Scouting the Standouts: LA defeats CBHS 33-7

<p>In a battle of top programs in the Division II-AAA West Region, Lipscomb Academy defeated Christian Brothers 33-7 at home to earn a crucial home region victory.</p>   <p>Both teams showed out well and this game was much more competitive than the final score would suggest. With the visiting Purple Wave unable to finish drives, Lipscomb Academy's maintained control during the contest and blew it open late with a pair of long touchdown runs.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lipscomb Academy 2028 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1032063' first='Elijah' last='Hensley']</h2>   <p>The talented Mustangs tailback room was held in check for the most part tonight, but they delivered when it was needed, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1032063' first='Elijah' last='Hensley'] was the primary reason why in this game.</p>   <p>He delivered key explosive rushes when he needed to and ultimately led the offense to the region victory. He tacked on a pair of explosive rushing touchdowns that began at midfield.</p>   <p>His first score came immediately following his defense recovering a fumble and it completely changed the momentum of the game, putting Lipscomb Academy up 20-7. His final score came from 50 yards out to ice the game and had some impressive blocks as well.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/2111296867627618424?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lipscomb Academy 2028 TE [player_tooltip player_id='2142230' first='Gregory' last='Kirwan']</h2>   <p>While it was not an overall productive night for junior tight end prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2142230' first='Gregory' last='Kirwan'] (one catch for 10 yards), he continued to stand out and raise his stock.</p>   <p>He has the potential to be a high-profile receiving threat at any level of the field from the tight end position and that is a large part of what makes him an exciting prospect, but the blocking he continues to display should have college coaches excited. He consistently moved front seven defenders 5-10 yards off the initial contact point and freed up rushing lanes on the outside.</p>   <p>He did have his moments as a receiver as well, most notably working wide open on a tight end leak route that would have likely been a touchdown, but the quarterback did not see him.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Christian Brothers 2029 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1717494' first='Nate' last='Brick']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1717494' first='Nate' last='Brick'] put together a stellar performance against a talented Lipscomb Academy defense and continues to show why he will soon become a national name on recruiting radars.</p>   <p>His accuracy, anticipation and touch when throwing downfield is unmatched and puts him physically ready to play the quarterback position at the college level right now. Whether it was throwing downfield along the numbers, fitting into a window along the sideline or locating the throw downfield over the middle, the results were very effective and impossible to stop.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/2111268143783891182?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>I thought he could get flustered as a freshman when facing pressure from the interior and that was something the opposing defense seeked to take advantage of with constant A-gap blitzes. That allowed Brick to show his most significant development, stepping up in the pocket with natural feel and working out of pressure with ease.</p>   <p>If there was one thing to clean up as he continues to mature and develop, it would be needing to holding the ball high and tight more consistently when he steps up in the pocket or turns from passer to runner.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/2111262865415893438?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Christian Brothers 2027 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1402723' first='William' last='Umsted']</h2>   <p>Both programs' defensive line stood out all night long, but the top individual performer in the game was Christian Brothers senior [player_tooltip player_id='1402723' first='William' last='Umsted'].</p>   <p>He was an impossible blocking task for opposing offensive lineman and created havoc from a variety of alignments. The defensive line held one of the best rushing attacks in the state in check aside from 4-5 plays and they could not successfully work his way.</p>   <p>He also won as a pass rusher, leading a defensive front that made life miserable for the opposing quarterback, constantly forcing him to run around in the backfield, scramble and miss reads.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/2111318170787299811?s=20 </div></figure>

In a battle of top programs in the Division II-AAA West Region, Lipscomb Academy defeated Christian Brothers 33-7 at home to earn a crucial home region victory.