Top Individual performances – Playoffs and regular season
Earlier this month, I profiled the best individual performances I witnessed from the 2019 Prep Bowl. Now, it is time to focus on some outstanding individual games from the regular season and the playoffs. Prior to the Prep Bowl, I was able to take in eighteen games from across – mainly the metro. Here are the best individual performances I was able to personally witness.
, Apple Valley vs. Hastings
In the first round of the 5A playoffs, Anger dominated on both sides of the ball. He played running back and linebacker for the Eagles. In the first half, Anger started his day with a pass break up on an in route. On offense, he made a couple of moves in the open field and picked up 20 yards of his eventual 111 yards for the game. On a 3rd and four – he didn’t have a hole, but he powered his way to a first down. He made an excellent cut and then used his power to run over a pair of defenders. Back at linebacker, he laid a big hit on a receiver on a slant forcing an incompletion. Then he made a tackle on a slant to keep the receiver short of a first down. He set up a score late in the first half when he dropped into the hook zone and intercepted a pass returned it for 45-yards. In the second half, he had an 8-yard touchdown run and then effectively put the game away when he undercut a slant for his second interception. He returned the pick inside the five-yard line.
Christian Graske, Rosemount vs. White Bear Lake
Like Wayzata’s
Christian Vasser
Christian
Vasser
6'2" | 215 lbs | RB
Wayzata | 2020
State
MN
from Wayzata in my previous story, Graske got the ball again and again and again. He came up with a career game during the most crucial part of the season – the playoffs. His 44 carries, 252 yards, and all five of the Irish’s touchdowns helped move Rosemont to the second round of the playoffs. His most significant carry of the game might have been one of his last. Up by seven in the fourth quarter, Rosemount faced a fourth and goal from the one. Graske powered his way into the end zone for his fifth touchdown of the game-sealing the victory.
Andrew Brownell, St. Agnes vs. Humboldt
Without any context, Brownell’s 21 carries, 186 yards, and one touchdown in an early-season battle of unbeaten teams were impressive enough. Add in four tackles and an interception, and his night becomes more impressive. When you find out it was Brownell’s first game playing running back – ever – his night takes on a whole new meaning. Brownell spent last year and the first part of this year at tight end and fullback. When I realized what his two previous positions were, seeing how physical he was running the ball, made sense. He capped off the Aggies’ early-season victory with a pair of big plays – a thirty-yard touchdown run and his interception. His unselfishness to take on a new position on short notice – and excelling – put him right where he belongs; on this year-end list.
Wayzata vs. Eden Prairie
When a defensive lineman wrecks the entire game plan of the opponent, that defensive lineman is going to make my list. When the opponent whose offense you ruin is one as established as the running game of the Eden Prairie Eagles – who at the time was undefeated and rolling over opponents – you make any list I am going to put together. Demro didn’t waste any time. During the first two plays of the game, the senior was in the backfield, dropping EP runners for losses. The Eagles seemed to have had enough of Demro after one minute of game time. Although he routinely switched from left defensive end to right defensive end, Eden Prairie tried to run away from him. Although Wayzata controlled most of the game, at one point, EP looked like they were going to get back into the game – queue Mr. Demro. Early in the fourth quarter, EP had cut the Trojans’ lead to seven and were on the move to get the tying score. Demro stuffed a run between the tackles on second down and then blew up an end-around attempt on third down. The senior captain’s back to back tackles for loss forced an Eagles’ punt and took all the juice out of the Eagles’ offense. Eden Prairie would not seriously threaten again.