Scouting Reports: Des Moines Christian Lions 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winterset&nbsp;</strong>-- In a battle of fringe playoff teams in 3A, Winterset came out victorious in a back-and-forth matchup with Des Moines Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238631"],"_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-68ffa713d6d25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the primary reasons the Winterset offense struggled to get going in the first half, [player_tooltip player_id='1238631' first='Caleb' last='Bailey'] is one of the more overlooked prospects in the state as the stalwart of the Des Moines Christian defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With five tackles and a TFL, Bailey forced the Winterset offensive attack to go to the outside rather than up the middle. A linebacker that diagnoses the run game and plugs holes, Bailey leads his team in tackles (54.5), tackles-for-loss (11.5) and sacks (2.5) this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1906852"],"_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-68ffa713d6dae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A rangy safety on the back end of the DMC defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1906852' first='Oliver' last='Grice'] has a chance to rise into the conversation with the soon-to-be discussed [player_tooltip player_id='1687033' first='Declan' last='Heying'] in the Class of 2028. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's not there yet, but Grice shows the ability to flip his hips in coverage and get downhill in run support. Already bigger than most DBs for his age standing at 5-foot-11 and 170-pounds, Grice likely won't be limited by his physical size when it comes to his recruitment. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1687033"],"_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-68ffa713d6e12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The big man up front for the Lions, [player_tooltip player_id='1687033' first='Declan' last='Heying'] holds down right tackle for Des Moines Christian as one of the biggest players and physically intimidating prospects the state of Iowa has to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A mauler on the offensive line, Heying is the last person opposing defensive players want to see when in pursuit of the ball-carrier, as Heying possesses all the physical tools he needs in terms of length, size and strength to pave the way for skill position teammates behind him. There just aren't many linemen in the state of Iowa that are his size and than dominant in the run game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1906865"],"_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-68ffa713d6e6f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The go-to receiver in Des Moines Christian's offense, junior wideout [player_tooltip player_id='1906865' first='Tate' last='Olsen'] was the man that quarterback, Max Town leaned on when the Lions needed to speed up the offense and attempt to mount a come back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best hands on the team, Olsen made some difficult grabs on his six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. One of the consistent pieces to the Lions' offense that was a bit erratic on Friday night, Olsen was one of the more reliable players for Town to defer to. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197495"],"_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-68ffa713d6ecb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The speedy tailback and returner for DMC, David Tokheim brings an added element to the offense that every team could use.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Effectively the Lions' Kaden Wetjen, Tokheim is a gadget player that can affect the game on the ground, through the air and on special teams. Super quick in and out of cuts as a ball-carrier, Tokheim adds a dynamic that's difficult for defenses to completely account for. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Either a slot receiver or a third down back at the next level, Tokheim will need to continue to add weight, but he's got the tool kit to be an effective playmaker in two phases of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->