Week 3 Critical Matchups With Spotlight Ballers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In seemingly the blink of an eye we are rolling into the third week of the season and it is already turning into a regular-season gauntlet with big games every week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week will be no different as many rivals are locking horns as well numerous 1-1 teams looking to get back on track after starting the season with big wins and then losing last week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report we will take a look at three key games and touch on some of the important players involved in each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, without further adieu, let's check these guys out:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MAIZE (2-0) VS. MAIZE SOUTH (1-1):</strong> <strong><em>the Maize bragging rights are up for grabs with the 6A #3-ranked Maize Eagles rolling along undefeated against a dangerous Maverick team that blew out Valley Center last week to move to 1-1. Should be a good one.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1166125' first='Colt' last='Curry']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/colt-curry/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/colt-curry/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 6'2, 205, QB,&nbsp;<em>Maize</em>,&nbsp;<strong>'27</strong>, this dual-threat gunslinger stepped up with arguably his best game yet leading the <em>Eagles</em> over a strong <em>Salina South</em> team 48-6 last week, completing 14 of 18 passes for 162 yds, completing 78% and threw 4 TD passes. He also ran for 104 yds on 11 carries and scored another TD. So far through two games he has piled up 587 yds running and passing and 8 touchdowns. After a busy off-season showcasing his game on the camp-combine circuit and fine-tuning his dual-threat skills, he has started the season playing a hot hand and looks to keep the <em>Maize</em> <em>momentum</em> going this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1643737' first='Reign' last='Illian']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/reign-illian/"></a> </strong></strong>, 6'4, 205, QB,&nbsp;<em>Maize South</em>, <strong>'27</strong>, on the other side of the ball this gunslinger is coming off a hot game as well, getting his team back on the winning track with a 48-20 win over <em>Valley Center</em>. In that game he was 18 of 23 for 231 yds, completing 78% and fired 4 TD passes. He also had 64 yds rushing on 11 carries and 2 more scores to give him a 6-TD night. The D1 offers are starting to come in and his off-season training with <em>Tim Tebow</em> and impressing at major camps is paying off as after two games he is 31 of 45, completing 69%, for 428 yds running and passing and, importantly, zero interceptions. He is going to need all the arrows in his quiver this week against #3-ranked Maize.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HAVEN (2-0) vs HILLSBORO (1-1):</strong> <strong><em>Haven looks to continue their unbeaten streak so far this year and it will be a challenge coming off the emotional OT win over Pratt last week and a tough Hillsboro team freshly off a shutout victory over Larned.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1544687' first='Cole' last='Brawner']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cole-brawner/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cole-brawner/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 5'10, 170, RB/LB,&nbsp;<em>Haven</em>, <strong>'28</strong> - he has picked up where he left off last year helping lead his team to a 2-0 start with a big win last week 42-41 over <em>Pratt</em> in OT. Last year he was one of the top RBs in the state and so far over the last two games he has piled up 406 all-purpose yards and scored 4 TDs on offense with 15 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery on the other side of the ball. It will be hard to top his sophomore season when he rushed for 1,653 yds, scored 23 TDs and picked off 6 passes but he is well on his way to taking a shot at it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brogan Wray</strong>, 5'10, 165, QB/DB, <em>Haven</em>, <strong>'27</strong>, he is a dangerous dual-threat QB who has flown under radar somewhat but is a baller who is starting to get some attention. Pairing with <em>Brawner </em>the two have developed into an exciting one-two punch that has helped spearhead their undefeated start. Through two games he has run and passed for 477 yds and 9 TDs, averaged 38-yds a punt, had 17 tackles and picked off a pass on defense. He is a versatile playmaker who is coming off a year when he had 1,900+ total yds and 18 TDs and looks ready to continue to bring those kinds of fireworks this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LAWRENCE (1-1) vs SHAWNEE MISSION EAST: (1-1):</strong> <strong><em>both teams showing glimpses of great things so far and niether wants to fall to 1-2, so expect a slugfest this Friday.</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1593083' first='Gus' last='Ketteler']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gus-ketteler/"></a> </strong></strong><em>,&nbsp;</em>6'1, 195, RB/DB,&nbsp;<em>Shawnee Mission East</em>,&nbsp;<strong>'27</strong>, he kicked off the season a day earlier than the pack and helped provide the juice for his team's opening-day victory over <em>Olathe North</em>, 42-28, when he torched the turf for 153 rushing yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns. Last week he and his <em>Lancer</em> teammates ran into a buzzsaw, losing to Missouri powerhouse <em>Rockhurst</em>, so they will be particularly intent on getting things back on the winning track this Friday. So far this fall he has been a dynamic back using his quickness and track speed to hit the perimeter but also runs with physicality picking up yds after the initial hit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2101924' first='Joey' last='Dooley']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joey-dooley/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joey-dooley/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 6'3, 195, QB,&nbsp;<em>Lawrence</em>,&nbsp;<strong>'28</strong>, he and is teammates opened with a tough loss to <em>Gardner Edgerton</em> 26-28, but he had a standout game completing 19 of 23 passes (83%) for 255 yards and 3 touchdown passes. He followed up by leading his team to a 31-7 win over <em>Junction City</em> and has delivered some sizzling stats through the first two games completing 30 of 42 passes, 70%, 455 total yds and 6 TDs. This guy has next-level skills and after piling up 1,400+ APYs and 13 TD's in only eight games last year and a strong off-season look for him to really take off in the coming weeks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get out and watch these guys sizzle this fall. And, as always, give me a shout via DM on X if you run across any&nbsp;<em>under the radar</em>&nbsp;guys. Keep grindin'...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->