Maize Hosting Goddard in Border War Opener

The first Friday Night Lights of the season kick off this week and for many teams it will be a trial-by-fire start, with challenging games right out of the chute. And, in some cases the opening-game challenge is amped up even more when it is a "border war" between teams that are annoyingly close, have some history and just plain don't like each other.   Goddard @ Maize later today is one of those games.   Last year Goddard edged Maize 7-3 in a low-scoring affair that would launch the two teams in different directions to start the 2024 season.   Maize would go on to lose their first four games before catching fire in the second half of the season to salvage a 5-5 season.   Goddard, on the other hand, would parlay that victory into winning five of their next six games and eventually finish 6-3.   In this report we are taking a quick look at tonight's game and who some of the key players are.   So, without further adieu, let's take a look at the two teams:   MAIZE   On the offensive side of the ball, the team spun their wheels in the first half of the season, but made key personnel adjustments that clicked and ended up gelling into a promising group of next-level athletes by the end of the season. On defense, the Eagles started a number of young, promising headhunters and were battle-tested early, learned from it, and were better every game. Below we take a little deeper look at the two units.   OFFENSE: Last year the offense spent the first half of the season figuring out how to get their best players on the field at the same time. With a number of multi-positional skill players who can do a little bit of everything, it wasn't apparent early who should play where. However, when Myovela was moved to QB full-time midway through the season, the offense started hitting on all cylinders. He is not only a D1 talent but is a force multiplier running the offense as a dual-threat destroyer who energizes the team's performance when he is leading the charge. There are a number of key ballers on the Eagle offense, so let's take a quick look.   [player_tooltip player_id='1578939' first='Brayden' last='Myovela'], 6'4, 205, QB/ATH, '26. He is coming off a junior season that started quietly but heated up in a hurry. He is one of those rare, gifted QB's with the prototype size and pure athleticism that the D1 schools are scrambling to lock in. He has all the tools, from a rifle for an arm and the size and speed that enables him to dismantle defenses in a hurry. Once he was seated in as the starter, he shifted into overdrive fast, completing 48 of 97 passes for just under 900 yards and 11 touchdown passes with only two picks. He also ran for 500 yards, averaging 10+ yards a carry and scored four times. Get your popcorn handy, he is going to put on a show this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='944902' first='Nolan' last='Hadley'], 6'3, 285, OL, '27. Last fall he stepped up and hit his opponents in the mouth and put the state on notice that he intends to own the trenches. With a full array of skills, he has D1-size and mobility and is already drawing significant interest. He can play either guard position and with his powerful frame, great feet and lateral quickness he can pull and lead on the corner or wall off in pass pro as needed. He is going to dominate this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='856864' first='Pearce' last='George'], 6'0, 175, ATH, '27, He is a multi-positional playmaker who can do a little bit of everything and last fall completed 17 of 34 passes for 142 yards passing, carried the ball 15 times for just under 100 yards and hauled in five passes for 128 yards. This guy is getting ready to shine in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='1598597' first='Shannon' last='Jones'], 6'0, 215, RB, '26. He is another big, powerful RB who has the lower-body strength and burst to plow through traffic but with instinctive situational awareness for hitting the right gaps. Last fall he picked up 500+ yards rushing and scored eight touchdowns.   Also: [player_tooltip player_id='944903' first='Ryder' last='Zimmerman'], 6'2, 205, WR/ATH, '27. He is another standout receiver getting ready to turn heads this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='1645153' first='Easton' last='Melton'], 6'1, 165, QB, '28. He is a rising-star gunslinger QB to keep on your watchlists.   DEFENSE:   The defense is split down the middle between junior and senior starters this year and are loaded at all three levels. The scary thing about these guys is they have been playing together since their elementary school days and have continued playing multiple sports together into high school. There is a bond with this team that transcends talent and experience and enables them to work together like a well-oiled machine.   Key Stat: I looked at a lot of defensive units from last year and the returning Maize defense has as much potential as any in the state. Last year as a unit they piled up 847 total tackles in only 10 games, averaging 85 a game, which was among the best in the state. But what is eye-popping is the number of tackles they are returning. The Eagles return 588 of last year's 847 tackles. Most schools fell into the 300-400 range by comparison.   SECONDARY: with four guys coming off all-conference honors last fall and with most of the pieces interchangeable the Eagles can mix it up to put the clamps on whatever offense they are facing.   [player_tooltip player_id='1401808' first='Ty' last='Willits'], 6'3, 195, WR/DB, '26. He is a versatile, athletic defensive back with prototype size and length who can shut down the opposing team's best receiver or sink into zone and disrupt the air attack. He is also an explosive basketball player who is going to gets some looks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1587813' first='Scotty' last='Hadley'], 5'10, 160, DB, '26. He is another multi-sport, multi-positional safety who can play anywhere in the secondary but really shines as a ball-buster of a hitter from his safety position. [player_tooltip player_id='1052898' first='Vincent' last='Rosas']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/vincent-rosas/"></a> , 5'9, 155, DB, '27. He is a versatile d-back who can play CB or safety and has the skills to get in the receiver's face, flip hips at the snap and smother the receiver as an air-tight corner. Brodie Jarvis, 5'10, 160, DB, '26. he is another baseball-playing baller of a shortstop who is a versatile member of this shut-down secondary.   LINEBACKERS: The top three tacklers on the team came from the linebacker position as this group is not only active and aggressive but are all three headhunters.   [player_tooltip player_id='944905' first='Drake' last='Blasi'], 6'0, 205, LB, '27. As one of the leaders on the defense he is coming off a standout sophomore year and was number two on the team in tackles last year with 73. He can play any of the linebacker positions and is an instinctive baller who flows quickly and hammers the ball carrier when he arrives. This guy is going to dominate this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1585166' first='Hunter' last='Jennings'], 5'10, 190, LB, '27. He is another strike-force linebacker who plays sideline to sideline and last year led the team in total tackles with 81. [player_tooltip player_id='1594491' first='Connor' last='Goerzen']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/connor-goerzen/"></a> , 5'10, 200, LB, '27. The middle linebacker of the unit who can be counted on to help shutdown the run game and was third in tackles a year ago with 67.   D-Line: The defensive line graduated some players who contributed last year and to replace them the returning guys have been hard at it in the off-season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615986' first='Rendor' last='Hada'], 6'0, 220, DE/DL, '27. He is coming off a solid sophomore season and after a strong off-season is ready to take off this fall. With his powerful frame, quickness and strong hands he hammers the run game on his side and shuts down the corner.   [player_tooltip player_id='1612734' first='Josiah' last='Cole'], 6'0, 220, DE/DL, '27. He is another powerful presence in the trenches who is coming off an excellent season a year ago when he piled up 47 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. [player_tooltip player_id='1228927' first='Peyton' last='Norwood']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/peyton-norwood/"></a> , 6'1, 255, NG/DL, ‘26. Playing nose guard in the odd fronts and sliding over to as a defensive tackle as needed, he is an anchor in the middle on this defense. Isaac Lerma, 6'2, 205, DE, '27. He is coming off an injury-shortened year but showed significant potential as an aggressive mauler in limited action.   GODDARD   As mentioned above, Goddard would go on to have a solid 6-3 season after winning the low-scoring contest last fall. Beyond the opening-day victory against Maize, the season would later unfold with big wins over Andover, and a road upset of eventual 4A state champion Andover Central. While last year's squad ended with consecutive losses and a first-round playoff exit, there were enough positives from the season and plenty of top-level talent returning that has energized the team for the 2025 season.   The Goddard defense looks to be an athletic, headhunter unit that will be led by all-conference linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1658264' first='Gage' last='Koenigs'] and Elliot Walk, 6'1, 190, '26, with Kamron Loch, 6'2, 185, '26, returning to provide coverage in the secondary and Trey Wright, 5'11, 200, '26, anchoring the trenches from his nose tackle position.   Offensively, junior quarterback Brock Sullivan, 6'1, 215, '27, running back [player_tooltip player_id='1530365' first='Erik' last='Olivas'] and versatile fullback Joe Diekemper, 5'11, 215, '27, return after leading the charge last fall. With a heavy run-game focus a year ago, they will look to use senior wide receivers Bryer Rojas, 6'3, 205, '26, and Erv Phillips, 6'2, 180, '26 more in an expanded passing scheme this fall. The offensive line will continue to make the skill players look good with Braxton Koller, 5'11, 260, OL, '26, and Jaxson Strausberg, 5'11, 230, OL, '26, opening holes up front.   The Lions start off the year with a tough three-game stretch, starting today and then facing cross-town rival Eisenhower, and a challenging Andover squad in consecutive weeks.   DEFENSE   [player_tooltip player_id='1658264' first='Gage' last='Koenigs'], 6'0, 215, LB/RB, '26. He is coming off a good season a year ago as a two-way baller, playing as a jackhammer of a linebacker on defense and was in on 60 tackles last fall. With his strong base, low-center of gravity and lateral movement through traffic, he blows up plays at the line of scrimmage and is a threat rushing the QB from the edge.   Elliot Walk, 6'1, 195, LB, '26. He is coming off an all-conference season as a versatile, athletic middle linebacker who is a battering ram of a hitter plugging gaps between the tackles or cutting off the perimeter. Last fall he piled up 45 tackles, four tackles for loss and picked off a pass.   [player_tooltip player_id='1698501' first='Micah' last='Mayer']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/micah-mayer/"></a> , 5'11, 215, LB, '26. He is another inside linebacker who is coming off a strong junior season as a run-stomping defender with good read and react skills and a nose for the ball. He uses great instincts to jam the running attack and shoots gaps instinctively to penetrate the backfield.   OFFENSE   Brock Sullivan, 6'1, 215, QB, '27. He is coming off a solid sophomore year as a workhorse QB who has the size and speed to lower the boom on defenders in the run game but also throws well enough to keep the opposing team from loading the box. Last fall he picked up just under 500 yards running and passing and contributed 10 total TD's. In his first start last year against Maize he carried 17 times for 77 yards and a TD.   [player_tooltip player_id='1530365' first='Erik' last='Olivas'], 5'8, 170, RB/DB, '27, he stepped up big last fall as a versatile, breakaway threat in the high-octane Lion running game picking up 600+ yards rushing on only 80 carries for a 7.6-yard average and five total scores. He also caught passes and had 200+ in returns to give him just under a thousand yards of total offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1600233' first='Cooper' last='Glasscock'], 5'9, 165, ATH, '27. He is a potential game changer who has has been flying under the radar so far but is going to get a chance to show his stuff this fall as a dynamic runner, receiver or return man.   In conclusion, both teams have a strong nucleus of talent and between the rivalry and it being the first game of the new season, look for this to a clash of the titans this evening.   As a reminder, if you run across any teams or players flying under the radar give me a shout via DM on X.    And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

The first Friday Night Lights of the season kick off this week and for many teams it will be a trial-by-fire start, with challenging games right out of the chute. And, in some cases the opening-game challenge is amped up even more when it is a "border war" between teams that are annoyingly close, have some history and just plain don't like each other.