Class 6 District 4 Championship: Fort Zumwalt West Standouts

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a very exciting Class 6 District 4 Championship Game between Fort Zumwalt West and Troy-Buchanan. After a very back-and-forth game, the Jaguars were able to pull away for a 34-31 victory in overtime. While there was an abundance of talent on the field on both sides, I wanted to take some time to focus on some players from each team who stood out above the rest. To kick things off, here are some players from Fort Zumwalt West who stood out in Friday's game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1252767' first='Clayton' last='O'Bryan'] was one of the main catalysts in Fort Zumwalt's win, completing 27/48 passes for 402 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. He showcased a very strong arm which he used to stretch the field with ease in the deep passing game. Clayton also showed a great feel for pressure, escaping the pocket when necessary while keeping his eyes down the field to make throws on the run. O'Bryan doesn't currently hold any offers but he deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id='1128413' first='Garrick' last='Dixon'] was O'Bryan's go-to target on Friday, especially when a big play needed to be made. Dixon finished the game with seven receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He showed the ability to use his explosive speed to blow by opposing defensive backs with ease in the deep passing game. Garrick also showed tremendous contest catch ability, using his athleticism to attack the ball at its highest point and strong hands to bring in catches through contact. He also played safety on defense, finishing the game with five tackles. Dixon is committed to Kansas State where he is expected to most likely play in the secondary.     Another Fort Zumwalt West pass catcher who stood out in the win was Jaden Joyce. Joyce lined up in the slot where he proved to be a very skilled route runner, using smooth breaks to create separation with ease. He was also dangerous after the catch, using his speed and elusiveness in the open field to pick up extra yards. Joyce finished the game with seven receptions for 66 yards. Jaden is a player who should definitely be on the radar of college coaches.     [player_tooltip player_id='1160493' first='Dominic' last='Lawrence'] helped create balance in the Jaguars' offense on Friday, leading the team in rushing with 19 carries for 84 yards. Lawrence is a strong downhill runner who should the ability to keep his legs churning through contact to break tackles and pick up extra yards with ease. He also proved to be a reliable receiving threat, catching four passes for 30 yards. Dominic currently holds an offer from Culver-Stockton and I wouldn't be surprised to see more come his way.     [player_tooltip player_id='212369' first='Ethan' last='Kidd'] was the leader of the Jaguars' defense on Friday. He showed impressive versatility, lining up both off the ball at linebacker and off the edge. Kidd was very reliable against the run, showing the ability to shed blocks then use his speed to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle. He finished the game with 10 total tackles. Ethan also recorded one sack and scored a rushing touchdown in the win. Kidd is another Jaguar who has the talent to be a productive player at the next level.     Ben Maskell was another member of the Jaguars' defense who impressed on Friday. He lined up at defensive end where he was very disruptive against the run. Maskell showed the ability to explode out of his stance and shoot the gaps to get to the ball carrier before the opposing offensive line had a chance to block him. Once he got to the ball carrier, he proved to be a very reliable tackler, finishing the game with six tackles. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, recording one sack and several quarterback pressures. Maskell has received some college interest and I wouldn't be surprised to see some offers come his way soon.     [player_tooltip player_id='1160675' first='Chase' last='Dixon'] was very impressive on both sides of the line in Friday's win. On offense, he lined up at left tackle where he showed the ability to create movement with ease in the run game. He also showed the ability to get to the second level with a sense of urgency and pick up blocks in the open field. On the defensive side of the ball, he lined up at defensive tackle where he used his strength to fight through blocks with ease to get to the ball carrier in the run game. He finished the game with five tackles. Dixon also had multiple quarterback pressures as a pass rusher. Chase doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to continue to keep a close eye on over the next two years.

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a very exciting Class 6 District 4 Championship Game between Fort Zumwalt West and Troy-Buchanan. After a very back-and-forth game, the Jaguars were able to pull away for a 34-31 victory in overtime. While there was an abundance of talent on the field on both sides, I wanted to take some time to focus on some players from each team who stood out above the rest. To kick things off, here are some players from Fort Zumwalt West who stood out in Friday's game.