5A’s Sack Artists Making an Early Impact

<p>As we move deeper into the 2024 season, standout performances continue to emerge across the state, and 5A is no exception. While offensive numbers often steal the spotlight, the impact of defensive playmakers shouldn't be overlooked. Sacks, in particular, can be game-changing, swinging the momentum and forcing teams into difficult situations. A single sack can turn a manageable 2nd & 4 into a daunting 3rd & 12, putting the offense on its heels. Let's dive into the sack leaders in 5A and explore how these defensive stars are reshaping games with their disruptive plays.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1573404' first='Cole' last='Mayse'] has an incredible motor coming off the edge for Cactus Shadows' defense. His relentless pursuit of the ball carrier starts from the moment the ball is snapped and doesn't stop until the whistle has blown. Possessing some really impressive upper body strength, Mayse can push bigger offensive linemen off of him at will to get a clearer path to make a play. He's currently leading 5A in sacks with just his first two games of stats being entered, getting three in each contest. That type of production coming from a player of his stature is someone that coaches should definitely be keeping an eye on. </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/CSFalconsFB/status/1833532695412191272 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Not only is [player_tooltip player_id='1353945' first='David' last='Baba'] strong and powerful as a defensive lineman from Ironwood Ridge, but he's also an incredibly intelligent player. His natural feel for the game often has him sniffing out screen passes and counters with ease. Once he's identified where the ball is going, he does a great job of taking proper angles, even in the trenches. Baba currently has five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and two hurries to go along with it. He's very effective against both the run and the pass, making him an every-down lineman. His versatility doesn't end there, Baba is also currently averaging 18 yards per reception as a tight end. </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/loriburkhart/status/1834837956923633765 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">At 5'11" 235 lbs, Adrian Martinez is a true force stopping the run. Able to effortlessly control two gaps at once, he does a great job of shedding blocks to get to the ball. When the quarterback drops back to pass, he tends to shed the block again — simply pushing linemen off to the side on his way to the quarterback — and does a great job of making sure once he gets a grip, he doesn't let go. Martinez doubles as the team's punter, currently averaging 42 yards a punt; an unexpected versatility for a defensive lineman. </p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Trenton Williams has four sacks so far for a daunting Buena defense, with three of them coming in one game. He does a nice job with his initial drive off the line of scrimmage, often forcing his opponent back on their heels as he gains depth in the backfield. Making sure to use his hands while fighting off blocks, he can disengage whenever he wants to and has the speed to attack the ball carrier with aggression. As the 3-0 Buena Colts look to keep things rolling, Willimas is going to be a major part of their defensive success.</p>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A few photos from our season opener win against Betty Fairfax, 68-19. Putting the work in this week to prepare for our next game. Grateful to be a member of this team! Go Colts! <a href="https://t.co/xEC6NzR2Ii">pic.twitter.com/xEC6NzR2Ii</a></p>— Trenton Williams (@TrentonW30) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrentonW30/status/1831322127716454565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2024</a></blockquote>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1145490' first='Boston' last='Tilton'] had an impressive junior year for the 5A state champion Higley Knights, notching triple-digit tackles and 14 sacks to go along with them. Picking up right where he left off, he's averaging an astounding 9.3 tackles per game through the first quarter or so of his senior season. Tilton has the speed to stick with slot receivers in coverage, a feel for the game that allows him to make impact plays on the opposite side of the field, and the strength to wreak havoc in the backfield. This combination is an incredibly valuable asset to any defense, and he's going to be a huge part of Higley's run to defend their state championship. </p>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great TEAM win!! 2-0! Ready for next week!<br>Here's my week 2 highlights vs SJHHS<br>10 tackles, 2 sacks!<a href="https://twitter.com/HIGLEYFOOTBALL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HIGLEYFOOTBALL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/COYjuniorB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@COYjuniorB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachAbono?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachAbono</a> <a href="https://t.co/LaywCFzpaj">https://t.co/LaywCFzpaj</a> <a href="https://t.co/v8DySoQ47C">pic.twitter.com/v8DySoQ47C</a></p>— [player_tooltip player_id='1145490' first='Boston' last='Tilton'] (@bostontil) <a href="https://twitter.com/bostontil/status/1833188848370913697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2024</a></blockquote>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Three-Way Tie for Sixth</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">All with 3.5 sacks</h3>   <p><strong>Demico Price </strong>/ 6'3" 200 lbs / <em>West Point</em></p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>With really nice speed and length coming off the edge for West Point's defense, Price has a multitude of ways to beat linemen on his way to the quarterback. Despite having a leaner frame, he's still able to crash down and be effective in stopping the run as well. </li> </ul>   <p><strong>Porter Keime</strong> / 6'0" 190 lbs / <em>ALA Gilbert North</em></p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Porter Keime has a great motor and nice footwork when trying to get in the backfield. Being on the smaller side, Keime uses his speed to his advantage and is often too quick for opposing linemen to stay in front of. </li> </ul>   <p><strong>Ruben White</strong> / 6'7" 225 lbs / <em>Maricopa</em></p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Ruben White is an imposing presence out there on the field for Maricopa's defense. With his height and length, he rarely ever loses sight of the ball. His long arms also make it incredibly difficult for offensive linemen to get engaged because he's able to keep them at arm's length — which for most people, is too far away. </li> </ul>

As we move deeper into the 2024 season, standout performances continue to emerge across the state, and 5A is no exception. While offensive numbers often steal the spotlight, the impact of defensive playmakers shouldn't be overlooked. Sacks, in particular, can be game-changing, swinging the momentum and forcing teams into difficult situations. A single sack can turn a manageable 2nd & 4 into a daunting 3rd & 12, putting the offense on its heels. Let's dive into the sack leaders in 5A and explore how these defensive stars are reshaping games with their disruptive plays.