Game Report: Cannon Falls vs. Zumbrota-Mazeppa

We return to the MN Southeast division to take a look at a division-matchup to kick off the 2024 high school football season in Minnesota, a match between Cannon Falls (10-3) and Zumbrota-Mazeppa (2-7).   Cannon Falls had a statement win to kickoff the season, potentially a sign of things to come this season for the Bombers, as they dominated across the board in a 55-6 rout over the Cougars. Cannon Falls was firing on all gears and both sides of the ball was unstoppable. The Bombers finished with 556 total yards of offense, with 503 yards being accounted on the ground., and the defense forced 8 turnovers on the Cougars. On the very first play for Cannon Falls, Tysen Lind took the ball and outran the defense for an 82 yard touchdown. Two plays later, on the kickoff to Zumbrota-Mazeppa, the Bombers forced and recovered a fumble off the return deep in Cougars' territory in which they converted into another score. This set the tone for the game as the Cougars were overwhelmed by Cannon Falls, who looks to be a top contender as a Class 1AAA team. Here were some of the top performers of the game!   ATH Jack Meyers: Cannon Falls (6' 170 lb, Sr.)   Undoubtedly the MVP of the game, Jack Meyers proved impossible for the Cougars to stop, rushing for 72 yards on just 8 carries and 3 touchdowns on the ground, plus a 32 yard touchdown reception from QB [player_tooltip player_id='1629194' first='Grady' last='Meyers']. Jack brought his A-game to the table on Friday night, showcasing his speed and agility throughout the night, shifting and juking around defenders, and for someone playing on a team who predominantly uses the T-formation, that's not an easy task. Meyers was dangerous whenever the ball was in his hands, and he's going to be a playmaker to watch for the Bombers moving forward.   ATH Keagen Haugen: Zumbrota-Mazeppa (5'9 155 lb, Sr.)   For as much as the Cougars' defense struggled to contain the Bombers' deep backfield, LB/Safety hybrid Keagen Haugen ended up finishing with a team high 10 tackles in the loss. Haugen is a smaller defender, but he played with poise and hard effort through every snap, even when the going was getting tough. Haugen proved to be a solid run-supporter and his versatility will make him an intriguing prospect to watch this season.   RB Tysen Lind: Cannon Falls (6' 165 lb, Sr.)   Tysen Lind was the one responsible for the 82 yard touchdown run at the beginning of the game that foreshadowed how the run-offense ended up performing all game. Lind finished with 124 yards on just 7 carries and the one touchdown. Lind showed traits of an effective tailback during the win, showing quick speed up the middle, great vision finding lanes, and shows great finesse spinning and shifting around defenders. Despite splitting carries in a deep backfield, Lind brings the most in each carry and should enjoy a spectacular senior season on the ground.   LB Jack Shepersky: Cannon Falls (6' 170 lb, So.)   Jack Shepersky played in limited snaps during the first game, but showed great potential as a future leader of the defense, recording a fumble recovery and an interception in the win. Shepersky's size and strength has grown substantially since his freshman year, and he's proven to be more effective in the run-support, and he plays to his instincts in the secondary, coming down with a well-timed pick jumping ahead of the receiver. Shepersky will be a surging name on the Bombers' defense this season.   LB Hadyn Boraas: Zumbrota-Mazeppa (6'2 185 lb, So.)   Coming off a solid freshman debut, Hadyn Boraas picked up where he left off by finishing his first game this season with 9 tackles. Boraas also provided with the Cougars' only points of the day, coming on a 5 yard touchdown run. Boraas split reps at QB with standout athlete Taite Raasch, and while Boraas wasn't immune to mistake, Boraas provided stability on the offense, and showed excellent form as a MLB, firmly wrapping around ball-carriers for a clean tackle. Boraas will continue to improve with time, and he's a name that should stand out on the Cougars' defense as they look to recover off this rough start.   ATH August Wagner: Cannon Falls (6'0 210 lb, Sr.)   August Wagner may have been the most active player on the Bombers' roster during the season opener. On the ground, Wagner was a bruising runner, scoring a touchdown and a 2PT conversion as he contributed to the Bombers' dominant run-game. On the defense, Wagner was unstoppable around the edge, recording 2 forced fumbles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in the win. Wagner proved disruptive as a pass-rusher, causing commotion in the backfield with his speed and aggression in getting to the QB. Wagner could grow across the season as a viable DE/OLB prospect for recruiting teams.

We return to the MN Southeast division to take a look at a division-matchup to kick off the 2024 high school football season in Minnesota, a match between Cannon Falls (10-3) and Zumbrota-Mazeppa (2-7).