Week 3 Game Report: Blaine vs Anoka

Blaine 41 (2-1) vs Anoka 30 (0-3)   The final Week 3 game I'm covering is between the Blaine Bengals and the Anoka Tornados. Blaine has been one of the biggest 6A questions of the season. They hold a dominant win over Lakeville North and now have a great win over what is an Anoka squad that is way better than 0-3. That lone loss to Rogers is a little odd, but the Bengals have a great chance to keep their win streak alive when they travel to Coon Rapids (0-3) next week. Anoka has had a tough go of things so far, and in my opinion, is the best 0-3 team in 6A. Next week, they take on a surging Osseo (2-1) team at home.   Blaine:   QB: Jameson Niska, 5'10" 165 lbs, Blaine 2027   Niska had his best game yet this season against Anoka, solidifying his potential as a dual-threat quarterback. He went 9/15 (60%) through the air for 141 yards, one TD, and a great 113.5 passer rating. Yet he was arguably more effective on the ground, carrying the rock 15 times for 113 yards and a rushing TD, while averaging a stunning 7.5 ypc. I'm eager to see how he performs the rest of the season, because Niska could be a QB to watch going forward.   RB: [player_tooltip player_id='1557517' first='Derrick' last='Obwaya'], 6'0" 175 lbs, Blaine 2027   This was without a doubt the best game of Obwaya's season, both in terms of rushing and receiving, to the point where he could've been named one of the week's top performers. He was given the rock 24 times last Friday, twice as many as the previous week. Obwaya ended the game with 169 rushing yards and an insanely impressive 4 TDs! Averaging 7.0 ypc on 24 carries is wild enough, but Obwaya also found success through the air with a reception for 21 yards, another season high. The 2027 class for the Bengals looks legit.   TE: [player_tooltip player_id='1392997' first='Noah' last='Tieden'], 6'5" 225 lbs, Blaine 2026   Tieden has been one of the top TEs in the state for months, and he, too, played his best game of the season against Anoka. He had season highs in a number of categories, including catches with 5 (the most on the deep last week) and yards with 63, also a team high. The Western Illinois commit also puts in work blocking. Expect Tieden's workload to continue to rise, and for him to make a big impact on that Bengals offense.   WR/P: Hayden Hernandez, 6'1" 180 lbs, Blaine 2026   A reliable wideout for the Bengals, Hernandez had one of his best games of the year last week. He caught a season high 2 passes for 23 yards, and caught the team's only receiving TD on the evening, which was also his first receiving TD of the season. He had 3 punts for a combined 106 yards, which includes 2 punts downed inside the 20. Keep an eye out for this versatile Bengals athlete.   LB: Tyler Rinehart, 6'0" 185 lbs, Blaine 2026   Rinehart was arguably the best Bengals defender last Friday, mostly due to the sheer number of tackles he was able to rack up. He had a team high and a personal season high of 11 total tackles, which included 2 TFLs, the most on his team and the first two for Rinehart this season. I'd love to see more film from him, especially from his senior year, because I have a feeling he would make a good addition to a lot of MIAC squads.   DB: Gabriel Zeon, 5'7" 160 lbs, Blaine 2026   Zeon has had a pair of fantastic games as a boundary corner for the Bengals, but his Anoka game was bordering on an elite performance. He tripled his total tackles from Week 1 against Lakeville North, ending Week 3 with 9 total. He tallied his second interception of the season and had a whopping 5 pass breakups. That is a legit defensive performance against a historically great passing offense. I'm pumped to see what Zeon can do the rest of the season.   DB: Charlie Ramacher, 5'11" 175 lbs, Blaine 2026   The Bengals' secondary has been balling this year, and senior Charlie Ramacher is no exception. He brought down 8 total tackles and had a pass breakup. He's had two big games this season, and I'd love to see more film from them. I hope Ramacher can continue to produce at this level throughout the year.   DL: [player_tooltip player_id='1255915' first='Bangalee' last='Kamara'], 6'3" 270 lbs, Blaine 2026   Kamara is a big NT who has a high motor and has managed to produce consistently through the first 3 weeks, and his game against Anoka was his best one yet. He recorded 7 total tackles and a TFL, an impressive stat line for an interior defender. He also has a TON of tape, in which he showcases a quick first step. Kamara works down the line well and does a nice job of using his reach to prevent offensive linemen from properly engaging. The big man is still looking for a home, so coaches get at him!   OLB: [player_tooltip player_id='1581342' first='Brian' last='Sowada'], 6'4" 195 lbs, Blaine 2026   A lengthy OLB whose potential I'm very excited about, Sowada, rounds out the Blaine athletes who jumped off the stat sheet last Friday. Sowada had one of his best games of the year against Anoka. He brought down 7 total tackles, one TFL, and a big-time fumble recovery for the Bengals defense. Don't sleep on him the remainder of the season; he's got the potential to break out at any given time.   Anoka:   QB: [player_tooltip player_id='1120517' first='Blake' last='Sieben'], 5'10" 165 lbs, Anoka 2027   I've previously spoken about the potential that I think Sieben possesses, and the dual-threat QB from Anoka continues to light up the stat sheet week after week. He went 22/37 through the air for 214 yards and 2 TDs with a solid 82.5 passer rating. But a wrinkle of his game I'm intrigued about is his ability to make plays with his legs. He had 4 rushes for 38 yards and a TD last week, as well as a 2-point conversion. Anoka may be struggling right now, but Sieben is an athlete to watch going forward.   RB: Moses Boyce, 6'0" 200 lbs, Anoka 2028   The 2028 class is slowly beginning to take over Minnesota prep football, and Boyce might be a key member of that class to watch going forward. His workload is substantial, yet with only 9 carries through 3 games, but against Blaine, he took 3 carries for 27 yards and a TD, and he saw success earlier this season against Eden Prairie. Keep an eye out for Boyce over the next couple of years.   RB: [player_tooltip player_id='1120519' first='Brody' last='Rush'], 5'10" 195 lbs, Anoka 2027   I've long liked Rush a lot as a prospect, and I think he's just starting to scratch the surface of what he can accomplish. He's been the primary rusher for the Tornados and carried the rock 16 times last Friday night. He racked up 65 yards and a 2-point conversion against the Bengals on the ground, but also saw some success catching the rock when he reeled in 3 balls for 33 yards. Rush has had big games already this season, and I think he'll find his way into a weekly top performers list before the season ends.   WR: Cayden Ban, 5'9" 160 lbs, Anoka 2026   Ban has been one of the most productive receivers in the state through the first three weeks of the season, and he continued his success by reeling in a season high 9 catches against Blaine. He also led the Tornados in yards during the game with 75. He's one of the state leaders in receptions, and it's evident why on tape. Ban gets open often, and he's able to make plays once he gets outside of the hashes.   WR: Braylon Ylkanen, 5'10" 160 lbs, Anoka 2027   The winner of Anoka's offensive player of the game award from Week 3, Ylkanen is a junior who has the potential to evolve into Anoka's WR1 by next season. He caught 5 balls for 56 yards against Blaine, and also managed to find the endzone late in the 4th. Keep an eye out for Ylkanen going forward.   WR: Brody Lakanen, 6'4" 185 lbs, Anoka 2026   A standout basketball player with the frame to make a massive impact on the Tornados' offense, Lakanen has had a consistent role through three weeks, catching 2 balls in each of the first three games, while managing to find the endzone in each game too. Against Blaine, he too found the endzone in the 4th, and managed to rack up 37 yards throughout the game. His size alone makes him valuable, and he's proving to be a nice red zone threat for Anoka. I hope Lakanen can continue his TD streak next week.

Blaine 41 (2-1) vs Anoka 30 (0-3)