Around the Dakotas: Nate’s Friday Night Standouts, Pt. 2

DAKOTAS-- We continue our Friday night standouts in Part 2 with more of the top performances from the games we got to watch and some of the biggest stat stuffers North Dakota had to offer last night including our Stat Stuffer of the Week who put up some video game numbers in Week 1-2.   [player_tooltip player_id='798257' first='Damaris' last='Fields'], DB, Sioux Falls Jefferson, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/_Damaris_Fields">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Damaris-crop-820x538-1725121033.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1413825" style="width:314px;height:auto" /></figure>   If I had to vote for my defensive MVP from around the Dakotas last night, my vote would easily go to Sioux Falls Jefferson' 2025 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='798257' first='Damaris' last='Fields']. I loved seeing how physical Damaris was with his pass coverage. He also showed off an outstanding ball tracking ability and man, watching Damaris use his vertical to grab his second interception was something I would re-watch multiple times. The chip on his shoulder that Damaris plays with will be seen further from our lense at Prep Redzone Dakotas as a late-bloomer in the 2025 class you go outside the measurables for at cornerback, as his 5'7 160 pound frame doesn't even come close to how big he plays with his athleticism. Logged two interceptions in a very impressive Week 1.   Blake Anderson, RB, Minot, ND 2026   A new 2026 name that popped out onto my radar last night was Minot tailback Blake Anderson who had a couple of impressive reps in the game I watched against West Fargo Sheyenne. Blake was a effective getting downhill quickly with his long burst and finish. I was intrigued with how effective he was within his straight line speed in tighter areas of the inside box as Blake is a prospect that I hope to see some tape come in the coming weeks to be a possible addition to the 2026 class in North Dakota.   [player_tooltip player_id='1380146' first='Ethan' last='Swenson'], QB, Sioux Falls Jefferson, SD 2025 <a href="https://x.com/ethanswenson06">Twitter</a>   I came away highly impressed with multiple skillsets that Sioux Falls Jefferson quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1380146' first='Ethan' last='Swenson'] brought to the table in their big win over Watertown. What stood out right away in watching Ethan from last season is he seems to have more poise within the pocket and has grown with having a quicker and more fluid release point with his throws which was espcially was shown on his intermediate routes yesterday. I also felt with Ethan that the ball fits he was making with his quick release got his wide receivers to penetrate faster up the field than the 2023 season. The second team All-State quarterback is one that I will be watching with a closer eye this season.   Amari Taylor, WR, Fargo South, SD 2026 <a href="https://x.com/not_amari1">Twitter</a>   Amari is a 6'5 wide receiver for the Bruins that was certainly a new name to watch on the gridiron and he didn't just show off just size either. He showed off an excellent catch radius and watching his length of strides getting into the open field with his sudden burst was fun to watch when I rolled back his tape from last night this morning. He showed off great hands and quick processing with his football IQ. I am starting to feel that every year in Fargo I seem to quickly find a sizable pass-catching at 6'5 that is flying under the radar and that looks to be the case in Amari Taylor as I cannot wait to get more tape this season on this kid.   [player_tooltip player_id='1212282' first='Edward' last='Whiting'], TE, Sioux Falls Jefferson, SD 2026 <a href="https://x.com/EdwardWhiting9">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_8690-crop-4148x2724-1723755828-crop-640x421-1725120874.jpg?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-1413823" style="width:312px;height:auto" /></figure>   The offense for the Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers was rolling with tons of speed overall last night against Watertown and that was certainly the case for 6'6 230 pound tight end Eddie Whiting. No doubt the Dakotas top tight end in the 2026 class, however I was highly impressed with the suddenness of Eddie's burst as a pass-catcher once he reached the open field as you do not see too many tight ends at that size that can move like that anywhere in the Midwest even. No doubt Eddie has already impressed me with his open field vision, but man you can certainly tell he has developed his speed even further during the off-season as a prospect that I expect to be a Power Four target to know.   [player_tooltip player_id='1226689' first='Henry' last='Agray'], RB, Fargo South, ND 2025 <a href="https://x.com/HenryAgray37223">Twitter</a>   Another running back that showed off some well-versed reps yesterday while I was streaming game throughout the Dakotas was Fargo South 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1226689' first='Henry' last='Agray']. Henry showed off great fluidity with his legs as I felt when he got the ball in his hands he ran with an authoritative presence and was a constant fighter inside for getting those extra couple yards in the reps I got to watch. On one particular rep I watched, he worked thru some very tight areas within the inside box and then used his power to escape for an additional 5-6 yards which showed off how sneaky he can be with the power he has in his lower body.   More Standouts from Friday Night:   Meet the stat stuffers from last night in North Dakota.   [player_tooltip player_id='356839' first='Kalen' last='Lucas'], WR, Bismarck Legacy, ND 2025 <a href="https://x.com/KalenLucas2">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/52-Kalen-Lucas-crop-3611x2371-1711599901.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1225985" style="width:280px;height:auto" /></figure>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>5 catches 150 yards, and one 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.</li> </ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='825394' first='Tee' last='Sylling'] QB/ATH, Maple River, ND 2025 <a href="https://x.com/SyllingTee">Twitter</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Tee-Sylling-crop-331x218-1699933420.jpg?w=330" alt="" class="wp-image-1086848" style="width:290px;height:auto" /></figure>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>464 total yards (389 rushing, 75 passing) NINE total touchdowns (8 rush, 1 pass). No doubt that Tee is our Stat Stuffer of the Week in the Dakotas.</li> </ul>   Zane Bjerklie, QB, Des Lacs-Burlington, ND 2027 <a href="https://x.com/zbjerklie09?s=21">Twitter</a>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>250+ total yards(over 200 yards passing, 50 rushing), three touchdowns in his sophomore quarterback debut for Des Lacs-Burlington. One to get to know in the 2027 class for sure out of DLB.</li> </ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='1285223' first='Anthony' last='Alexander'], LB/DB, Minot 2027 <a href="https://x.com/AnthonyAlexJr_">Twitter</a>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Four tackles (one tackle for a loss), one sack and one forced fumble in his sophomore debut for Minot last night against West Fargo Sheyenne. After watching Anthony this summer, my gut feeling is proving to be true after game one in 11AAA that this young man is going to be a defensive playmaker for the Magicians.</li> </ul>

DAKOTAS-- We continue our Friday night standouts in Part 2 with more of the top performances from the games we got to watch and some of the biggest stat stuffers North Dakota had to offer last night including our Stat Stuffer of the Week who put up some video game numbers in Week 1-2.