Five Waukee Standouts from Scrimmage vs. City High

Five standouts on both sides of the ball for Waukee in their scrimmage against Iowa City High last Friday.   *Waukee wore practice jerseys without numbers, so tracking down each player with a standout performance was limited.    Four-year starter under center for Waukee, [player_tooltip player_id='1240560' first='Beckett' last='Bakker'] is back at the helm for the final time this season. Bakker is a sturdy quarterback that isn't taken down easily when he runs, and is technically sound as a thrower. Throwing a tight ball, maneuvering in the pocket, hitting deep passes to the outside and shots over the middle of the field, Bakker is set up for another stellar season this fall.   Seeking to catapult his production forward once again after an uber-efficient junior campaign where he completed over 68% of his passes and threw for 19 touchdowns to just two picks, Bakker looks as confident as ever. If he plays like he did on Friday, Bakker and the Warriors will be among the most formidable teams in 5A.     One of two running backs* that got the majority of the carries on Friday night, [player_tooltip player_id='1240568' first='Ben' last='Case Haub'] showed off his speed in getting to the sideline, scoring a touchdown by taking a hand off and bursting to the outside for a touchdown late in the scrimmage. He can also run through a few would-be tackles, showing off some lower-body strength against the Little Hawks.   Between he and Waukee's other primary ball-carrier, Case Haub provides more of the speed, and he'll likely be a threat to catch passes out of the backfield, too.     On the first Waukee possession I saw after arriving from Regina vs. CCA, the Warriors took over at the Little Hawk 40-yard line. On that play, Bakker hit a deep shot to senior wide receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='1241077' first='Xavyer' last='Gutierrez'], making the throw across his body and for the deep shot and subsequent touchdown.   Gutierrez stepped to the line, hand-fought his defender, and blazed past him to get wide open on a go-route. The speedy receiver caught the ball over his shoulder for an easy score. If he shows off that speed and quick feet off the line on a regular basis this fall, he may be a perfect receiving tandem with the next player we'll address.     Recently committed to Texas A&M, [player_tooltip player_id='1221928' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] is back for his final season of high school ball with Waukee. A big presence on the football field, Jacobson's catch-radius is ridiculous, given his long arms and 6'7" frame. That frame allows him to get up and under opposing linebackers and defensive ends' pads and manhandle them as a blocker, too.   Throw in his athleticism on top of those traits as a dual-sport athlete that will also play basketball for the Aggies, and Jacobson is a matchup nightmare for any opponent in the state of Iowa. He caught several passes against City High, and should be in line for a massive year as Bakker's go-to target.     Just another weapon for Bakker that will help compliment the passing attack, [player_tooltip player_id='1240889' first='Jayden' last='Jeter'] stands out in the slot for the Warriors as a small, but quick wide out. I didn't catch much of his production on Friday night, but was informed that he had a good game catching the ball.   If that's the case, Jeter, like Guttierez and Jacobson, should be in line for a breakout season ahead. With Guttierez as the outside threat, Jacobson as a big-bodied safety valve, Jeter to make plays in the open field, and a balanced running attack, Bakker will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. After posting 14 catches for 174 yards and three scores last season as a receiver, paired with six kick returns for 151 yards and a touchdown, Jeter will be a threat to speed past the defense every time he touches the ball.

Five standouts on both sides of the ball for Waukee in their scrimmage against Iowa City High last Friday.