Nate’s Big Dogs of the Week: Week 2 Edition-Offense

We are now closing in on the Week 2 Edition of Nate’s Big Dogs of the Week: Offense. This game at O'Shaughnessy Stadium at St. Thomas was a great one between East Ridge and Cretin-Derham Hall. Here are my 5 big dogs on offense of the week. <strong><em>KJ Moore, Running Back, East Ridge</em></strong> Moore really carried the workload strong for the Raptors in this game. He started off slow, but after his 66-yard sprint to the end zone, he was in the zone. Moore finished with 21 carries, 125 yards for the Raptors, in which I would consider him my Raptors MVP of the game, he really was the ball and chain of this offense. <strong><em>Chris Walsh, Wide Receiver, Cretin-Derham Hall</em></strong> Walsh was the Raiders go to receiver in this one. Preston Thelemann found him on multiple occasions and to my tally had 6 catches, 52 yards and nearly 9 yards per catch. Good performance in Week 2 out of Walsh. <strong><em>Riley Larson, Quarterback, East Ridge</em></strong> Although his passing performance was sub par, Larson was a gamer on offense with running the ball. This kid is not afraid to put his head down move the ball forward for positive yardage. Had a strong 35-yard rush in the 3^rd quarter and finished with 16 carries for 56 yards. If he can create a stronger passing game and get the likes of WR <strong>Andres Pettis </strong>and TE <strong>Caden Nienow </strong>involved, Larson should have a good senior year for the Raptors. <strong><em>Tyson Schilling/Marselio Mendez, Wide Receiver, Cretin-Derham Hall</em></strong> Although Schilling only had 2 receptions, one of those receptions was a huge one for the Raiders. For the second touchdown of the game, Preston Thelemann found Schilling for a 53-yard reception to put the Raiders up 14-0. 2 receptions, 58 yards, 29 yards per catch, and 1 touchdown is a solid game for Tyson Schilling on the Raiders. The game changer of the game was <strong>Marselio Mendez</strong>. After a defensive 3^rd quarter with no scoring the Raiders opened the 4^th looking to fire away at the Raptors defense. Preston Thelemann found WR Marselio Mendez for the momentum changing score of the game, a 59-yard catch for a touchdown which would put the Raiders up for good on the Raptors. In my football opinion, it’s not about the yards in the game that make you a game changer, it’s the one play you make to change the perception of the game in which Marselio Mendez changed the game and locked in a Raiders win over their rival. <strong><em>Preston Thelemann, Quarterback, Cretin-Derham Hall (My Offensive Game Ball of the Week)</em></strong> In the first game of the season and into the second game you found the Raiders trying to find their match at QB. They subbed in Mike Walsh at times but in the end the QB1 job belongs to Preston Thelemann after this one. His superb arm strength and grit to guide the Raiders to victory was electric. Thelemann was 21 for 30, 299 yards, and 2 TD and 0 INT. This senior QB really impressed me tonight which is why I am giving him the offensive game ball of the week in this battle between the Raptors/Raiders.