Week 4 Standouts: Defense

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Highlighting some of the top defensive performances in week 4 of the 2024 season.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='992767' first='Apaiata' last='Tengei'], 2026, Westwood – </strong>Tengei was all over the field shutting down the Shadow Ridge offense. Filled the stat sheet with 12 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 TFL, a fumble recovery, and a safety. Ranked the #36 overall prospect in the 2026 class and the #6 LB. He's a D1 prospect that is overdue for that initial college offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='739441' first='Zeth' last='Thues'], 2026, Liberty – </strong>Playing top California program Centennial (Corona) Thues gave Liberty a chance in the third quarter with a pick six to bring the deficit to four before Centennial pulled away late. Recorded three total turnovers on the night recovering two fumbles in addition to his interception. He's the top ranked DB prospect in the PRZ 2026 rankings and the #7 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10 Offers: Arizona State, Boston College, Kansas, Kansas State, Nevada, UNLV, Washington State, Wisconsin, San Diego State, Northern Arizona</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/stephaunpeters/status/1837991117381591468","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/stephaunpeters/status/1837991117381591468 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='704785' first='JJ' last='Francis'], DB, Notre Dame – </strong>Came up with three inceptions in the 59-14 win over Sunnyslope, tying the school record at Notre Dame. Returned one for a pick six then added two PBUs. Francis &nbsp;is the #36 ranked DB in the 2025 PRZ rankings with an offer from Southwest Minnesota State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JJFrancis2221/status/1837575681305465060","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JJFrancis2221/status/1837575681305465060 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1353776' first='Elijah' last='Banquil'], 2025, Desert Mountain – </strong>Banquil was a ball hawk in the 44-0 win over Cactus. Finished with 10 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and two PBUs. Added to the PRZ 2025 rankings prior to the season holding the #27 DB spot in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/banquil_elijah/status/1837995416874627174","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/banquil_elijah/status/1837995416874627174 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='704788' first='Joshua' last='Hopphaus'], 2025, Desert Edge – </strong>Hopphaus continues his strong start to the season racking 15 total tackles, nine solo with 2 sacks and two TFL in the 14-39 loss to Higley. He's ranked in the top 20 of 2025 LB's in the state and also a highly ranked long snapper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB Kooper Woolf, 2025, Higley – </strong>Woolf totaled 10 tackles with two TFL, one PBU, and a scoop and score touchdown in the 39-14 win over Desert Edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE [player_tooltip player_id='1177564' first='Jackson' last='McCarthy'], 2026, Canyon View – </strong>McCarthy had his best game of the season thus far finishing with 10 total tackles, seven solo adding three TFL and three sacks in the 0-22 loss to Queen Creek. He's the #7 ranked LB in the 2026 class and the #40 overall prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/J_McCarthyAZ/status/1838036227620266119","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/J_McCarthyAZ/status/1838036227620266119 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE [player_tooltip player_id='1369434' first='Caleb' last='Larson'], 2026, Mountain View – </strong>Larson disrupted the Valley Vista offense with seven total tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 3.5 sacks in the 65-26 win. He's ranked inside the top 20 defensive linemen in the 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->