Brian’s Best: Elk River vs. Mankato West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a back-and-forth affair between the Elk River Elks and the Mankato West Scarlets to close out the 40th annual Minnesota Prep Bowl. Ultimately, the Elks defeated the defending champions <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/12/the-elks-use-a-familiar-formula-with-a-twist/">29-26 to take home the 5A title</a>. Here are the individuals who most impressed me. Not included below, but hats off to the entire Elks' offensive line and tight ends whose run blocking as a group was – like most of their games - the most significant factor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Logan Bunker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Elk River","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bunker is now in the Prep Bowl record book. His run right up the middle for a 93 yard touchdown was a turning point in the game. Once he got to the second level, his speed resulted in the longest run in Prep Bowl history. Late in the game, he threw a block that sprung his fellow running back for a long gain. On defense, he held the edge on the goal line - allowing a teammate to make the tackle. Then, his excellent pass drop into the flat forced a wide throw resulting in an incompletion.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Barton McAninch","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Mankato West","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"It was apparent early that McAninch is an accurate passer on short and intermediate routes. He hit a quick slant to pick up a first down. The junior threw into a small window to complete another slant. On third and short, he found a seam and used his speed up the middle for a 48 run. Not just a pocket passer, he picked up another first down with his legs. He showed his arm strength by hitting a deep throw down the sidelines, and then, he used nice footwork with a cut up the middle for nine yards. On fourth down, rolling to his right, he found a receiver on the sidelines for a first down.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Gavin Schmidt","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Elk River","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Schmidt broke a tackle and dragged a tackler to pick up fifteen yards. Then, he bounced off a pair of tacklers for eight yards. After showing his power earlier in the game, the sophomore used speed around the corner for twenty yards. He was stood up at the one yard line, but he powered his way into the end zone on a two point conversion.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jackson Froderman","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Mankato West","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Froderman showed he is a complete back. He caught a pass in the flat and used his speed to pick up a first down on third and long. Then, he found a hole up the middle for a touchdown. He showed his balance and strength by bouncing off tacklers for ten yard gain. Late in the game, he caught a screen and cut off his blockers to get into the red zone.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Lucas Daleiden","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Elk River","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Daleiden shot a gap and made an early tackle in the backfield. He then tracked down a swing pass to make a tackle in the flat. The senior's penetration forced a runner into a teammate. He made an open-field tackle that turned what would have been a big play into just a three yard gain. He shot through another gap and got a piece of the runner's foot, dropping him for a three yard loss.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["245760"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"During the game, Smith demonstrated everything wanted in a receiver. First, he showed great concentration catching a well-covered, contested slant pass. The junior showed off his hands, catching a crossing route for a first down that was too far in front of him - making a fingertip catch. With one-on-one coverage, he highlighted his body control by adjusting to the ball to beat the defender. He caught a ball on the sidelines on fourth and long for a first down, and late in the game, he showed he is tough to bring down in the open field when he caught a hitch route and broke a tackle for extra yards.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["112060"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"This offense requires excellent ball handling, and Osterman executed all his fakes without mishandling. He showed his speed around the corner twice early in the game – the second time for a touchdown. A stiff arm and speed to the corner allowed him to pick up a second and fourteen when the play should have been a short gain. On defense, he stuffed a run on the goal line, and then the senior made a tackle in the open field, preventing a long gain.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["348677"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Bollman showed good vision with a run to the outside. He saw a seam and cut inside, picking up five yards. He broke tackles on a tough run up the middle for a first down. It doesn't look like much on the stats sheet, but one of his best runs was for a minimal gain. He broke a tackle and turned a two yard loss into a two yard gain. He fought through two tackles on a run up the middle late in the game for eight yards.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["348626"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Especially in the second half, the Elks' secondary played well. Balisidya was a giant part of that. He deflected a pass and then undercut a deep out - almost making an interception. 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He made a pair of blocks to spring his fellow running backs for good yardage. Then, his speed around the corner was good for 32 yards. On defense, his tight coverage on a slant prevented a first down.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_11_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='945933' first='Denim' last='Blackstad']","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_11_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_11_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_11_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_11_player_details_school":"Mankato West","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_11_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_11_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_11_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_11_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"The Elks had success on the ground, but Blackstad was involved in stopping many of the Elks' signature inside traps. Early on, Blackstad stopped an inside run. Then, he fought off a block and made another tackle for a short loss.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_player":["303687"],"_player_evaluations_12_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"Largely a blocker and decoy in the first half, Bono made several impactful runs in the second half. His vision and footwork resulted in a cutback run that got him into the end zone from 55 yards out. Later, he showed his strength by breaking multiple tackles for an eight yard gain.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_13_player":["368595"],"_player_evaluations_13_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"Schmidt made the key block on two fourth downs. The first block was on the goal line resulting in a touchdown. The second was on a fourth down in West's territory – keeping the drive alive. On defense, he made a tackle for a short gain on the inside and then stuffed a third and short run for no gain.","_player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":14,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6394d4e693649"} /-->