4A’s Sack Artists Making an Early Impact

As the 2024 high school football season heats up, one statistic that always commands attention is sacks. In the trenches, where games are often won or lost, defensive players who can disrupt the quarterback are worth their weight in gold. The 4A division has no shortage of such game-changers, as this year's sack leaders are showing just how important it is to get pressure on opposing offenses. Let's dive into the 4A sack leaders who have been terrorizing backfields and altering the outcome of games with their relentless pursuit.    [player_tooltip player_id='954376' first='Athiaun' last='Arol'] being at the top of this list comes as no surprise to me. At 6'4" and a very lean 230 lbs, he's a ball of athleticism sent to terrorize opposing offensive lines. If you put a bigger lineman in front of him, he'll use his speed to go around. If you put a faster lineman in front of him, he'll use his strength to move them against their will. Arol does a great job of working down the line of scrimmage to effect the run without leaving his side unattended. The Vista Grande edge rusher already has a game with four sacks and another with two, truly highlighting his ability to take over a game. A player whose recruitment picked up a bit through the summer, it could take a huge jump if he can continue to produce at this high of a level.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/athiaunarol/status/1813619518817927517 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1145501' first='Evan' last='Greer'] is a very technically sound pass rusher coming off the edge for defending 4A state champs Canyon Del Oro. With a strong base, he gets a nice drive and initial depth into the backfield. Using leverage to his advantage, Greer often gets the edge on opposing linemen and then will use some impressive footwork to position himself where he can't be re-engaged. He plays with a high motor and often focuses on attacking the ball while still making sure to secure the tackle. Greer is going to be a major piece of Canyon Del Oro's attempt to defend their title.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://t.co/JTnRxwzYTt">pic.twitter.com/JTnRxwzYTt</a>— BrewZona (@brew_zona) <a href="https://twitter.com/brew_zona/status/1806165954570948784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2024</a></blockquote>     Andy Rodriguez is quickly making a name for himself in just his sophomore year. Coming off the edge for Gila Ridge, Rodriguez had a coming-out party against Flagstaff in a tight 27-21 loss; finishing the contest with nine tackles, four sacks, and three more quarterback pressures. Even though he's coming from the line of scrimmage more times than not, Rodriguez's ability to play it like a linebacker once he beats his man allows him to be a force in the run game. He has the speed needed to make sure quarterbacks can't sneak away and is a hard hitter when he has his feet firmly in the ground.     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five-Way Tie for Fourth</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">All tied with 4.0 sacks</h3>   Ethan Suda / 6'3" 195 lbs / Flagstaff   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>While Andy Rodriguez was making life hard for the Flagstaff offense in their matchup, Ethan Suda was doing the same to the Gila Ridge offense whenever they had the ball. Coming up with two sacks and another five quarterback pressures of his own, the two teams made for a great matchup of pass rushers. The lean and lengthy Flagstaff pass rusher makes getting in the backfield look easy, already landing him multiple two-sack games. </li> </ul>   Steven Yovish / 6'0" 210 lbs / Carl Hayden   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Standing at a very stout 6'0" 210 lbs, Yovish rarely — if ever — finds himself in matchups where he can be out-muscled. A clear bright spot for this Carl Hayden defense, Yovish is a player who could see his recruitment pick up quite a bit here. He's got the power as a pass rusher and feel for the game as a run-stopper that can be incredibly valuable at the next level. </li> </ul>   Angel Garcia / 5'11" 185 lbs / Rio Rico   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Garcia has some scary speed for a pass rusher. Nearly impossible for offensive linemen to stay in front of, he can sidestep and be behind them before they even start to turn and see what's happened. A versatile player who has the athleticism to do more than just pass-rush, he's willing to do whatever is needed to try and help his team win. </li> </ul>   Damian Quinonez / 5'10" 155 lbs / Copper Canyon   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>At just 5'10" 155 lbs, Quinonez is often at a size disadvantage when asked to rush the passer, but that doesn't slow him down at all. Using his speed to his advantage, he finds just a sliver of a lane and is able to be slippery and break through into the backfield, where he can do some real damage. Getting three sacks and another pressure in a 41-0 victory over Cholla, he showed just how much of an impact he can make on a game by himself. </li> </ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='1145495' first='Carson' last='Minnaar'] / 6'1" 225 / Eastmark   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Fresh off a junior season with 15 sacks, 21 quarterback pressures, and a whopping 33 tackles for loss, Minnaar is back to living in the opponent's backfield in his final high school season. His relentless pursuit of the ball carrier and impressive speed for a stalkier player allows him to disrupt run plays going away from him and make it impossible for quarterbacks to escape. Recently receiving an offer to Black Hills State University, Minnaar is a player coaches should be putting on their big boards. UPDATE: Minnaar is currently leading 4A in sacks with an astonishing eight sacks and an additional eight pressures. (The team is currently experiencing a MaxPreps technical issue.)</li> </ul>

As the 2024 high school football season heats up, one statistic that always commands attention is sacks. In the trenches, where games are often won or lost, defensive players who can disrupt the quarterback are worth their weight in gold. The 4A division has no shortage of such game-changers, as this year's sack leaders are showing just how important it is to get pressure on opposing offenses. Let's dive into the 4A sack leaders who have been terrorizing backfields and altering the outcome of games with their relentless pursuit.