Game Notes: Arbor View vs. Lincoln (CA)

<p><em>Breaking down some of the standouts and observations from Saturday's thrilling season-opener. Arbor View got off to a hot start taking a 38-14 lead into halftime before Lincoln staged a comeback and took the lead with less than three minutes to go. Sophomore QB [player_tooltip player_id='803284' first='Thaddeus' last='Thatcher'] led an impressive scoring drive completing 4 of 5 passes for 69 yards on eight plays and capped it off with the game-winning sneak into the endzone with 26 seconds left. </em></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Performers</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='803284' first='Thaddeus' last='Thatcher'] - 538 passing yards, 4 TDs, 1 rush TD</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809013' first='Zac' last='Fares'] - 8 catches, 176 yards, TD</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402175' first='Jayden' last='Williams'] - 10 catches, 200 yards, 2 TDs</p>   <p><strong>Shawn</strong> <strong>Mackey</strong> (WR / 2027 / Arbor View) - 4 catches, 60 yards, TD</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes</h2>   <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='803284' first='Thaddeus' last='Thatcher'] was extremely impressive in his operation of the offense, especially considering two of their top playmakers were sidelined ([player_tooltip player_id='940576' first='Kamareion' last='Bell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809092' first='Damani' last='Warren']). Thatcher- who threw for a state record 538 passing yards- showed great pocket awareness/composure against the fast and physical defensive front-seven of Lincoln. I came away most impressed by the young QB's ability to feel and evade pressure, keep his eyes downfield, and make off-schedule throws from outside the pocket. He was quick and efficient getting the ball out on screens and quick-hitters and did a good job of leading his playmakers into space. He needs to continue to clean up the turnovers (2 INTs) that helped Lincoln get back into the game, but in his defense the two plays made on the interceptions were more on the side of impressive defensive plays rather than miscues. Thatcher's development is extremely promising and is on track to be one of the top-producing passers in the state this season. With Warren sidelined, Thatcher leaned heavily on proven playmaking from last season's leading receiver- [player_tooltip player_id='402175' first='Jayden' last='Williams']. Williams was highly effective attacking every area of the field, finding soft spots in the shallow areas, and slickly creating separation at the intermediate-deep levels. He was a slippery ball-handler after the catch navigating through traffic in the screen game and consistently presented challenges for one of the most talented secondaries in San Diego. Another receiving threat I was watching closely was up-and-coming TE [player_tooltip player_id='809013' first='Zac' last='Fares'], who proved why coaches are so high on the upside the 2027 prospect offers. Fares caught 8 passes for over 150 yards and a TD in his varsity debut. He was most impressive making tough catches on crossing routes over the middle showing strong, reliable hands and ability to fight through tight coverage. He made a highlight play extending outside his frame to haul in a 20-yard TD up the seam. Fares- who holds offers from Michigan and Washington- is as advertised and should continue to raise his stock over the course of the season. Another 2027 standout was WR <strong>Shawn</strong> <strong>Mackey</strong>, who opened the scoring with an impressive 30-yard TD catch where he showed great concentration downfield.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ThaddeusThatch1/status/1828181650670510353 </div></figure>   <p>Defensively, the Aggies were without junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='1110879' first='Braylen' last='Gardner'], but Utah-commit [player_tooltip player_id='811010' first='Christian' last='Thatcher'] further proved why he's one of the top LBs in the country with his physical style of play and impressive range as a tackler. Seeing him in person, it's clear he commands the type of leadership coaches look for at the ILB position. He plays with great intensity, is constantly around the ball, and possesses all the physical tools to develop into a future P-4 starter. Arbor View's CBs struggled to contain Lincoln's standout WR Ty Olsen, but one player that stood out in the secondary was senior FS [player_tooltip player_id='1325742' first='Damien' last='Dixon']. Dixon's a DB I've been high on throughout the offseason and on Saturday showed the range and physicality I saw in his junior tape. He passes the eye test in terms of length and build (6'2"/190) and is a pesky deep-zone defender. Dixon's a severely underrated 2025 prospect that I expect to raise his stock and generate late interest as the season rolls on. Another 2025 prospect I watched closely was newcomer TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='1323311' first='Brian' last='Townsend'], who got his first taste of varsity football on Saturday. Townsend's most impressive plays came on special teams where he showed his speed, athleticism, and ability to track down the ball with some physical tackles on kickoff.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ChristianThatc/status/1827927181785465115 </div></figure>

Breaking down some of the standouts and observations from Saturday's thrilling season-opener. Arbor View got off to a hot start taking a 38-14 lead into halftime before Lincoln staged a comeback and took the lead with less than three minutes to go. Sophomore QB Thaddeus Thatcher Thaddeus Thatcher 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Arbor View | 2027 State NV led an impressive scoring drive completing 4 of 5 passes for 69 yards on eight plays and capped it off with the game-winning sneak into the endzone with 26 seconds left.