Team Prospect Report: Fridley Tigers
When I decided to go to watch the Fridley Tigers play Academy Force on Friday afternoon, I wasn’t expecting a nail-biting finish. I assumed I would be watching the Tigers’ starters for about three quarters. I was wrong. Fridley’s coaching…
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Continue ReadingWhen I decided to go to watch the Fridley Tigers play Academy Force on Friday afternoon, I wasn’t expecting a nail-biting finish. I assumed I would be watching the Tigers’ starters for about three quarters. I was wrong. Fridley’s coaching staff subbed down – rightly – mid-way through the second quarter of a game they were leading 28-0. In that brief time, it was obvious why the Tigers have only dropped one game this season. They have talented players in all three phases of the game.
Immediately, defensive end Cooper Severson made an impact on the game. Severson is not a very big defensive end, but he was much too quick for the Force offensive line. He used his speed to put pressure on the quarterback almost every time the Force tried to pass.
“My strengths are my quickness off the ball,” Severson said, “and competing with those bigger linemen by being quick off the ball.”
One of the defenders who benefited from Severson’s pressure was senior defensive tackle Luke Lamont. Lamont beat his man off the ball and with the quarterback forced up in the pocket by Severson, Lamont collected the quarterback for a sack. Later Lamont came down the line of scrimmage and along with linebacker Nick Phillips combined to make a tackle for loss.
On an outside run, defensive back Micah Couwenhoven and linebacker Jeffrey Markvicka strung out an outside run for a short gain.
Markvicka made another play in space on the outside. Academy Force threw a pass into the flat, but the junior linebacker reacted quickly, used his speed, and made a tackle for loss. Markvicka also showed great range in coverage. He was matched up man to man on the outside with a Force receiver and was step for step with the receiver thirty yards down the field.
Philips dropped into a zone and got his hands on a pass to deflect it away. It would not be the first time Philips would get his hands on the ball from his linebacker spot. Again, in zone coverage, the senior deflected a pass with one hand, popping the ball straight into the air enabling him to come up with an interception. He returned the interception fifty yards, giving his team a short field.
Inside linebacker Michael Ude immediately read an inside run, shot a gap, and tackled the running back in the backfield.
Carson Lindsay – playing defensive end – came down the line of scrimmage hard to make a tackle for a short gain.
Offensively, the Tigers dominated just as much as the defense.
Junior quarterback Kaleb Blaha did not have a good day throwing the ball. He had opportunities to hit big plays down the middle of the field, but his passes were often underthrown, allowing the Force defensive backs to recover and break up the play. He did not have trouble running the read option. The first offensive play of the game Blaha kept the ball and ran right up the middle behind Lamont and Anthony Tucker for a 55-yard touchdown. He showed his illusiveness by using some nice footwork to avoid a sack and get down the field for a 20-yard gain.
“This is his first year starting,” head coach Justin Reese said. “He is slowly coming into his own.”
Ude was the Tigers’ primary offensive weapon. A physical runner, the sophomore scored on a 14-yard touchdown run. The right side of the offensive line opened a huge hole to get Ude to the second level. Ude was in the end zone again on the last play of the first quarter – this time from 55-yards out.
“My biggest strength is I am able to adapt to what the defense is going quickly,” Ude said. “I learn quickly.”
Philips got into the end zone, on offense this time, going again – right up the middle – before the coaches subbed down.
Kicker Christopher Castillo was nine for nine on extra points.
Although it was called back because of a penalty, Micah Niewald used quick cutback ability to produce a long punt return.
All the individual performances would lead to a Fridley 63-14 victory.