St. Francis vs Coon Rapids Game Review (Offensive Standouts)

Fresh off an improbable 0-week comeback, the Coon Rapids Cardinals traveled to St. Francis for week 1 of the regular season. The Cardinals held a 4-2 series lead over the Fighting Saints prior to the matchup, with the latest result being a close 13-7 point game the previous season. The Saints returned a majority of offensive starters, as did the Cardinals. It was destined to be another hard-fought battle and that it was. The Saints pulled out a 28-27 victory in OT bringing the Cardinals to 1-1 and starting their own season off hot. I've highlighted who I think were crucial players, breakout players, and under-the-radar players in the Thursday night matchup.   Crucial Players:   Khijohnn Cummings: 2024 CR WR 6'1" 180 lbs   Cummings was nothing short of phenomenal. To say he was crucial would be an understatement at the least. The entire Cardinals offense for the first three quarters ran through him. He showed that he was the most versatile player on the field, scoring and racking up yards in a number of ways. He had the speed to beat guys over the top, the strength to break through tackles, and the agility to weave in between defenders. Cummings ran a variety of routes from screens and slants to posts and gos. The Cardinals offense also made use of his talents in the run game a few times. He was a serious YAC threat, often extending plays 10 or 20 yards past when he caught the ball. This was the kind of play you expect from a senior captain who is already committed. But Cummings is an unsigned junior. This means he's had 5 touchdowns and over 300 yards in his first two games of the season. Watch out for Cummings.   Max DeBuhr: 2023 SF IOL 6' 300 lbs   Injuries in sports are inevitable, so when the starting Saints center went down a few days ago, it was the next man up. DeBuhr took the additional responsibilities of helping the new center upon himself and had an absolute game. The opposing NTs were wreaking havoc before he stepped in and forcefully moved them out of the way. DeBuhr has great speed for his size and finishes opponents into the dirt. Furthermore, he has incredible awareness and can consistently get to the second level. DeBuhr was a one-man wrecking crew, a bodyguard that you want your back to run behind. He allowed very little pressure in the passing game and hold down what was a formidable Cardinals front 7.   Joe Waldock: 2023 SF RB 6' 205 lbs   The Saints used a litany of backs in the game, but Waldock was the most prevalent and successful. With one arm completely clubbed up, Waldock protected the ball and ended up as the Saints leading rusher after the game. He has great size for a back and showed surprising quickness out of the backfield. Defenders bounced off him all game. He didn't show much pass-catching ability (probably due to the club), but excelled in both zone and power running. Waldock had little experience running the ball up to this point, so imagine what a super strong and quick back like himself can do with more training and two hands   Breakout Players:   Jackson Hettwer: 2023 CR QB 6'3" 165 lbs   When starting QB Jacob Mattick went out early in the first quarter, Hettwer got called up. Hettwer lead the Cardinals to a 14-point comeback which ended up sending the game to overtime. He did nothing a typical backup QB would do. He didn't force passes, he didn't scramble right away, and he kept a level head. Late in the fourth he threw a deep back shoulder pass to tie up the game. Hettwer proved himself a plenty capable QB in the loss and the Cardinals realized that their season was truly just beginning.   Aydan Carlson: 2024 SF RB 5'9" 180 lbs   Carlson, an All-American wrestler, had missed all of last year with a torn meniscus. He made the most of his varsity debut. He has everything you love to see in a young player, swagger, piss, and vinegar, and the play to back it up. Carlson split snaps but was very efficient in his carries. Often gaining 3-4 yards on busted played by sheer grit. Carlson is a little more one-dimensional as a ball carrier, but was a threat running between the tackles. He lowers his shoulder and runs through linebackers and DBs alike when they come into contact with him. Always a threat and never easy to bring down, watch out for Carlson this season.   Jaxon Skogquist: 2023 SF QB 6'2" 180 lbs   Although the Saints found a ton of success in the run game, it was clear to me how much Skogquist had improved from the previous season. He stopped forcing throws to his favorite targets, he sensed pressure pretty well and even scrambled for some key 1st downs throughout the game. His arm strength also looks to have improved, as he hit some key deep passes throughout the game. I believe Skogquist is a top 5A QB, and if he continues to build off his performance in week 1, he'll soon prove me right.   Under-the-Radar:   [player_tooltip player_id='313277' first='Jackson' last='Smith']: 2023 CR Ath 6'4" 170 lbs   Smith was an extremely underutilized talent from the week 1 matchup. While the Cardinals did not have a true tight end, Smith filled in when needed. He shows a lot of potential as a player. Smith was good hands, had good speed, and had good awareness. His run blocking isn't fantastic, but when they lined him up wide he was able to create separation do to his immense size and good route running.   Dominick Oelmann: 2023 CR WR 5'10" 160 lbs   Oelmann mostly lined up in the slot against the Saints, but made vital plays in big moments. He's a darn good route runner, and is proficient in short and medium-length routes. He's a decent YAC threat and can break some tackles too. Oelmann will be a key part of this offense moving forward.'   Easton Johnson: 2023 SF IOL 6' 250 lbs   The other guard opposite of a new center, Johnson had plenty of chances to shine. He has really good in-game awareness, can also been seen providing assistance to another struggling lineman when necessary. Johnson came down hard on the defensive linemen in the run game and was a big part of the reason the Saints had so much success running the ball in first half. Don't underestimate the Saints IOL this year.   Grady Brunn: 2025 SF RB 5'10" 180 lbs   Brunn was the third head of the Hydra that was the Saints backfield in week 1. He has great vision for someone so young and always seems to find the hole. He has surprising quickness too, something you rarely see in someone so young. Often filling in when the other backs just got off defense, Brunn was always a good way to start the drive and should develop into a very good zone runner.

Fresh off an improbable 0-week comeback, the Coon Rapids Cardinals traveled to St. Francis for week 1 of the regular season. The Cardinals held a 4-2 series lead over the Fighting Saints prior to the matchup, with the latest result being a close 13-7 point game the previous season. The Saints returned a majority of offensive starters, as did the Cardinals. It was destined to be another hard-fought battle and that it was. The Saints pulled out a 28-27 victory in OT bringing the Cardinals to 1-1 and starting their own season off hot. I've highlighted who I think were crucial players, breakout players, and under-the-radar players in the Thursday night matchup.