Bowling Green-Frederick Douglass Offensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season has finally started and we have some real, full-pads high school football to watch and evaluate. I'm typically one of the scouts for the Prep Redzone North Carolina site, but I was able to get out to Western Kentucky Saturday for a great game between the Frederick Douglass Broncos and the Bowling Green Purples. Here's who stood out on the offense side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frederick Douglass-Bowling Green Standouts: Offense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Purples started on the front foot, taking a 7-0 lead before forcing a three-and-out, but eventually got worn down by a relentless Douglass rushing attack. But both teams had a few standouts. Here's what I saw from the offenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bowling Green Offense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340071' first='Deuce' last='Bailey']</strong> was impressive for the Purples, scoring on the first drive of the game with his legs and holding up well within the pocket. His ability to stay poised under pressure and throw from multiple arm angles was really impressive and it looks like Missouri State is getting a steal. He has the athleticism to run, but always kept his eyes downfield, which impressed me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176931' first='Jaxen' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212337' first='Trevy' last='Barber']</strong> lack elite size, but make up for that in explosiveness. The Purples used Barber on the edge and on designed screens and runs throughout the night and he made several people miss. It's easy to see why those guys are being heavily recruited. Smith runs with great pad level and contact balance, giving the Purples even the toughest yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though the Douglass defensive line was stout, I was impressed with right tackle <strong>Zachary Jordan</strong>. He, like several Bowling Green players, struggled with cramps in the second half, but he was a bully in the running game and I'm not sure I saw him give up a pressure all night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Likewise, center <strong>Christopher Nuckols</strong> isn't huge, but he did a lot of the dirty work with several pancakes and plays where he was able to work up to the second and third level of the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally for Bowling Green, tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='314345' first='Ethan' last='Kirkwood']</strong> flashed as a blocker and caught a huge wheel route down the sideline before a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176931' first='Jaxen' last='Smith'] </strong>touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Frederick Douglass Offense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Douglass started slow with a three-and-out, but after the defense forced the game's only turnover, the momentum shifted. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have to start with the running game as Douglass just wore down Bowling Green in the second half. In fact, the Broncos only threw one pass after halftime, a 6-yard touchdown on an RPO fade route.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The primary running back was sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1284247' first='Dakari' last='Talbert'], </strong>who was electric all night. His vision was impressive as ahe was able to squeeze through a few tiny holes for big gains. He also cut several runs back against the play for extra yards and rarely went down on first contact. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735729' first='Pharo' last='Watts'] </strong>thrived in short yardage for the Broncos, converting severl third-and-shorts and scoring Douglass' first touchdown from the 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, Talbert would have struggled without his offensive line, who really started to take over the game in the second half. Out of halftime, Nathan McPeek told his team, "Four yards a play" before the offense went on a five-minute scoring drive to start the second half, without ever putting the ball in the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My headliners on the offensive line were center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735997' first='Lovell' last='Martin'] </strong>and guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1584307' first='Jalen' last='Johnson']. </strong>Both of those guys were machines in the second half, delivering pancake after pancake and wearing down a great Bowling Green front seven. I was really impressed, and so was the coahcing staff, from what I heard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Bowling Green stacked the box to stop the run, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735682' first='Aveion' last='Chenault'] </strong>found room on the outside. He made a ridiculous falling catch in the end zone in the first half and then caught his only target in the second half for a touchdown on a jump ball. He was effective as a runner on jet sweeps as well and his size and speed were on full display.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735688' first='Derion' last='Talbert'] </strong>out with an injury, there was a vacancy in the slot and <strong>TJ Stewart </strong>stepped up admirably, with a few clutch catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401712' first='Jaxon' last='Strautman']</strong> struggled early, taking a bit longer to get up to game speed and go through his progressions, but he was accurate all night. In the third quarter, he had two big runs on quarterback counters that put the defense on its heels and effectively ended the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->