4A Northern Playoff Preview: Playmakers to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Breaking down the playmakers to watch for each team in the 4A Northern playoff bracket with the first round of games kicking off this Friday.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">(1) McQueen</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McQueen earned the top overall seed in the 4A Northern bracket with an 8-2 record (5-0 in league) with their only two losses coming from 5A opponents. Junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1803013' first='Ryder' last='Tucker'] leads a highly productive offense as one of the biggest breakout passers in the state this season. Tucker has been extremely efficient with the football passing for over 1,600 yards and 25 TDs with only 1 INT on the season. He's an accurate distributor from the pocket that can spread the ball around the field, get the ball out on-time and navigate pressure. Tucker will be a new addition to the next update to the PRZ NV 2027 rankings. Senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1803015' first='Nason' last='Rodriguez'] is another breakout playmaker in the McQueen backfield after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs in the regular season. He's strong, physical runner that can pick up yards after contact with the combination of contact balance, low center-of-gravity, and downhill skillset he provides out of the backfield. Rodriguez is another name that will be added to the 2026 rankings with his performance this season. The receiving corps is led by a pair of seniors in WR [player_tooltip player_id='1803017' first='Alex' last='Grush'] and TE [player_tooltip player_id='1558882' first='Brooks' last='Porter'], each with 7 receiving TDs on the season. Grush is a skilled playmaker on the perimeter that can create separation, complete difficult catches downfield as a vertical threat, and make plays after the catch- he's totaled 615 yards on 25 catches this season. Porter ranks as a top-100 player in his class and is a physical playmaker on both sides of the ball (LB/TE) for McQueen. Another receiver to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='2005501' first='Aiden' last='Hayes']- the 5'11"/160 senior has posted 17 catches for 319 yards and 4 TDs this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Defense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers' defense features solid tacklers at every level in senior LBs [player_tooltip player_id='2005502' first='Zacary' last='Draeger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1558882' first='Brooks' last='Porter'], junior SS [player_tooltip player_id='1681496' first='Keagan' last='Brenner'], and junior DE [player_tooltip player_id='1803026' first='Keagan' last='Ayala']. Draeger leads the defense in total tackles from his ILB spot with 73 total (46 solo) and 14.5 TFLs on the season. Porter is a highly disurptive OLB that can make plays in the backfield and create pressure off the edge with the athleticism, physicality, and high motor he plays with at 6'/200- he's posted 49 solo tackles and 19 TFLs on the season. Brenner was a new addition to the 2027 preseason rankings update and has proven his place in the rankings with his productive junior campaign. He's a dynamic playmaker in the secondary that packs great upside in his physicality and ability to play in space. Brenner has 53 total tackles (34 solo), 11 TFLs, and an INT on the season. Ayala is an athletic rusher from his DE spot that can create pressure and make plays in the run game. Sophomore FS [player_tooltip player_id='2005508' first='Isaiah' last='Beck'] leads the team in INTs with 2 on the season- he's a twitchy, agile playmaker on both sides of the ball and one of McQueen's best coverage defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">(2) Carson</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson's offense is led by one of Nevada's leading rushers in senior RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='876953' first='Johnathan' last='Alvarado']. Alvarado- the #16 LB in PRZ NV's 2026 rankings- is a tough, physical runner with the ball in his hands that can handle high-volume carries and set a physical tone for the Senators' offense. Alvarado has rushed for 1,200 yards and 9 TDs on 27 carries this season and posted 152 yards and a TD against Carson's first-round opponent, Reno, in their regular season matchup two weeks ago. Look for Carson's offense to lean on Alvarado and the run game heavily in their playoff run. Senior WR [player_tooltip player_id='2005503' first='Zack' last='Eaton'] is the offense's leading receiver with 489 yards and 7 TDs on 25 catches this season. He's a skilled playmaker with a physical frame (6'2"/185) that can line up out of the slot or perimeter and can compete for 50-50 balls with the length and strong hands he brings to the table. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Defense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='2005509' first='Nicholas' last='Alvarado'] leads the defense with 85 total tackles and 8 TFLs on the season. The 6'/210 ILB is a physical run defender that can fill downhill between the OTs and make rangy, high-effort tackles in every area of the field. Senior LB [player_tooltip player_id='1576888' first='Justin' last='Gonzalez'] is a productive player on both sides of the ball with 6 rushing TDs and 40 tackles on defense. The 5'11"/200 senior ranks as a top-100 player in his class and holds D-III offers from Bethel, Central Methodist, Cornell College and Kansas Wesleyan. Junior CB <strong>Cruz Gonzales</strong> leads the defense in interceptions with 4 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">(3) Reno</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reno's offense is led by one of the top QBs in the state in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1544593' first='Braylon' last='Wilson']. Wilson is a productive dual-threat that's passed for 2,000 yards and 19 TDs and has rushed for another 500+ yards and 10 TDs. He's an athletic passer that can escape the pocket, find his targets on the run, and push the downfield with a strong, accurate arm- he just picked up a PWO offer from Nevada last week. Wilson's top target is senior wideout [player_tooltip player_id='1644999' first='Chase' last='Langbehn']- the #24 WR in PRZ NV's 2026 rankings. Langbehn is an athletic perimeter threat at 6'/200 that can make plays in the vertical passing game and with the ball in his hands- he's posted 650 receiving yards and 8 TDs on 40 catches this season. Senior RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1660288' first='Jackson' last='Mathews'] is the leading rusher out of the backfield with 830 yards and 11 TDs this season. He's a physical, downhill runner at 6'/215 that generates power downhill and is a tough tackle past the second level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Defense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior OLB [player_tooltip player_id='2005505' first='Simon' last='Gollmer'] leads the defense in tackles with 103 total (65 solo) and 4 TFLs on the season. He's an athletic tackler on the perimeter that can play in space and make stops in the run game. Gollmer's productive senior season will land him in the postseason update to the 2026 rankings. Senior LB [player_tooltip player_id='1579317' first='Caellum' last='Leary'] is another productive tackler on the front-seven. The tenth-ranked LB in PRZ NV's 2026 rankings is a rangy tackler at 6'1"/230 that can get sideline to sideline and make plays in coverage. Junior OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='2005511' first='Eli' last='Sellers'] has put together a productive season with 61 tackles (30 solo) and 14 TFLs on the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">(4) North Valleys</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1576344' first='Mikole' last='Almond'] leads the North Valleys offense as a third-year starter. The seventh-ranked QB in PRZ NV's 2026 rankings has passed for 700+ yards and 7 TDs in six games this season. He's a skilled pocket passer with a powerful arm that can stretch the field vertically and does a good job of escaping pressure and finding space to get the ball out. Almond is one of the more underrated QBs in Nevada and could continue to raise his stock with a strong playoff push. Senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1643619' first='Hayden' last='Lewis'] leads the rushing attack with 500 yards and 3 TDs on 106 carries this season. Two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='2005506' first='Lucas' last='Sadler'] leads the receiving group with 28 catches for 353 yards and 4 TDs this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Defense</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='2005514' first='Benjamin' last='Morello'] leads the Panthers' defensive unit with 100+ tackles, 5 sacks, and 8.5 TFLs on the season. He's a powerful run-stopper that excels between the OTs where he can muddy the waters and attack downhill. Another defender to keep an eye on for North Valleys is senior WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='2005506' first='Lucas' last='Sadler'] who leads the team in both receiving and interceptions with 3 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->