Eye-Catching Performances in Flagstaff's Clash With Copper Canyon

<p>Flagstaff handed Copper Canyon their fourth loss of the season last Thursday and did so in impressive fashion. With both a 100+ yard rusher and a 300+ yard passer, Flagstaff showed how well-rounded their offense can be when it's firing on all cylinders. But it wasn't just the final score that turned heads — it was the individual performances that really told the story. From big-time plays on both sides of the ball to moments that shifted momentum, this game had its fair share of standout players. Here's a look at the eye-catching performances that defined the night.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brown Delivers a Masterclass in the Pocket</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='739447' first='Chase' last='Brown'] had himself quite an impressive day throwing the ball on Thursday night. Going for 310 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers on the night, he showed both poise and passion while delivering strikes to every part of the field. Brown did a great job of reading defenders all night to find the best matchup and is able to deliver the ball from multiple different arm angles to get the ball through the open throwing lanes without losing accuracy. Not a major threat to run the rock, he still manages to escape the pocket well and has really nice form on the run. Using plenty of torque in his upper body, he doesn't seem to lose any arm strength when throwing on the move. Maybe the most impressive stat is the zero turnovers through 34 attempts. Brown's decision-making was on point throughout the game and often put Flagstaff's offense in favorable positions.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Flagstaff Receivers Rise to the Occasion</h2>    <p>At 6'2" with some really long arms, Chase Carlson has a massive catch radius on the outside for Flagstaff's offense. If the ball comes into his vicinity, his strong and secure hands are more likely than not to come down with it. His cuts in his routes may not be the sharpest, but Carlson uses his physicality and top-end speed to get the separation that he needs. Even if he doesn't, he's shown the ability to make catches through contact — making him a great option in must-have situations.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">AJ Valdez showed how much of an all-around athlete he is against Copper Canyon. One of three Flagstaff receivers to finish with over 70 receiving yards, Valdez has eye-catching quickness that not only gives him easy separation but allows him to make players miss and add yards after the catch. As the team's backup quarterback, his number was called in the redzone early in the second half where he threw a touchdown pass; threading the needle to Carlson in the endzone. As just a sophomore, Valdez is a player coaches should keep an eye on.</p>    <p><strong>Conrad Poer:</strong> <em>2 Receptions, 84 Yds, 42 Yds/Rec</em></p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Conrad Poer's speed is undeniable and proved to be too much for Copper Canyon's defense to keep up with. On top of his speed, he did a great job during quarterback scrambles — regularly finding the open space and making himself visible.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wetzel Excels in Every Area</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Currently sitting as the third top rusher in all of 4A, Jadon Wetzel is an incredibly versatile back and put that on full display on Thursday night. Finishing the game with 116 yards and two touchdowns in just 15 carries — a whopping 8 yards per carry — he also had four receptions for 57 yards and another score. An impressive combination of speed and strength, he's a defensive coordinator's worst nightmare with the different ways he can be used. He doesn't just run routes from the backfield catching swing passes; Wetzel will line up in the slot and can create separation even against safeties who are used to being in coverage. His strength as a downhill runner makes him really effective running the ball inside the tackles, while his twitch and agility make him a threat to score any time he gets to the outside. Wetzel will be a real steal for whichever program ends up landing him.</p>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Warriors</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Gavin Franklin did a great job up front for Flagstaff's defense. Setting the tone in the run game, Franklin did a great job of firing off the line of scrimmage and often had offensive linemen moving backward. Beating double teams to get to the back before they could get through the hole, his strong base just overpowered Copper Canyon. When rushing the passer, he has very active hands that make it difficult for his opponents to stay engaged and he has some surprising burst for a player of his size. Standing in the middle of that defensive line, Franklin can cause offensive coordinators to have to completely change their game plan. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Garrett Degraff has some nice quickness in the second level of Flagstaff's defense. Quickly attacking the ball carrier, he's able to bring players down in the open field while not being afraid to be physical in the trenches. Degraff's strength stands out as a smaller player that's able to hold his own against the bigger offensive linemen; efficiently reading the play and wasting no time flying at the ball. Excelling against the run, Degraff finished the game with seven tackles and a forced fumble, showing the type of impact he can have each and every week. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Wyatt Ramsgate was impossible not to notice blanketing one side of the field. With some really nice footwork in coverage, he was able to keep everything in front of him without giving too much of a cushion. His quickness really shined whenever his assignment made a cut, where Ramsgate stayed right on his hip. Not purely a cover corner, he's incredibly physical for a defensive back. He forced a fumble with a massive hit to the quarterback after blitzing off the edge and does a great job of bringing players down in space. Ramsgate is going to be a large part of Flagstaff's defensive success throughout the rest of the year. </p>    <p><strong>Ryder Meyers</strong>: <em>2 Solo Tackles, 2 Passes Defended</em></p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>A physical safety that does a nice job on coverage, Meyers had a massive pass breakup in the endzone to prevent a touchdown. That really highlighted all of his strengths in one play — his ability to read the field as routes develop under him, his quick reactions, and his physicality as a smaller prospect were all needed to stop that touchdown from happening. Also the team's kicker, Meyers went six-for-six on extra points and knocked in a 23-yard field goal. </li> </ul>

Flagstaff handed Copper Canyon their fourth loss of the season last Thursday and did so in impressive fashion. With both a 100+ yard rusher and a 300+ yard passer, Flagstaff showed how well-rounded their offense can be when it's firing on all cylinders. But it wasn't just the final score that turned heads — it was the individual performances that really told the story. From big-time plays on both sides of the ball to moments that shifted momentum, this game had its fair share of standout players. Here's a look at the eye-catching performances that defined the night.