Class 3A Top DB Performances of Week 5

Continuing our recap of the top performances from Class 3A this week, we now shift our attention to the playmaking defensive-backs that propelled their secondary and made it difficult for the talented QBs in this group to make plays through them. Today, we take a look at the top 6 DB performances from Class 3A in week 5!    [player_tooltip player_id='1841752' first='Jase' last='Jaspers'] was one of the best all-purpose players from week 5 in Class 3A, not just being the top receiver and punt returner for Mount Vernon, but also proving very dangerous in the secondary. Jaspers recorded 3.5 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and one pick-six in the shutout win over Mount Pleasant. Jaspers was all over the field, with his speed and dynamic athleticism flashing in all three components of the game. His speed translated well on the defense, making the QB pay for leaving hang-time on his passes, and once he has his hands on the ball, there's no stopping him. Jaspers should be rising very quickly onto the rankings heading toward the end of his junior season.     One potential standout to look out for moving forward is Braden Lewis. The sophomore saw little playing time in the first half of the 2024 season, but he proved to be a bright spot this week against Perry, recording 2.5 tackles and 2 interceptions in the shutout win. Lewis will have time to grow in size, but his athleticism and timing abilities on his picks are impressive, and he could get a lot more playing time in the secondary moving forward for an already impressive Cubs' defense.     Benton's strong secondary limited Fairfield to just 60 total yards of passing on Friday night, and team captain Dylan LeFebvere played a significant part in shutting down that unit. LeFebvere finished the night with 6 tackles and 2 interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown. LeFebvere's pick-six, which came at the end of the first quarter came on a perfect read on a speedout, in which he was able to rob the ball and take it to the house, setting the tone for Benton's defense as they controlled most of the game. LeFebvere has 3 interceptions through 5 games and he's proven to be a strong leader for one of the best secondaries in Class 3A.     [player_tooltip player_id='1406396' first='Mason' last='Morgan'] is another player from Class 3A that has fit the mold of being a two-way standout, as the top receiver for Washington has also proven to be a solid contributor on the secondary. His performance on the defense shined bright on Friday night against Keokuk as he finished with 2.5 tackles and 2 interceptions in the shutout win. After going the first 4 games without a pick, Morgan notched two as he helped frustrate the passing game for Keokuk, who completed just 36% of their passes on Friday. Morgan will look to add on to this total moving forward into the second half of the season.     Algona dominated Charles City en route to a 5-0 start, their best start since 2019, and Tate Garman has continued to grow as one of the most impressive underclassmen among the Bulldogs' secondary. Against Charles City, Garman had 3 tackles and notched his first pick of the season, which he proceeded to take 23 yards to the end zone. Garman has been solid in run-support, attacking the open lanes and with quick closing speed to stop the run quickly. With his first pick of the season, I hope that we'll get to see more progression of Garman's coverage skills across the rest of the season.     In contrast to some of the DBs who's contributions have mostly been on the secondary, [player_tooltip player_id='1695286' first='Joseph' last='Molina']'s biggest impacts from week 5 came in the run-support. As one of the bright spots in Sioux Center's loss to Bishop Heelan, Molina recorded 3 tackles, all of which were behind the line of scrimmage, along with 2 sacks. Molina did a lot of work lining up close to the line and blitzing up the middle, and he's a difficult player to contain, which makes him explosive in making stops behind the line. Molina's usage has made him a X-factor type of athlete on the Warriors' defense.

Continuing our recap of the top performances from Class 3A this week, we now shift our attention to the playmaking defensive-backs that propelled their secondary and made it difficult for the talented QBs in this group to make plays through them. Today, we take a look at the top 6 DB performances from Class 3A in week 5!