Top performers - Two Rivers vs. St. Paul Central

The Two Rivers Warriors showed – at least me – why they are still an undefeated ballclub Thursday night on their home field against the St. Paul Central Minutemen. The Warriors scored early and often, putting the game out of reach by halftime. While the Warriors had plenty of players who stood out, it doesn't happen very often – especially in a one-sided game – when the player I was most impressed with was on the wrong side of a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/winless-just-a-few-years-ago-two-rivers-moves-to-7-0/">45-7 game</a>.    Collectively, all of the Warriors in the trenches could be featured here. Jones made plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage. On offense, he pancake blocked his man after driving him off the line of scrimmage. On the defensive side, he was part of a defensive line that locked down almost everything between the tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1573985' first='Caleb' last='Koury'] Two Rivers OL   Koury drove his man ten yards downfield before finishing the block with a pancake block.     Although the team was never really in the game, the best player on the field might have been Cox. Early, he had a good run up the middle. Then, he caught a middle screen and made a couple of moves in the open field for nine yards. He is a good combination of power and quickness. He broke a tackle and drug a tackler for five yards. He threw a great lead block to spring his quarterback on a nice run. Back carrying the ball, he started left and cut back to the right. Then, he made a move in the open field and put his shoulder down to drive through a tackle for an eight-yard gain. After a powerful run up the middle for five yards, he made a man miss in the secondary for a 30-yard gain. On defense, as a linebacker, Cox shot a gap and tripped up a running back, allowing teammates to finish the tackle. He did it again, and this time, he made the tackle in the backfield. His most impressive play might have been when the senior shot a gap, forcing the runner to bounce a run outside. He still tracked the runner down for a tackle for loss.     Rislove was the primary benefactor of the Warriors' offensive line. The senior showed speed to the corner for 30 yards. Then, he got in behind Jones for eight yards. After a two-yard touchdown run, he made two quick cuts on a run up the middle, then bounced outside for 20 yards. He showed his speed again to the corner and then made a good move to allude a tackler for five more yards. He capped off his day with a 16-yard touchdown run.     Lankfard looked good early in the game. He made a quick throw on the move into the flat. He did it again a few plays later, and this time, it turned into a fifteen-yard gain. The senior continued to throw some nice short passes early. Later, he used his speed to the corner on a pair of runs. He showed off his arm with two nice deep balls down the sidelines. One pass went for 40 yards. The second pass picked up 25 yards. Late in the game, he used his legs to pick up a first down and then capped off a drive with a five-yard touchdown run. On defense, Lankfard defended a throw-back screen by avoiding the blocker and making an open-field tackle. He read another screen and made a tackle immediately after the catch for a short gain.     Early, Krupenny stayed home and stopped an end-a-round for a short gain. Then, he made a tackle on the outside for a short gain. He then kept contain on a quarterback roll-out, finishing the play with a quarterback sack. On offense, he bounced a run outside for a 30-yard touchdown. Then, he made an excellent cut at the line of scrimmage and finished the run by dragging tacklers for five more yards.     Michaels got his team on the board early when he picked off a deep ball down the seam and returned it for a sixty-yard touchdown. Later in the game, he almost tallied a second interception when he undercut a route and deflected a ball.     Laugerman made two big plays that stood out. On defense, he broke on a deep out to deflect a pass. On offense, he made a diving catch for forty yards.     Avalos' was another big reason the Minutemen only scored one touchdown. His good penetration allowed him to make a tackle for a loss. He beat his blocker again with more penetration up the middle, forcing the play outside where teammates could make the tackle.     Altavilla made a tackle on a quarterback sweep when he was the last guy out there. Later, he made another tackle for a short gain. He set his offense up with a short field when he recovered a fumble just before it rolled out of bounds.     Altavilla did a good job running the offense and making plays when needed. He showed off a strong arm, pushing the ball to the outside for a completion. The junior quarterback then hit a crossing route. He showed good touch, completing a swing pass. His best moment had more to do with his head than his arm or legs. He obviously changed a play at the line of scrimmage, resulting in a 46-yard touchdown pass.     Shuler made three catches that caught my eye. He sandwiched two catches on the outside near the sidelines with his best play of the game. The throw was low and was too far out in front of him, but he showed great concentration and pulled in the arrent pass.     West caught a pass in the flat. It should have been a five-yard gain. However, the junior made two people miss in the open-field for a 46-yard touchdown.

The Two Rivers Warriors showed – at least me – why they are still an undefeated ballclub Thursday night on their home field against the St. Paul Central Minutemen. The Warriors scored early and often, putting the game out of reach by halftime. While the Warriors had plenty of players who stood out, it doesn't happen very often – especially in a one-sided game – when the player I was most impressed with was on the wrong side of a 45-7 game.