Players of the Game: Annandale vs. Princeton
Yesterday’s 21-12 Annandale victory over Princeton was a hard-fought, grind-it-out win for the Cardinals that featured standout performances in all three phases of the game: offensive, defensive, and special teams. Both teams were stuffed with scholarship talent and recruits, but some of the most impressive performances…
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Continue ReadingYesterday’s 21-12 Annandale victory over Princeton was a hard-fought, grind-it-out win for the Cardinals that featured standout performances in all three phases of the game: offensive, defensive, and special teams. Both teams were stuffed with scholarship talent and recruits, but some of the most impressive performances surprised me and came from more under-the-radar prospects. Check out who won my PrepRedzoneMN Game Balls for best offensive, defensive, and special teams showings from Friday’s matchup, and thank you for reading.
Player of the Game: Brady Spaulding (Annandale) WR
Offense
Brady Spaulding (Annandale) WR. 6’6, 180 lbs. 2022. My player of the game as well as the most productive offensive player on either team during the game, I had to take a hard double-look at the 2022 wideout to make sure it wasn’t 2020 grad and UMary WR commit Paul Meyer – who had a great senior season in 2019 and stood at 6’5, 190. Spaulding made countless tough catches throughout the ball game that came at key times for the Cardinals. Whether they needed a first down, to catch up from behind the chains, or simply a drive-igniting play to be made, Spaulding was the man all night long. He made contested catches over the middle and played the ball well, and used his hands to secure the catch every time. He also had a game-sealing catch to get the last first down Annandale needed at the end of the contest on fourth down on a brazen 4th and long call to try and make sure Princeton didn’t have a chance to score. As only a junior I think it’s fair to say his ceiling his pretty high.
Cooper Drews (Princeton) QB. 6’3, 180 lbs. 2023. Drews didn’t start the game, but after the first two drives the Princeton sophomore came in and looked anything but shaky against a tough Cardinals defense. With great size at the position, Drews showed a strong arm with some good accuracy that led to the two TDs by the Tigers. He can throw the deep ball, but also has the poise and accuracy to complete more standard throws from the pocket. He’s also a good athlete and can hurt you with his legs if he needs to, as well as step up in the pocket or roll out to avoid and escape pressure. He’s got his best football in front of him and is a great QB prospect in the 2023 class.
Evan Schimming (Princeton) WR. 2022. Made a great 70+ yard TD catch to keep Princeton in the game and another nice catch to advance the Tigers series later in the ball game. Has some great speed as well.
Defense
Lucas Evans (Annandale) DB. 6’, 170 lbs. 2021. Evans was all over the field for the Cardinals defense and showed his stuff in both pass-coverage and run-defense. He made the biggest play of the game in the pick-6 at the start of the 3rd quarter that swung momentum back to Annandale, and also broke up a 2pt conversion and a couple other passes. He also had no problem sticking his head in their to help make a tackle, and overall he’s a good athlete at the DB position who gets out of his breaks quickly and can read the eyes of the QB. He flies around and is a fun DB to watch. He’s my Defensive Player of the Game.
Thomas Rush (Princeton) LB. 6’, 200 lbs. 2021. I knew about Rush coming into the night, but came away even more impressed from what I say in the Tigers LB and defensive leader. He was a strong tackler who read his keys well and showed a good ability to flow to the ball, but what I loved the most was his ability in coverage. Lined up against a variety of Cardinals pass-catchers, Rush showed confidence and good feet, as well as nice recovery speed and the ability to play through the hands of WRs or TEs when contesting a catch. He also looked really well-built and athletic out there, and was a the heart of the Princeton defense who played hard all night and balled out. He’s going to be a great collegiate LB.
Manny Flicek (Princeton) DB. The Princeton safety was also aggressive in pass-coverage and run-defense, and made two plays that specifically stood out to me during the game. He made a great play on the ball to record an interception on one of the first drives of the game against the experienced Annandale QB, and later made a beautiful open-field tackle on Annandale’s secondary QB on a naked bootleg in the redzone that required defensive patience and fundamentals to not over-pursue the fake and stay home. He’s a good tackler with lot of versatility as a defender.
Special Teams
Logan Purcell Logan Purcell 6'7" | OL Annandale | 2021 State MN (Annandale) P. 6’7, 240 lbs. 2021 – committed to the University of Minnesota to play OL. Purcell had a boot as a punter, and was trusted enough to execute a fake for Annandale despite it going unsuccessfully. He’s an unreal athlete and it’s no surprise he was a great and natural punter.