Athletes That Create Fireworks on Friday Nights

Happy 4th of July to everyone! I hope it is a fun, memorable, and safe weekend for everyone whatever it is you are all doing. Whether it be going to the beach, camping, getting together with family, or watching fireworks. Personally I like to save my fireworks for Friday nights in the fall when the most electric athletes in the state get their hands on the ball and changes games with a single touch. That is the type of high-flying, bright lights I like to enjoy. Before we celebrate with actual fireworks, though, I want to talk about those athletes that can pop off at any moment among the Class of 2026. Let's launch right into it!    The easy first athlete when it comes to this type of article is Arrowhead RB [player_tooltip player_id='948090' first='Jacob' last='Siner']. The dude is a game changer in every sense of the word. Every touch he has you won't find a person in the stadium that doesn't think he could take it to the house on that play. He is outstanding at making things happen with the ball in his hands. He can see the field so well, has the speed to beat pursuit angles, has that quick twitch agility and explosive burst to create space instantly and then utilize it to get around a defender. Siner is a walking highlight reel on Friday nights and I can't wait to cover his senior season.     We go from a game-breaking RB to the game-breaking WR that instantly comes to mind when I think about fireworks on the field. Lamont truly epitomizes the idea of this article. He may only get 10 touches a game, but like he did in the State Championship we could see him take over and turn that into 4 TDs. Lamont is a playmaker first and foremost. He is able to read the field so well, making him not only dominant at WR, but also as a kick returner. He can set up blocks, find lanes to cut back through, and set up defenders so that he can beat their angles. Plus he simply has the speed to stack the CB and get vertical then easily track the ball over his shoulder. If you want to see fireworks, get to a Racine St. Catherine's game this fall.     I love the way that Tommy plays. He can create fireworks in so many ways. He has all the athletic tools. The '26 RB will make you miss in a phone booth and turn it into a 70 yard TD. Then the next play he will run over a DB and pile up 30 yards after contact. Both plays are going to ignite the crowd and be memorable highlight reel plays. The 5'9" 170 lbs RB is so rugged and tough too, easily handling 20+ carries on a weekly basis and that drastically improves the odds we see fireworks on every Friday night.     Don't forget about [player_tooltip player_id='533154' first='Anthony' last='Liggins'] at RB either. He is coming off of injury, but this fall we are going to be reminded early and often just how instantly the incoming senior can change a game. Anthony has built such a strong lower body that makes him explosive in tight quarters and also gives him the ability to go from 0 to 100 MPH real quick. Anthony is one of those backs that you can't allow to have an inch of space because if he thinks he has any space he is going to use it and create another highlight reel, firework-worthy run. Get ready for a show this fall.     This is one of my favorite RBs and overall HS careers I have covered here in WI. Matthew plays in the triple option attack at Badger. As a sophomore he was out at a wing and this past year he took over at QB making the tough reads and decisions while still playing at 100 MPH. With Matthew at the helm fireworks are the expectation. Whether it is his burst through the middle, lightning quick lateral agility, or field-flipping long speed, O'Grady can change a game with the ball in his hands. As a sophomore wing he averaged over 10 yards per carry on the way to a State Championship. As a junior he averaged over 12 yards per carry as a QB. I can't wait to see what he does this year as a senior. Whatever it is, get ready for the fireworks.     Another game-wrecking QB/ATH that is going to be creating fireworks on Fridays is [player_tooltip player_id='1251526' first='Jensen' last='Rice']. The 5'10" 170 lbs athlete is a very accomplished track and field athlete, so there is no question the speed is there. You can also just turn on the Hudl highlights and watch him erase pursuit angles and play at an entirely different speed than the rest of the field. Rice attacks the defense like he is on Rookie Mode at times, knifing through the second level and secondary on his way to massive runs and huge wins for his team. Even if you somehow contain him Jensen is plenty serviceable as a passer and can hurt a defense with his outstanding receiving talent on his team.     You can go ahead and ignore that WR ranking next to Xavier's name. After what he showed last fall, and especially after this summer, Xavier is on his way towards being well inside that Top 3-5 WRs in the state. The fireworks should be plentiful on Friday nights for him too. He can win basically every way. Want him to use that size to high point a ball over a CB in the endzone or deep downfield? Light work. Want him to run quick routes in the short-intermediate passing game that leaves CBs just trying to stay close? No problem. Want to see him muscle his way off the line, stack the CB, and pull away down the sideline as he track the ball over his shoulder? You will get plenty of that this fall too. DC Everest is going to have plenty of fireworks this fall with Edwards lining up out wide.

Happy 4th of July to everyone! I hope it is a fun, memorable, and safe weekend for everyone whatever it is you are all doing. Whether it be going to the beach, camping, getting together with family, or watching fireworks. Personally I like to save my fireworks for Friday nights in the fall when the most electric athletes in the state get their hands on the ball and changes games with a single touch. That is the type of high-flying, bright lights I like to enjoy. Before we celebrate with actual fireworks, though, I want to talk about those athletes that can pop off at any moment among the Class of 2026. Let's launch right into it!