Lackawanna won the Section VI title in 2022 and they will look for another title run in 2024.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":1128668,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1367095' first='Xavier' last='Gates-Franklin']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Williamsville South High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"As an 8th Grader, Xavier played the 2023 season on Williamsville South's JV team before being called up to play in their postseason games. He is an overall fantastic athlete. From the Running back position, he is fast, sees and attacks the open holes. He has tremendous form as he is always holding the ball u0022high and tight.u0022 He is also a tremendous receiver out of the backfield and even threw some passses on some trick plays. As a defender, he is a phenomenal cover corner with great closing speed and can make a play on the ball. With 4 full years of high school left, it is still in the air if Running Back or Defensive Back will be his primary positions but where ever he plays, he will play at a high level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":1128674,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1743118' first='Parker' last='Klepfer']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Lakeshore High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another superior athlete on both sides of the ball, Klepfer found most of his success on defense. He started the season with Lakeshore's JV team but went to Varsity in week 3 of the season and made an immediate impact at Middle Linebacker. Named team defensive MVP, Parker always seemed to find his way to the ball, racking up 37 tackles (4 for loss), 3 sacks, 1 INT and 4 Pass Defensed. Klepfer has great hand technique when shedding blockers and he is always looking at the ball carrier. There were times the play was going away from him but his shear determination got him to the runner and he was still able to make the play. With two more years of High School football to go, this young man is only going to get better.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":1128679,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1345221' first='Rey' last='Cruz']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Lakeshore High School","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"A first time Varsity player, [player_tooltip player_id='1345221' first='Rey' last='Cruz'] is still pretty raw but at 6'3 275 lbs, he has the potential to be a dominating force on the Offensive Line. Cruz has quick feet and moves very well at that size and pulls a lot. A coachable athlete that is always looking to improve his skills, Rey is only 1 of 2 Sophomores that played Varsity for the Eagles in 2023. The experience and the growing pains he received this past season will make him a better O-Line prospect for the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658d981c2f07e"} /-->