Game Recap: Millard South vs. Elkhorn South

<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Overview:</strong></span></p> Nothing like a heavyweight bout between the Millard South Patriots Elkhorn South Storm <span style="font-size: 1rem;">on a beautiful Thursday night</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">. The visiting Elkhorn South squad was the Class A runner-up in 2020 and is looking to find their way back to Memorial Stadium this year. Millard South has one of the deepest, most athletic teams in the entire state. This game looked like a great matchup between two well-coached and physical teams with tons of star power on each side. Elkhorn South featured the a couple of elite defensive lineman in [player_tooltip player_id="151097" first="Chase" last="Emsick"] and upcoming 2023 edge demon Maverick Noonan. Millard South also had it’s fair share of top-tier athletes in Mr. Do-It-All QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id="148260" first="Gage" last="Stenger"], NIU-commit [player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Jake" last="Gassaway"], and [player_tooltip player_id="148261" first="Antrell" last="Taylor"] who is a Nebraska Wrestling commit. Both offenses started a little slow as a result of each other’s stifling defenses. The Elkhorn South defensive line kept the Millard South OL out of sort, forcing Stenger to extend plays on his legs. The breakthrough play was a 55-yard pass from Stenger to [player_tooltip player_id="148261" first="Antrell" last="Taylor"] putting up the first points of the game. After that touchdown, Millard South kept their foot on the gas as they proceeded to score on a Stenger pass to junior Brock Murtaugh, a 16-yard run by Stenger, an acrobatic grab by [player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Jake" last="Gassaway"], and a very well-executed pass from WR [player_tooltip player_id="148261" first="Antrell" last="Taylor"] to QB Camden Kozeal. The Elkhorn South offense struggled to push the ball downfield and getting the ball to their dynamic pass-catchers. They could get the run game going fairly well, but inconsistency and a swift and physical Millard South defense could stop long drives. Elkhorn South will host the Omaha Central Eagles on Friday, 9/10. Millard South will be taking on their in-town rival in Millard West on Friday, 9/10.</span> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Final:</strong></span><span style="text-align: center; font-size: 1rem;"> Millard South 33 - Elkhorn South 7</span></p> <hr /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Top Ranked Prospects:</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="148260" first="Gage" last="Stenger"], 6’3" 200 lbs - Millard West QB/S/ATH Commited: Kansas State <ul> <li>He is just a beast on the field. He is very athletic, has great speed, good size for his position(s), and reacts very well to what he sees on the field.</li> <li>He had a super tough touchdown run (called back) that really made me say, "Yup, he’s that guy."</li> </ul> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11458269/6132a69e42070010a4d8e88c" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Jake" last="Gassaway"], 6’3" 215 lbs - Millard South LB/WR <ul> <li>Super athletic who can cover large chunks of the field.</li> <li>He did a great job in coverage and did a fantastic job playing against the run. He can lay a HIT.</li> <li>He is very underrated as a receiver (1:10 for an awesome touchdown catch)</li> </ul> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11458287/6132a32bab9d210430087564" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Maverick Noonan, 6’4" 230 lbs - Elkhorn South EDGE/DL/OL <ul> <li>His get-off speed is insane, and his first step is so quick, it’s hard to get your hands on him.</li> <li>On the flip side, he knows how to strategically get his hands on tackles to gain leverage and drive them out of the way.</li> <li>Very impressive on the offensive line as well. There was a QB run where he came in from the backside and hustled to get in front and lead block. So fast and agile.</li> </ul> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12930515/6133da53ff01d804a0f713b7" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="151097" first="Chase" last="Emsick"], 6’4" 300 lbs - Elkohorn South DL/OL <ul> <li>He’s a bull in the interior of the DL. Plays the run very well and clogs up lanes.</li> <li>Road-grader at OL, coming up to the second level to get his hands on people.</li> <li>Very sound footwork and agility for a bigger guy. Paired with straight, dangerous.</li> </ul> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8370026/612d4bc84205bb0868664bda" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Millard South takeaways:</strong></span> <ul> <li>This defense is STINGY. Defensive line: [player_tooltip player_id="193803" first="Jonah" last="Matthews"], JR Lecuona, Lance Rucker; Linebackers: [player_tooltip player_id="164872" first="Christian" last="Nash"], [player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Jake" last="Gassaway"], Grant Renken; Secondary: [player_tooltip player_id="148261" first="Antrell" last="Taylor"], Justin Gassaway, Josh Wilson, and [player_tooltip player_id="148260" first="Gage" last="Stenger"] are all</li> <li>The offensive line is still working on its chemistry. Squaring up against a talented defensive line was a bit of a challenge. I did see them competing until the whistle, which you have to like for your linemen.</li> <li>The players really seem to be bought into this offense and its potential. QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id="148260" first="Gage" last="Stenger"] runs the scheme very well, and the skill position players are very selfless in regards to carries, touches, etc. [player_tooltip player_id="148261" first="Antrell" last="Taylor"], Brock Murtaugh, [player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Jake" last="Gassaway"], [player_tooltip player_id="164872" first="Christian" last="Nash"] are all exceptional pieces to this offense.</li> </ul> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/2/5/6132cf489a9145092c47669a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Elkhorn South takeaways:</strong></span> <ul> <li>Elkhorn South’s pass-rushers are their best unit. Maverick Noonan, [player_tooltip player_id="151097" first="Chase" last="Emsick"], [player_tooltip player_id="191168" first="Gabe" last="Whitten"], [player_tooltip player_id="191167" first="Josh" last="Fee"], Chase Work, and the rest of their rotation provided consistent pressure and driving plays outside of the pocket. They took advantage of their mismatches against a less experienced OL.</li> <li>Was hoping to see more from the skill position players. [player_tooltip player_id="180277" first="Corbin" last="Ford"], [player_tooltip player_id="147987" first="Blake" last="Daly"], and [player_tooltip player_id="148218" first="Koy" last="Wilke"] can all be dangerous in the passing game.</li> <li>Cole Mitchell is underrated at the FS position. He was coming up and making tackles in the run game and was quick to sniff out screenplays. Mitchell also provides a consistent deep-field defender. Great speed too.</li> <li>The passing game could not get going. [player_tooltip player_id="164480" first="Will" last="Skradis"] struggled to find his playmakers throughout the night. At times, it was a result of a tough Patriot defense, and at times, the ball wasn’t getting to the receivers.</li> </ul> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/2/3739/6132f8173864ec0a78adb9f2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Millard South Notable Players:</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="148261" first="Antrell" last="Taylor"], 5’9" 165 lbs - WR/DB https://twitter.com/RexSmithTV/status/1433602440524402689?s=20 JR Lecouna, 6’2" 235 lbs - DL <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14813369/6131aae3bed7310840ad2f35" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Justin Gassaway, 6’1" 180 lbs - DB/KR/WR <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11458193/61323b180c5de30d2428ca7c" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Jonah Matthew, 6’4" 210 lbs - DL <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11949965/6131941dab9d210430069eac" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Phillip Meckna, 6’2" 205 lbs - OL/DL <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11458242/6131aa296898e807b44aecd9" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="164872" first="Christian" last="Nash"], 6’ 220 lbs - RB/LB <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12934609/6132068bbed7310840ae178f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Brock Murtaugh, 6’2" 180 - WR <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13075152/6132a33196779207987227a5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Simon McClanan, 6’1" 165 lbs - K/P https://twitter.com/McclannanSimon/status/1433634509807886339?s=20 <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Elkhorn South Players:</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="148218" first="Koy" last="Wilke"], 6’4" 210 lbs - TE/OLB <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11152379/5fec2019ff02381028d8b0c5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Cole Ballard, 6’ 185 lbs - RB <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12930516/6133d5743df5bd03687059e8" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="191168" first="Gabe" last="Whitten"], 6’ 245 lbs - OL/DL <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11159162/5fffc03596815909b4918cd7" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> [player_tooltip player_id="191165" first="Carsen" last="Crouch"], 5’10" 170 lbs - K <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9651045/60db529d02bc9303c4e4e3cf" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Cole Mitchell, 5’9" 170 lbs - FS <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9667448/61326360d468881280f86894" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp; Seth Allan, 6’2" 180 lbs - LB.