Indiana Championships Top Performers: Pioneer v. South Putnam

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the next week we will provide in-depth coverage of the state championships last weekend which took place at Lucas Oil Stadium last Friday and Saturday. Here is Part 1 of our Top Performers report from the Class 1A Showdown between South Putnam and Pioneer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1015481"],"_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-692dacfa1781c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1015481' first='Keenan' last='Mowery']-Shields, a Class of 2027 recruit, is around the ball no matter where he is. Mowery-Shields forced a fumble in the first half, can shed blocks and use his sheer size, bulk and frame to rip and disengage off blockers. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Class of 2027 recruit is second in the country in tackles and is deserving of Division I attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1955213"],"_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-692dacfa178c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class of 2027 LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='1955213' first='Ty' last='Benton'] was one of the top players pointed out to me ahead of the game on Friday morning, reasonable considering he ran for 2,452 yards and 26 touchdowns going into the state championship game. Benton is very tough to bring down as a tailback. A strong finisher who falls forward on contact. While he doesn't have much change-of-direction, Benton's size, frame and thick build make him difficult to bring down.</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":"Noah Van Meter","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pioneer","_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-692dacfa179fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pioneer put up a strong fight in the first half thanks to senior tailback Noah Van Meter. Van Meter, a Class of 2026 recruit, is a 5-foot-10, 174-pound prospect who is a very tough inside runner who can push a pile. Van Meter runs through contact; even when his team was down, he refused to go down on first contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1709461"],"_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-692dacfa17a88"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Van Meter's replacement for next season will likely be Phillip McFatridge, a sophomore tailback who proved he belongs. McFatridge is like Van Meter: a tough tailback who finishes forward and can be hard to bring down. He is a legitimate threat in the passing game, making catches and adjusting high and low to the ball. Keep an eye on him to develop into a solid player down the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->