Class 1A Quarterfinals: Sumner-Fredericksburg vs. Grundy Center

The field has been cut in half once again in Class 1A from 8 to 4 teams left as we prepare for the semifinal matchups for the playoffs, which will take place this Friday. We start things off with the matchup between Sumner-Fredericksburg vs. Grundy Center. Grundy Center would ultimately throttle the Cougars' defense. While the Cougars won both of their previous playoff matchups in shutouts, they were no match for the Spartans as they burst out to a 27-0 lead at halftime, and would hold on to win 35-6. From this game, we take a look at 6 players that stood out and delivered in the big stage!    [player_tooltip player_id='1614184' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] has been one of our focal figures of this talented Class 1A group, and he delivered again over the weekend by orchestrating the offense to perfection. Jirovsky finished 9 of 13 for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 7 carries for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Jirovsky played smart, delivering on several splashy plays to get his team down the field over the air, but it was his quick feet and excellent mobility that allowed the Spartans to run the game through the ground. Jirovsky has been quite a good leader for this offense, and he is on a blistering pace through his junior campaign to earn a high spot on next-year's rankings.     [player_tooltip player_id='252315' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] has been the top target this season for [player_tooltip player_id='1614184' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky']. Vokes gave a brilliant output on a limited number of targets during the game, finishing with 139 receiving yards on just 3 catches and a touchdown. Vokes simply dominated on the outside in 1-on-1 matchups, as his size has made him a mismatch against CBs all season. That size allowed him to win on jump-balls, and he was able to drag his coverage defenders for extra yardage after the catch. The Spartans have utilized Vokes so well, and the connection between Vokes and Jirovsky could very much lead the Spartans to a third straight state title.     [player_tooltip player_id='252335' first='Ryker' last='Thoren'] controlled the interior gaps for the Spartans, proving to be the spark for a defense that forced Sumner-Fredericksburg to run when their passing game couldn't generate any momentum, allowing the defense to keep them out of the end zone for much of the game. Thoren finished with an impressive 13 tackles and a TFL in the win. Thoren's size and athleticism allows him to fall back into the second-level of defense as an ILB, and he helped limit the Cougars from breaking any big gains out of their potent run-offense. Thoren will remain as one of the stalwarts of the defense heading toward the end stretch of the playoffs.     Noah Henderson has been one of the Cougars' most steady playmakers for the team this season, and he generated the most yardage for Sumner-Fredericksburg against Grundy Center's potent defense. Henderson finished with 78 rushing yards on 22 carries and the only score for the Cougars during the night. He also added 66 kickoff return yards on 4 returns. Henderson's patience in the ground game was tested, as there wasn't many gaps created by the line to attack for big carries. Henderson's style was more hard-nosed; just churning through the defense for short yardage and doing everything to maintain forward progress. Henderson deserves praise for how well he's played through his senior season, and his reliability on the ground should garner some attention from potential scouts.     Grundy Center averaged 6.8 yards per carry on the ground, and their efficacyin the running game came largely thanks to leading rusher Brody Zinkula. Zinkula ran for 95 yards on just 13 carries and a touchdown, averaging 7.3 yards per carry in the win. Zinkula runs with a great burst of speed up the middle, and he was able to bring a lot out of each carry he had during the night. Zinkula was able to attack the gaps and set his team up well with strong gains. Zinkula should continue to be a sneaky player for the offense with the focus being on the previously aforementioned teammates Jirovsky and Vokes.     While the defense was no match for Grundy Center's high-octane offense on Friday night, senior Rhys Land still led the unit with a strong performance inside the box, recording 3.5 tackles, 1 TFL, and a sack. Land proved to be versatile, playing both on the line and backing into an outside-LB role. Land won most of his matchups during the night by beating the blocker on the first step, and for his size, Land proved that he could move the line extremely well. Land has been one of the most valuable leaders of the Cougars' defense, and he could translate that success into the next level.

The field has been cut in half once again in Class 1A from 8 to 4 teams left as we prepare for the semifinal matchups for the playoffs, which will take place this Friday. We start things off with the matchup between Sumner-Fredericksburg vs. Grundy Center. Grundy Center would ultimately throttle the Cougars' defense. While the Cougars won both of their previous playoff matchups in shutouts, they were no match for the Spartans as they burst out to a 27-0 lead at halftime, and would hold on to win 35-6. From this game, we take a look at 6 players that stood out and delivered in the big stage!