Brian's Best - Forest Lake vs. East Ridge

It was a tale of two halves in Woodbury when Forest Lake visited East Ridge. The Raptors got out to a big lead, but in the second half, the Rangers' running game and defense took over, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/09/down-fourteen-rangers-storm-back-to-shock-the-raptors/">leading Forest Lake to a 35-29 win</a>. Here are the athletes I thought stood out.   Forest Lake Offensive line Wesley Morris, Cody Huston, Zachary Burns, Mason Stebleton, [player_tooltip player_id='1204501' first='Mason' last='Vollrath']   This group – especially in the second half – controlled the game. Vollrath and Stebleton opened a big hole for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='105409' first='Cole' last='Gerrell'] on a twenty-yard gain. Later, they sprung running back Layton Patzer on an outside run. Stebleton was involved in several long runs. He opened another hole and then made a great block on the outside to spring Sam Cordie on an end-a-round. Morris moved his man off the line to open another big hole for the running game.   [player_tooltip player_id='348771' first='Leyton' last='Patzer'] Forest Lake RB   The biggest benefactor of the dominating offensive line was Patzer, but he did plenty on his own, too. He showed good speed around the corner with a nice stiff arm early in the game. He made an excellent cut at the line of scrimmage to pick up a first down. He showed his speed again around the corner for an 18-yard touchdown run. He showed great footwork on the boundary to pick up a first down. He got in behind Stebleton and Huston for another long run. He made a quick cut and then used some physical running for six yards when he should have had one yard. After he showed some power on a touchdown run up the middle, he showed off his speed again and found the corner for twenty yards. Patzer made a great cutback for a first down. Late in the game, facing a second and 20, Patzer ripped off a game-sealing 30-yard run up the middle – breaking multiple tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='105409' first='Cole' last='Gerrell'] Forest Lake QB   Early, he hit a nice throw on a crossing route. However, Gerrell did most of his damage with his feet. He made an excellent read on the option, cutting it upfield for twenty yards. On a designed run, he sprinted for ten yards off-tackle. On another designed run, he picked up ten yards. Later, he picked up a first down with his feet. Then he found space at the second level on another designed run for a 26-yard touchdown. Late in the game, he escaped pressure and picked up a first down with his scrambling ability.      [player_tooltip player_id='105379' first='Tanner' last='Zolnosky'] East Ridge QB   Although Zolnosky had an up-and-down game, but his arm talent was still apparent. He hit a deep out for 20 yards. Then, he hit a fade to [player_tooltip player_id='743275' first='Kyle' last='Frendt'] for a 15-yard touchdown on third and eight. Later, as he was being hit, he threw the ball down the middle of the field for a thirty-yard completion. Some other impressive plays during the game – mainly in the first half included a completion on a skinny post, a scramble for a first down, and the slant he hit for a touchdown.   Colby Christenson Forest Lake LB   Christenson made a tackle on the outside for a short gain. Then, he made an open-field tackle on a swing pass. The swing pass was wide open, but he closed and made a great open-field tackle to prevent a big play,   [player_tooltip player_id='868570' first='Charlie' last='Bern'] East Ridge TE/LB   Bern was a force on both sides of the ball. On defense, he had a fumble recovery. Then, Bern closed down from the outside to stuff an off-tackle run for no gain. On offense, he caught a short pass and cut up-field, tip-toeing down the sidelines for a 37-yard touchdown. He plunged over the goal line with a one-yard touchdown run. His best run was a run on an end-a-round. He was boxed in but somehow picked up five yards. He also made a catch in the flat and cut up-field for a first down. Bern made a 20-yard catch and run on fourth and short to keep a drive alive.   Ethan Lashinski Forest Lake WR   Early in the game, Lashinski made a nice catch over the middle. On fourth down, he caught a quick little pass just off the line of scrimmage. He quickly turned up-field to pick up the first down.   Cael Viesselman East Ridge LB   Viesselman made an immediate tackle on a quick throw to the outside. Later, he blew into the backfield immediately to make a tackle for a three-yard loss.   [player_tooltip player_id='704468' first='Mark' last='Rendl'] Forest Lake LB   Early, Rendl put pressure on the quarterback. Then, he shot a gap and tied up a ball carrier long enough for his teammates to get a tackle for loss. He put good pressure on the quarterback. He didn't get the sack but forced a bad throw. Later, Rendl recorded a sack on third down – forcing a punt.   [player_tooltip player_id='1140806' first='Reid' last='Olson'] Forest Lake DB   Olson had solid coverage – especially in the second half. He was in the right place at the right time with a scoop and score from thirty yards out.

It was a tale of two halves in Woodbury when Forest Lake visited East Ridge. The Raptors got out to a big lead, but in the second half, the Rangers' running game and defense took over, leading Forest Lake to a 35-29 win. Here are the athletes I thought stood out.