Six Standouts from the Iowa 5A State Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six of the top playmakers from Nevada's 27-6 state championship win over Bishop Heelan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/five-standouts-from-the-8-man-semifinals/">Five Standouts from the Iowa 8-Man State Championship Game</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/six-standouts-from-the-iowa-1a-state-championship-game/">Six Standouts from the Iowa 1A State Championship Game</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/six-standouts-from-the-iowa-3a-championship/">Six Standouts from the Iowa 3A Championship</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1619297"],"_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-69213abb2208b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An absolute terror on the Dowling defensive front, [player_tooltip player_id='1619297' first='Ryan' last='Bobo'] lived in the Liberty backfield all night in Cedar Falls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed to Drake, Bobo showed why he's a Division I caliber pass-rusher, playing with violence and relentless pursuit of the quarterback off the edge for the Maroons. With the way he played in The Dome, the Bulldogs better hope he makes it to signing day -- a program in the midst of a rebuild like UNI, that can also offer him a scholarship -- could greatly benefit from adding an in-state DL and building block like Bobo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Surprisingly finishing with just four tackles, Bobo finished with three sacks that resulted in 35-yards lost for the Liberty offense, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. </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":"Emerson Berner","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_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":"Iowa City Liberty","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69213abb22159"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming in for star quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig'] (who finished his career with the Lighting by completing 18-of-25 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown) in the first half when the senior went down with an injury, Emerson Berner almost couldn't have played better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standing in the pocket, surveying the defense and making the correct reads on play calls from Scott Chandler, Berner finished 8-of-12 for 54 yards, throwing a perfect ball to [player_tooltip player_id='1617593' first='Pryor' last='Reiners'], that went just off his finger tips, but was perfectly layered over two Dowling defensive backs. Losing Rettig hurts, but having Berner set to take over the job next season should give Lightning fans some hope for the future of the program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1361347"],"_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-69212dd76d7e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of few receivers that could help either quarterback throughout the evening, [player_tooltip player_id='1361347' first='Adrian' last='Clerry'] showed speed and awareness of timing that allowed him to be consistently impactful for Liberty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A smaller receiver at 5-foot-10 and 170-pounds, Clerry was quick on routes over the middle and dig routes to the sideline, providing a safety net through the air for Rettig when the Lightning were forced to push the ball down the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clerry finished with six receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240479"],"_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-69213abb22228"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the unsung heroes on an elite offensive line that features top-ranked 2028 prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='1583613' first='Carter' last='Barrett'] and fellow Power 4 recruit, [player_tooltip player_id='1286887' first='Evan' last='Mitchell'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='1240479' first='Josh' last='Miller'] helped pave the way for [player_tooltip player_id='856072' first='Ian' last='Middleton'], who carried the Maroon offense on his back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Getting push and driving back the Liberty defensive front almost all night, Miller showed his understanding of pad-level and leverage, getting up and under the pads of the Liberty DL and pushing them back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miller, a St. Thomas commit, helped Middleton finish with 34 carries for 206 yards and two touchdowns. </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":"Jordan Watson","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dowling Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69213abb222c8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another lesser-known prospect for the Maroons, senior cornerback Jordan Watson was a key reason why Liberty struggled to get any sort of offensive momentum going. Watson, in constant coverage, was a pivotal piece in limiting the usually prolific passing attach for Liberty. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile DB that has the potential to play nickel, safety or his native corner at the next level, he showed the ability to run with top receivers, finishing the evening with an interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1810867"],"_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-69213abb22320"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Seemingly in on every play at the line of scrimmage, [player_tooltip player_id='1810867' first='Jackson' last='Williams'] showed a motor few possess at the 5A level, playing on both of the offensive and defensive lines for the Lightning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Using his long arms to create separation in pass protection and to disengage from the Dowling OL, Williams showed that he was adept on both sides of the ball. He finished the evening with eight tackles, including a TFL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->