Some of the Most Explosive Returners in Iowa

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at some of the most dangerous returners on punts and kicks in the state of Iowa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1616459"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68dff899644ff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of my favorite players on this side of the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1616459' first='Drew' last='Bennis'] is lightning in a bottle for Cedar Rapids Prairie. Not only is he the team's leading receiver and [player_tooltip player_id='458050' first='Cael' last='Kongshaug']'s favorite target through the air, but Bennis is as dangerous as the come in 5A as a returner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He proved just that with his first punt return of the season, taking one back <em>90 yards</em> for a touchdown in Prairie's season-opening, 38-0 win over Linn-Mar. So far, 90 yards is the longest punt return for a score in all classes. One of just three punt returns so far this season, Bennis is averaging 41 yards per return. On kickoffs, he's taken two back, and is averaging 30 yards per return. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241527"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68dff89964563"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A returner that's received quite a bit of buzz at the 4A level, [player_tooltip player_id='1241527' first='Drew' last='Hobart'] holds down kickoff return duties for Mason City. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On just five kickoff returns this season, Hobart has returned two back for scores -- one of 90 and the other of 99 yards. Both came against Gilbert in Week Two, and, seemingly, opposing teams have learned their lesson, opting to kick away from the speedy senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Hobart's longer of the two returns, he weaved in and out of traffic, appearing to have covered 125 yards on his 99-yard return, bouncing from one side of the field to the other, breaking one tackle and then going untouched the rest of the way to the endzone. The second, though shorter on the stat-sheet, he somehow traversed more total distance, showing Kaden Wetjen-like vision and maneuvering from the middle of the field, to the near side, to the far side before finding the endzone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1925478"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68dff899645b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet another weapon for 1A powerhouse and 2A reigning state champions, West Lyon, [player_tooltip player_id='1925478' first='River' last='Kramer'] has burst onto the scene as a threat in the third phase of the game this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the four punts he's returned so far this season, Kramer has taken three back for scores and is averaging just under 50 yards per return. Going into the Friday of Week Six, he's the only returner in 11-Man football to put together three punt return touchdowns this season. Kramer isn't the only member of the West Lyon team to return a punt for a score this season, either, as senior teammate Jordon Meyer has also taken one back for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Presumably, opposing teams have learned their lesson, as they have with Hobart on kickoffs, avoiding Kramer at all costs on punts. The Wildcats have forced quite a few punts this season, too, only allowing 13 points <em>total </em>through their first five games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1925483"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68dff89964623"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back with yet another wild stat from a dominant small school in northwest Iowa, [player_tooltip player_id='1925483' first='Braylon' last='Lopez'] of West Sioux is the only returner in all 11-Man classes with three <em>kick </em>returns for touchdowns this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's the kicker (no pun intended) -- he's only touched the ball on kickoff returns three times. So, Lopez is currently batting 1.000 on taking kicks back for scores. His average return per kick, therefore, is a whopping 84 yards per return. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A key part of the Falcons' 5-0 start, Lopez also leads his team in rushing and is second in receiving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1105157"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68dff89964672"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most versatile athletes in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1105157' first='Christopher' last='Ford'] may have been a better fit in the Two-Way Wonder category, but his special teams efforts have stuck out so much, he lands here with explosive returners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So far this season, Ford has returned two of three kickoffs for touchdowns, averaging 72 yards per return, making it inexcusable for opposing kickers to continue to put the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's not the only thing he does on special teams, though. Holding down punting duties for the Black Knights, Ford has punted 16 balls away with an average of 32.2 yards per boot. On offense, he's caught 16 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown, and on defense, he's put together 22 tackles and an interception already this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there's one thing to know about the junior athlete, it's that he's going to find a way to impact the game, one way or another. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->