Five Standouts from the Iowa 8-Man State Championship Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five of the top playmakers from Bishop Garrigan's come back 44-42 victory in the 8-Man state championship over Woodbine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197458"],"_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-691f953d25a5c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a slow start and a big second half in the semis, [player_tooltip player_id='1197458' first='Landon' last='Blum'] came out firing on all cylinders on Thursday, showing off why he's one of few Power 4 prospects to come out of 8-Man football in Iowa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tall, lanky, athletic receiver who can make plays in the open field, beat his man in one-on-one coverage. A specimen of a receiver at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds with ball-skills that look college-ready, Blum grabbed eight catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, proving to be one of the most dominant prospects in all of high school football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242287"],"_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-691f953d25b34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The straw that stirs the drink for Bishop Garrigan, [player_tooltip player_id='1242287' first='Tate' last='Foertsch'] had trouble getting going and making big plays for the Golden Bears on Thursday. Selling out on the QB run, Woodbine made gaining every single inch difficult for the senior QB and his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not taking his foot off the gas despite a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Foertsch kept his team focused and fighting throughout the whole contest. Taking 36 carries for 157 yards, Foertsch scored three times for Garrigan on the ground, adding nine completions for 131 yards. Through the air, 36 yards came on a bomb to CJ McGregor with less than 20 seconds to go, setting up the game-tying touchdown. He sealed the deal with his two-point conversion carry, taking the ball to the left and walking in for the game-winner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2005136"],"_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-691f953d25bb2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of not taking his foot off the gas -- [player_tooltip player_id='2005136' first='Ethan' last='Marso'] was the bell cow back all season for Garrigan, and he did the same on Thursday. Riding the wave of the big, 230-pound running back, Marso took 25 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns, making every tackle difficult for the Woodbine defense. Prior to Foertsch's two-point conversion, Marso scored the game-tying touchdown from one-yard out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At linebacker, Marso finished with five tackles and a critical interception that helped the Golden Bears claw their way back in the second half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1207821"],"_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-691f953d25c2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A breakout star the last two weeks for the Tigers, [player_tooltip player_id='1207821' first='Micah' last='Moores'] showed up in a big way again on Thursday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With one of the best passing attacks in 8-Man, Moores and the Tigers took full advantage in Cedar Falls. On Thursday, when Garrigan started the game with just two down linemen, Woodbine ran the ball at-will with Moores, who finished the game with 21 carries for 106 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tailback with straight-line speed that keeps his legs chugging along through arms tackles, falling forward and finding the open field, Moores should be on small school radars across the state after his performances in The Dome. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242266"],"_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-691f953d25c9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If there's anyone who should leave Cedar Falls with his head high, it's Woodbine [player_tooltip player_id='1242266' first='Brody' last='Pryor'], who did anything and everything he could to propel his team to a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pryor is a QB that has solid pocket awareness, the ability to avoid pressure, shows consistent trust in his receivers on deep balls and has touch on his throws. Against Garrigan, he finished by completing 13-of-21 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he took three carries for 21 yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At defensive back, Pryor tracks the ball well as the last line of defense, posting 7.5 tackles and an incredibly important PBU on a fourth-down shot to the endzone in the first half by Garrigan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->