Second-Half Surge: Deer Valley Fights Back to Defeat Greenway

Greenway faced off against Deer Valley on Thursday night and the matchup turned out to be a tale of two halves. After a strong first-quarter showing from both defenses, each team went into the second with zeros on the scoreboard. That's when Greenway's offense woke up in a big way and ended up leading 19-7 at the half. The second half saw a pick-six from both of these teams, but Deer Valley's offensive surge got them the lead in the fourth quarter and their defense made sure they never gave it back. Finishing with a final score of 28-25, let's take a closer look at some of the standout performers from the game!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Deer Valley</h2>    CJ Williams left his mark on this game from both sides of the ball for Deer Valley on Thursday night. As a defensive back, he may be on the smaller side, but he makes up for it with quick feet that he tends to get in the right position. His footwork is clearly something he's spent time working on, and it shows. Williams is a danger with the ball in his hands; like when he intercepted a pass 102 yards away from his endzone and kicked into another gear, flying all the way down for the score. On offense, those quick feet are on full display, giving him separation when he needs it. He was able to take a short pass and scurry his way into the endzone for his second score of the game. Getting him the ball in space is a great way for their offense to get the spark it needs to start rolling.     Deer Valley's other two touchdowns both came from Marcus Johnson. The stalky running back has a well-built frame but still possesses some surprising quickness. Strong enough to break through tackles and fast enough to win footraces to the goal line, Johnson is a versatile back and was used as suck on Thursday. Scoring both on the ground and through the air, his lone reception on the day was taken 26 yards to the house.     Robert Dunivan had a nice game patrolling the secondary for Deer Valley's defense. Playing with nice instincts in coverage, he did a nice job taking away the middle of the field for most of the game. What was most impressive about Dunivan's performance was how physical a player he is, especially as a defensive back. He was a real presence in the run game, always willing to come down and help, and laid a massive hit on the goal line to prevent a touchdown that could be heard through the broadcast. Dunivan's athleticism really jumps off the tape and will likely be an impact player for this Deer Valley defense all day long.     Adan Sanchez was another one of the host of players who had an impact on both sides of the ball for Deer Valley on Thursday. As a wide receiver, he showed really nice body control and awareness when making catches along the sideline. His secure hands make him a reliable option for his quarterback, especially when he's in trouble. On the defensive end, Sanchez is willing to throw his body around and be physical in order to set the tone for their defense. Using his speed well both in pursuit and in coverage, Sanchez is a player to keep an eye on as he works through his junior year.     Tyler Lebaron had a nice day despite not having out-of-this-world numbers. Completing 57% of his passes on the night, he showed a nice command of the quick game. A quarterback willing to slice and dice his way down the field, he showed some good arm strength to zip the ball through tight windows. Lebaron did a nice job of extending plays with his legs throughout the game and played better as the game went on. If he can continue to perform well when it matters most, this Deer Valley offense is going to be tough to stop.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Greenway</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1145514' first='Christian' last='Shetler'] did everything he could to will his team to victory on Thursday night. Using his top-end speed to win deep on the outside as a receiver, he scored the team's first two touchdowns — both in the second quarter. his ability to track the ball is top-tier and he made multiple eye-popping catches where he had to track the ball coming directly over his helmet and into his arms. Shetler's athleticism shined bright defensively too where he trusted his instincts and used his speed to jump a quick-hitting pass and take it to the endzone for his third touchdown of the game. Shetler is a player who could garner lots of attention through his senior season.     Despite not finding his way into the endzone, Carlos Toscano had a huge day on the ground. Running behind a Greenway offensive line that really found its footing as they got into the second quarter, he had no problem making defenders miss. Being a real workhorse, he was handed the rock a whopping 26 times and finished with 174 yards, averaging 6.7 yards a carry. His vision was something that really stood out, seemingly always choosing the right lane. Toscano is primed for a big senior year and has the offensive line to help make that happen.     Matthew Theall has a really well-built frame playing as the strong side backer for Greenway's defense. Even with the size and strength he possesses, he still has the speed to be able to make plays all over the field and hang in coverage. He got beat once on a route down the field, but showed great makeup speed and forced a very tough catch on the sideline — which, unfortunately for him, the receiver was able to do and come down with the ball. Credited with 17 tackles and two sacks on Thursday's game alone, it's clear that Theall is the heartbeat of Greenway's defense.     At 6'4" 260 lbs, David Alley is an imposing presence on Greenway's offensive line. Often found moving bodies around at will, that size comes with some serious strength. His leg drive in the run game often had him working the opposing defensive linemen into the second level. His length gives him an incredible advantage when pass-blocking and makes it incredibly hard for blitzers to get by. Alley is a prospect who has all the tools to succeed at the next level.     Another intimidating figure up front for Greenway is 6'3" 260 lb guard Matthew Eppard. He does an incredible job using active hands to constantly fight to get engaged with defenders. In the run game, he seems to be effortlessly driving players back. For a player of his size, he's surprisingly quick out of his stance and does a nice job of reaching the faster defenders in the second level.     Now at 6'3" and closer to 360 himself, having [player_tooltip player_id='1145538' first='Hunter' last='Dowdy'] on the same offensive line as Alley and Eppard all but ensures that Greenway goes into each game with a size advantage up front. Another prospect who can move opponents against their will, Dowdy did a nice job opening up lanes for their running backs. In pass protection, his quick feet allowed him to stay in front of speedy pass rushers and keep his quarterback off the turf. This offensive line is one of the top groups in all of 4A.

Greenway faced off against Deer Valley on Thursday night and the matchup turned out to be a tale of two halves. After a strong first-quarter showing from both defenses, each team went into the second with zeros on the scoreboard. That's when Greenway's offense woke up in a big way and ended up leading 19-7 at the half. The second half saw a pick-six from both of these teams, but Deer Valley's offensive surge got them the lead in the fourth quarter and their defense made sure they never gave it back. Finishing with a final score of 28-25, let's take a closer look at some of the standout performers from the game!