Top Performers: Brother Martin vs. East Ascension

Brother Martin finally kicked off its season in Week 3 after being delayed two weeks by Hurricane Ida. And, while the offense could never get into a true rhythm, the Crusaders wasted no time providing some drama and thrills in an 8-7 victory. With East Ascension leading 7-2, Brother Martin engineered a game-winning drive, complete by the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7x7FdTUzGMo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Joshua Berfect — 5-11, 225 LB — East Ascension (2023)</strong> For the second straight week, the junior linebacker snatched a second-half interception. He also played well to help contain Brother Martin’s potentially dangerous attack, including joining teammates to stuff a fourth-down attempt. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">2023 East Ascension LB Joshua Berfect (<a href="https://twitter.com/joshh_im?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joshh_im</a>) with his second interception in as many weeks. <a href="https://t.co/tAD7nv5FhM">pic.twitter.com/tAD7nv5FhM</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1438682595366248448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138391" first="Kai" last="Brown"] — 6-3, 235 DL — Brother Martin (2023)</strong> The junior defensive end is one of the best-looking college prospects on the field every time the Crusaders play and used his combination of size, quickness and physicality on a couple nice stops against East Ascension’s three-headed rushing attack. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">2023 Brother Martin DE [player_tooltip player_id="138391" first="Kai" last="Brown"] (<a href="https://twitter.com/Mcbrezzy2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mcbrezzy2</a>) disrupting East Ascension’s first down. Crusaders force another punt and will have a couple minutes left in the half from near midfield. <a href="https://t.co/sTXIVONp1m">pic.twitter.com/sTXIVONp1m</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1438668798303907845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Troy Dunn — 6-4, 190 QB — East Ascension (2022)</strong> The athletic, multisport senior quarterback made plays with his arm and legs throughout the defensive battle. But, most prominently, Dunn scored his Spartans’ lone touchdown on an alert fourth-and-short conversion on which he powered his way through the scrum, spun off, saw grass and accelerated for the long run. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">East Ascension 4th&amp;1… And Troy Dunn (<a href="https://twitter.com/TroyDunn08?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TroyDunn08</a>) just keeps churning &amp; spinning… and next thing he sees is open green. The Spartans take a 7-2 lead on Brother Martin in the third quarter on the XP. <a href="https://t.co/9jxejWfnmf">pic.twitter.com/9jxejWfnmf</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1438680446880161792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Rylon Johnson — 5-9, 220 LB — Brother Martin </strong> The stout linebacker was fast to the edge to help contain East Ascension’s rushing attack, including a pair of tackles for loss. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nice job by Rylon Johnson to contain &amp; track down the sweep for a big stop. <a href="https://t.co/4bXOoKw8Pt">pic.twitter.com/4bXOoKw8Pt</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1438658964938502144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Alex Lambert — 6-3, 250 DL — East Ascension (2022)</strong> The big defensive end was a steady presence on the Spartans’ defensive front, helping slow down Brother Martin’s rushing attack and recording a pair of tackles for loss. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brother Martin starts the second half at the 20 after an opening touchback. Antwon Foster &amp; Alex Lambert there for the East Ascension stop. <a href="https://t.co/CYc2QH3yti">pic.twitter.com/CYc2QH3yti</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1438677819517702144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138282" first="Torey" last="Lambert"] — 5-11, 190 — Brother Martin (2023)</strong> The smooth-striding junior hit holes hard and was repeatedly 5-to-8 yards downfield in a blink, but one last defender managed to trip him up each time to avoid the breakaway. But, with the game at stake on the goal line in the final minute, the younger brother of senior safety [player_tooltip player_id="136634" first="Corey" last="Lambert"] Jr. wouldn’t be stopped as he battle through a strong defensive stand and spun his way into the end zone for the go-ahead score. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VuKKzhUXdH8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Thomas Lee Jr. — 6-5, 245 DL — East Ascension (2022) </strong> The tall, long-framed defensive end put pressure on Brother Martin quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="127758" first="Garrett" last="Mmahat"] all game long, including a sack, a big third-down hurry to force an incompletion and punt and a fourth-down tackle for loss. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thomas Lee Jr. with another big third-down pass rush for East Ascension. Gets the sack this time to force another punt with 4:23 left in the half. <a href="https://t.co/yBMAHBdgIk">pic.twitter.com/yBMAHBdgIk</a></p> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1438667142744903680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Austin Roberts — 5-11, 175 LB — Brother Martin (2022)</strong> Outside of Lambert’s winning score, the senior linebacker/safety may have been the player of the game. Roberts flew all over the field racking up tackles at and behind the line. As one assistant coach said afterward, he played his... we’ll say "tail" ... off. And he created problems for Dunn and running backs Jacorey Johnson and Walter Samuel at every turn. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-W58SqL01w" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>