Lightning vs. Wolfpack – Offensive standouts

It was a tale of two halves Thursday night at Park High School. Offensively, the Park Wolfpack was a big play machine. The Eastview Lightning had some chunk plays too, but could not keep up. In the second half, the Lightning didn’t concern themselves with big plays and focused on grinding out first downs – and eventually touchdowns. Here are some of the offensive performances that stood out to me during Eastview’s 36-32 victory. <strong>Tyler Jerstad Eastview RB</strong> A jump cut got him to the outside, and his speed got him down the sidelines for a 67-yard touchdown run. Then, he was bottled up but used a stiff arm to pick up ten extra yards. When he needed to be, he was a patient runner who could pick his way through blockers. He made a tough run off the left side. One of his best runs only would net a yard. He broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and used his feet and leverage for a short gain. His feet later allowed him a cutback run for eight yards. He kept the game-winning scoring drive going on a 4th and one off the left side for four yards. He finished the twenty-point comeback with a thirteen-yard touchdown run. [player_tooltip player_id="105373" first="Damon" last="Green"] <strong>Eastview RB</strong> The Lightning have a solid one, two punch at running back. Green showed explosiveness with a run up the middle for a touchdown. He made a physical run off the right side and then used good feet and vision as he picked his way off the left side for a first down. Green later made a series of cuts and went to the field’s opposite side for a fifteen-yard run. Not a one-trick pony, he also caught a short touchdown pass. <strong>Ibrahim Awada Eastview FB</strong>, <strong>Jack Stevens Eastview LT</strong>, <strong>Nick Brandt Eastview TE</strong> These three players changed the game by completely dominating the fourth quarter. Play after play, both Green and usually Jerstad pounded the ball at the Park defense behind this trio. Awada was the lead blocker routinely taking care of the second-level linebacker or defensive back. Stevens collapsed the right side of the Wolfpack’s front seven. Brandt would either combo block with Stevens or help seal the edge – giving his backs room to the outside. I am not exaggerating when I say the Lightning ran basically the same play – behind these three - a dozen times in a row in the fourth quarter. [player_tooltip player_id="49893" first="Evan" last="Bearth"] <strong>Park QB</strong> For two and a half quarters, Bearth might have been the most impressive player on the field. He completed a ten-yard hook pass and made a series of good throws underneath. He threw a strike on a slant for a touchdown. Bearth’s best pass came as he was hit and forced to throw off his back foot. Falling backward, he had the arm strength to throw a strike down the middle of the field for twenty-five yards. He can also use his legs to throw on the run and pick up yards on his own. <strong>Blake Johnson Park RB</strong> Johnson needed only two plays to top 100 yards from scrimmage. His speed got him around the corner on an early 78-yard touchdown run. He wore out the Lightning defense in the first half with screen passes – the most explosive was a 59-yard touchdown catch in which he was not touched.