Game Recap: Millard South vs. Elkhorn South
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Overview: Nothing like a heavyweight bout between the Millard South Patriots Elkhorn South Storm on a beautiful Thursday night. The visiting Elkhorn South squad was the Class A runner-up in 2020 and is looking to find their way back to…
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Nothing like a heavyweight bout between the Millard South Patriots Elkhorn South Storm on a beautiful Thursday night. The visiting Elkhorn South squad was the Class A runner-up in 2020 and is looking to find their way back to Memorial Stadium this year. Millard South has one of the deepest, most athletic teams in the entire state. This game looked like a great matchup between two well-coached and physical teams with tons of star power on each side. Elkhorn South featured the a couple of elite defensive lineman in Chase Emsick Chase Emsick 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE and upcoming 2023 edge demon Maverick Noonan. Millard South also had it’s fair share of top-tier athletes in Mr. Do-It-All QB/ATH Gage Stenger Gage Stenger 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE , NIU-commit Jake Gassaway Jake Gassaway 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Millard South | 2022 State NE , and Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE who is a Nebraska Wrestling commit. Both offenses started a little slow as a result of each other’s stifling defenses. The Elkhorn South defensive line kept the Millard South OL out of sort, forcing Stenger to extend plays on his legs. The breakthrough play was a 55-yard pass from Stenger to Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE putting up the first points of the game. After that touchdown, Millard South kept their foot on the gas as they proceeded to score on a Stenger pass to junior Brock Murtaugh, a 16-yard run by Stenger, an acrobatic grab by Jake Gassaway Jake Gassaway 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Millard South | 2022 State NE , and a very well-executed pass from WR Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE to QB Camden Kozeal. The Elkhorn South offense struggled to push the ball downfield and getting the ball to their dynamic pass-catchers. They could get the run game going fairly well, but inconsistency and a swift and physical Millard South defense could stop long drives. Elkhorn South will host the Omaha Central Eagles on Friday, 9/10. Millard South will be taking on their in-town rival in Millard West on Friday, 9/10.
Final: Millard South 33 – Elkhorn South 7
Top Ranked Prospects:
Gage Stenger Gage Stenger 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE , 6’3″ 200 lbs – Millard West QB/S/ATH
Commited: Kansas State
- He is just a beast on the field. He is very athletic, has great speed, good size for his position(s), and reacts very well to what he sees on the field.
- He had a super tough touchdown run (called back) that really made me say, “Yup, he’s that guy.”
Jake Gassaway Jake Gassaway 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Millard South | 2022 State NE , 6’3″ 215 lbs – Millard South LB/WR
- Super athletic who can cover large chunks of the field.
- He did a great job in coverage and did a fantastic job playing against the run. He can lay a HIT.
- He is very underrated as a receiver (1:10 for an awesome touchdown catch)
Maverick Noonan, 6’4″ 230 lbs – Elkhorn South EDGE/DL/OL
- His get-off speed is insane, and his first step is so quick, it’s hard to get your hands on him.
- On the flip side, he knows how to strategically get his hands on tackles to gain leverage and drive them out of the way.
- Very impressive on the offensive line as well. There was a QB run where he came in from the backside and hustled to get in front and lead block. So fast and agile.
Chase Emsick Chase Emsick 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , 6’4″ 300 lbs – Elkohorn South DL/OL
- He’s a bull in the interior of the DL. Plays the run very well and clogs up lanes.
- Road-grader at OL, coming up to the second level to get his hands on people.
- Very sound footwork and agility for a bigger guy. Paired with straight, dangerous.
Millard South takeaways:
- This defense is STINGY. Defensive line: Jonah Matthews Jonah Matthews 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL Millard South | 2022 State NE , JR Lecuona, Lance Rucker; Linebackers: Christian Nash Christian Nash 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Millard South | 2022 State NE , Jake Gassaway Jake Gassaway 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Millard South | 2022 State NE , Grant Renken; Secondary: Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE , Justin Gassaway, Josh Wilson, and Gage Stenger Gage Stenger 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE are all
- The offensive line is still working on its chemistry. Squaring up against a talented defensive line was a bit of a challenge. I did see them competing until the whistle, which you have to like for your linemen.
- The players really seem to be bought into this offense and its potential. QB/ATH Gage Stenger Gage Stenger 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE runs the scheme very well, and the skill position players are very selfless in regards to carries, touches, etc. Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE , Brock Murtaugh, Jake Gassaway Jake Gassaway 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Millard South | 2022 State NE , Christian Nash Christian Nash 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Millard South | 2022 State NE are all exceptional pieces to this offense.
Elkhorn South takeaways:
- Elkhorn South’s pass-rushers are their best unit. Maverick Noonan, Chase Emsick Chase Emsick 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , Gabe Whitten Gabe Whitten 6'1" | 220 lbs | OL Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , Josh Fee Josh Fee 6'1" | 260 lbs | OL Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , Chase Work, and the rest of their rotation provided consistent pressure and driving plays outside of the pocket. They took advantage of their mismatches against a less experienced OL.
- Was hoping to see more from the skill position players. Corbin Ford Corbin Ford 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 NE , Blake Daly Blake Daly 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , and Koy Wilke Koy Wilke 6'4" | 210 lbs | LB Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE can all be dangerous in the passing game.
- Cole Mitchell is underrated at the FS position. He was coming up and making tackles in the run game and was quick to sniff out screenplays. Mitchell also provides a consistent deep-field defender. Great speed too.
- The passing game could not get going. Will Skradis Will Skradis 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE struggled to find his playmakers throughout the night. At times, it was a result of a tough Patriot defense, and at times, the ball wasn’t getting to the receivers.
Millard South Notable Players:
Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE , 5’9″ 165 lbs – WR/DB
Antrell Taylor (@TaylorAntrell) takes plenty of contact on the wrestling mats and knows how to brush it off on the football field! See this big play from Millard South's win and more from tonight's high school games tonight at 10 on @WOWT6News @MSHSactivities @MSouthFootball pic.twitter.com/I7pJzhm56c
— Rex Smith (@Rex__Smith) September 3, 2021
JR Lecouna, 6’2″ 235 lbs – DL
Justin Gassaway, 6’1″ 180 lbs – DB/KR/WR
Jonah Matthew, 6’4″ 210 lbs – DL
Phillip Meckna, 6’2″ 205 lbs – OL/DL
Christian Nash Christian Nash 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Millard South | 2022 State NE , 6’ 220 lbs – RB/LB
Brock Murtaugh, 6’2″ 180 – WR
Simon McClanan, 6’1″ 165 lbs – K/P
Great win tonight. Went 4/6 on touchbacks, avg 41.5 yards on punt and went 3/3 from PAT. pic.twitter.com/a99MBMSmMA
— Simon McClannan (@McclannanSimon) September 3, 2021
Elkhorn South Players:
Koy Wilke Koy Wilke 6'4" | 210 lbs | LB Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , 6’4″ 210 lbs – TE/OLB
Cole Ballard, 6’ 185 lbs – RB
Gabe Whitten Gabe Whitten 6'1" | 220 lbs | OL Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , 6’ 245 lbs – OL/DL
Carsen Crouch Carsen Crouch 5'10" | 170 lbs | K Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE , 5’10″ 170 lbs – K
Cole Mitchell, 5’9″ 170 lbs – FS
Seth Allan, 6’2″ 180 lbs – LB.