Week 3 Game Balls: Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I got a late jump this week on content, so I only have two game balls pieces, but I still want to recognize some of the state's top performers from last week. I already gave out <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/week-3-game-balls-offense/">game balls to the top offensive players</a> for their Week 3 performances. Now, it's time to recognize the best defenders from last week. Here are the Week 3 Defensive Game Balls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Balls: Week 3 Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1880228"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c1e24759161"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I already recognized Paxton as the defensive player of the game for the Garner-Middle Creek game I attended on Friday. It'd be hard to find a player who had a better game defensively across the state than Paxton. The senior had a pick six, saved a touchdown by forcing a fumble out of the back of the end zone, and had six tackles, including some key third-down stops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["711397"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c1e247591f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Solomon has had quite the year, but to play at such a high level against a team expected by many to repeat as state champions is impressive. Against Grimsley, Solomon had three tackles for loss, six solo tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a blocked field goal. It's not the first time he's filled the stat sheet this year, and it looks like the transfer to East Forsyth has paid off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1881825"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c1e2475925a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To my knowledge, Blankenship is the first Madison Patriot we've ever written about on Prep Redzone, and it's long overdue. It's fitting that Blankenship is the guy to earn an evaluation, as he's the heart and soul of the team on both sides of the ball. While it was in a losing effort, Blankenship had 13 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. He even recovered one of them himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1650614"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c1e247592be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This isn't about me, but Ray is making me look good after I ranked him ahead of some talented players at bigger schools in our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-johnston-harnett-county-edge-rushers/">County Deep Dives</a> series. So far, he has eight sacks in three games, including two last Friday in a 26-16 win over Fairmont. He's causing plenty of havoc in the backfield, and last week he added a forced fumble and not one, but two blocked punts to his stat line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1717339"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c1e24759320"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was over for West Caldwell as soon as Mountain Island Charter got into obvious pass situations. Eaton had five sacks in a 49-22 win with two other tackles for loss sprinkled in as well. MIC has only played two games this season, both against teams from higher classifications. If Eaton continues to excel as a pass-rusher, it will be difficult for teams to move the ball against the Raptors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1678328"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68c1e24759382"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you like some hard-fought defensive battles, watch Oriol lead a talented defensive line. He's been dominant through three games, never more than last Friday, when he had six tackles for loss and four sacks in a 24-21 win over Knightdale. He's been solid as a pass-rusher and as a run defender this year, playing both on the interior and off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>We can't recognize players we can't see. Send us stats and film, so we can evaluate you/your players. Want to send this to a friend? Discount code Helms30 will get you 30% off your first billing cycle.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->