Big-Time Ballers from Class A Quarterfinal Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A case can be made that Friday night's quarterfinals are the most pressure-packed games of a season. With a victory, teams can exhale a bit. They've cemented their legacies by reaching The Dome for the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As such, special performances in those emotional quarterfinal games are remembered fondly. Let's take a look at some guys who came up big in Class A on Friday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1242834' first='Brayson' last='Mulder'], SR, RB/LB, MMCRU - </strong>The Royals are earned their first trip to the UNI-Dome since their undefeated state championship season of 2015 with a 42-6 victory against Woodbury Central in Friday's quarterfinals. Mulder impacted the game on both sides of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior rushed 10 times for 95 yards and a touchdown, and added catch and 15 yards. He also contributed 5.0 tackles (2 solo, 0.5 TFL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615327' first='Korben' last='Michels'], SR, RB/LB, Saint Ansgar - </strong>During an impressive, 49-21 state quarterfinal victory against North Linn on Friday, Michels continued what he'd been doing all season - running through the opponent. The senior rushed 19 times for 180 yards and five touchdowns. He added five receptions for 46 yards, and three solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1981819' first='Braylon' last='Lopez'], JR, RB/CB, West Sioux - </strong>After back-to-back losing seasons, West Sioux is returning to the UNI-Dome following Friday night's 24-14 triumph against ACGC. Lopez's performance was a key to victory for the Falcons. The junior carried the ball 24 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and caught three passes for 63 yards. He also had three solo tackles and a stop for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1905894' first='Cadyn' last='Dana'], JR, RB/LB, Wapsie Valley - </strong>The Warriors knocked off Lynnville-Sully, 22-16, in Friday night's quarterfinal round, securing a trip to the UNI-Dome. On offense, Dana ran for 46 yards and a touchdown, and caught a 10-yard pass. He also produced a team-best 10 tackles (5 solo, 2.0 TFL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wyatt Alesch, SR, WR/DB, MMCRU - </strong>The Royals' defense was righteous during Friday's 42-6 state quarterfinal victory against Woodbury Central. Alesch played an important role in that performance with a Pick-6 and 3.5 tackles, three of which were of the solo variety. He also contributed a 23-yard punt return and averaged 37.8 yards on five punt returns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1905875' first='Joe' last='Clevenger'], SR, RB/LB, Saint Ansgar - </strong>As he had done all season, Clevenger impacted the action during Friday night's state quarterfinal win against North Linn. The senior rushed seven time for 57 yards and a score. Defensively, he intercepted a pass and totaled 7.0 tackles (4 solo, 1.0 TFL) with half of a quarterback sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Gerritson, JR, WR/LB, West Sioux - </strong>The Falcons flew into the state semifinals with a 24-14 road win at ACGC on Friday night. Gerritson shined with three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, and 7.0 tackles (5 solo) and a fumble recovery on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blake Hesse, SR, TE/LB, Wapsie Valley - </strong>The senior came up big in a tough quarterfinal tussle with Lynnville-Sully. His two interceptions proved very important in a 22-16 victory, during which possessions were at a premium. He also collected 3.0 tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Wright, JR, RB/LB, Woodbury Central - </strong>Losing a 42-6 decision to MMCRU in Friday's state quarterfinals was not what the Wildcats had in mind as the end to an excellent season. Wright provided some highlights for Woodbury Central with a pair of quarterback sacks and 2.5 tackles, however.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braden Wheatley, JR, WR/DB, North Linn - </strong>A strong season by the Lynx came to an end in Friday night's state quarterfinals despite the effort of Wheatley and other guys not wanting to be finished. He caught three passes for 67 yards and posted 3.0 solo tackles. His 82-yard kick return for a touchdown was a North Linn highlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1268222' first='Dawson' last='James'], SR, TE/LB, Lynnville-Sully - </strong>The Hawks put up a tough fight before falling to Wapsie Valley, 22-16, in Friday's state quarterfinals. James racked up 20.5 tackles, 15 of which were of the solo variety. He registered a stop for loss, and had a touchdown and a two-point conversion on offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->