Scouting Reports: Winterset Huskies 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winterset </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":["1620016"],"_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-68fd08862e61e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the top tacklers in the state that has had a monster season, [player_tooltip player_id='1620016' first='Jace' last='Bellamy'] did it again on Friday night against the Lions. With the playoffs on the line, the senior defensive back posted 12 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 3A leader in tackles with 93, Bellamy showed why on Friday at home. Playing as if his hair is on fire, Bellamy is a sideline-to-sideline DB that is seemingly everywhere at once, making it near impossible for opposing teams to register big plays. When the Huskies defense needs a big play itself, Bellamy seemingly is always there at the right time. Likely an NAIA or Division III recruit because of his size, Bellamy will make a collegiate program incredibly happy with a relentless motor as a tackling machine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Carson Cook","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"155","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Winterset","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ff8e71ee27a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Under center for Winterset, Carson Cook handles the passing game for the Huskies. The junior who is capable of taking off with the rock from time to time isn't exactly dual threat, but he can make opposing teams pay with his legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Always keeping his eyes downfield, though, his first look is to make a play through the air. Exhibit A was a pass downfield to teammate Drake McDonald -- which we'll talk about shortly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cook sells the play-action pass incredibly well for the Huskies' balanced offensive attack, and he gets good air under his passes, making for an easily caught ball and giving his receivers the opportunity to go get it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Drake McDonald","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Winterset","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ff8e71ee349"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">So, speaking of McDonald, the passing game wasn't Winterset's primary M.O. on Friday night, but the senior tight end was the main benefactor when they went to it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leading receiver for the Huskies, McDonald caught two passes for 37 yards and the touchdown pass that got his team right back into the thick of the game -- his first score of the year. One of the bigger offensive weapons for Cook to go to through the air, McDonald caught the pass open, broke through two tackles and scored. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1987387"],"_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-68ff8e71ee3b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The bell-cow back for Winterset, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1987387' first='Ben' last='Porter'] shouldered much of the offensive load once again against Des Moines Christian, taking 18 carries for 103 yards and a score. A between-the-tackles runner with speed to make tacklers miss, Porter is a solid back with a collegiate future if he wants it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may be on the defensive side of the ball, too, for all we know. A playmaker at linebacker, Porter is fourth on his team in tackles and came up with a big interception right before half that kept the Lions out of the endzone and prevented them from going up 21-3 at the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1685835"],"_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-68fd08862e679"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Winterset just got big play after big play from players up and down its roster on Friday, including senior receiver and linebacker hybrid, [player_tooltip player_id='1685835' first='Wyatt' last='Swanson']. Though Porter serves as the go-to back for the Huskies, Swanson led his team in rushing, thanks to an 87-yard scamper for a score in the second half to finish with nine carries for 137 yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swanson showed off the jets on the carry, taking the ball to the outside and simply out-running the defense. Later in the game, when the Huskies needed to convert on 3rd and 12, he came up with a 14-yard gain to get a much-needed first down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->