Friday Night Lights 2010: 8-30
For live updates of the games I'm attending, follow me on Twitter @varsityblue. If you can help out finding articles on any of the commits, @reply me on Twitter or e-mail me, and I'll try to include your contribution.
Performance of the Week:
MI DE/LB Brennen Beyer
Last week: Plymouth pasted Salem, 48-0. Beyer - from the start of the second quarter through the end of the game - had 2 receiving touchdowns for 43 yards, and a blocked punt, which he returned for a touchdown, to go along with several tackles. HD video highlights:
Seemed like a "man amongst boys" situation for the most part. Beyer is the standout performer this week.
This week: Plymouth takes on Howell on Thursday at 7pm.
FL QB Kevin Sousa
Last week: Lake Nona lost to Citrus, 0-14. This "Kickoff Classic" was a preseason game, not the start of the regular season. MGoReader Bob took in the game, and gave his impressions:
Even though half of the game was played in the rain, Sousa didn't look very sharp. Frankly, Lake Nona is not a very good football team. Citrus was equally as bad. Kevin had zero O- line blocking and was tackled many times for losses. His passes had zip but the wet conditions made them nearly uncatchable. I'm glad he fared well at the camps because the team he plays with is pretty sad.
Tom got in touch with Sousa's high school coach, and Kevin's approximate stats were: 15/34 for 136 yards and a pick, and 54 yards on 12 carries on the ground. The weather was a big factor as well.
This week: Lake Nona hosts Harmony at 7:30pm.
MI WR Shawn Conway
Last Week: Seaholm defeated North Farmington by a score of 26-6. Conway, predictably, was the star of the show:
Shawn Conway's 74-yard return on the opening kickoff proved to be a sign of good things to come for Birmingham Seaholm in their high school football season opener Thursday against North Farmington.
Conway added touchdown receptions of 6 and 15 yards, as Seaholm built a 26-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Maples held on to win by a score of 26-6 in the Oakland Activities Association game.
He finished with 169 all-purpose yards, and given his 4 catches for 32 yards, he his other returns totaled 63 yards. One more article. You can see video highlights from the game here, and Conway looks very impressive (the quarterback... not so much).
This week: The Maples take on Bloomfield Hills Andover on Thursday at 7pm at Seaholm High School.
OH OL Jack Miller
Last week: Paul and I were there (for the first half) as Miller's St. John's Jesuit team pasted an overmatched Toledo Scott squad 49-7, after holding a 49-0 halftime lead. Miller only played sparingly on either side of the ball after a couple offensive and defensive series. Here's the HD video:
By my count, Miller had 3 tackles, including two for loss, and nearly came up with a fumble recovery on defense. Offensively, he had pancake blocks on nearly every running play. I was more impressed with him on that side of the ball.
This week: St. John's travels North to take on Birmingham Brother Rice on Saturday at 1:30 PM at Farmington Hills Harrison. Alas, it is during the UConn game, so I'll be missing it.
MI OL Jake Fisher
Last week: Traverse City West fell to Grand Haven by a 48-28 score. No mention of Fisher in the article. Video highlights.
This week: TC West welcomes Grandville to the Great North at 7pm on Thursday.
FL OL Tony Posada
Last week: Plant got killed by Manatee 10-48 in their preseason game on ESPN.
From what I saw, the criticisms we've heard on Posada are accurate. He will have to get into much better shape if he's going to be a contributor at the next level. At this point, he's much better as a mauler than a pass blocker, as well. He did get a little nicked up during the game, but nothing seemed serious. He showed off his versatility by playing both tackle positions, as well as guard.
This week: Plant heads to Tampa Bay Tech (the only team to beat them last year) on Friday at 7:30.
OH DE Chris Rock
Last week: St. Francis DeSales beat Gahanna Lincoln 28-14. No word on Rock's stats.
This week: DeSales welcomes New Albany at 7:30 on Friday.
TX LB Kellen Jones
Last week: St. Pius X defeated Trinity Christian Academy 33-7. I couldn't find stats, or even a game article.
This week: St. Pius X travels to Sealy on Friday at 7:30.
OH CB/S Greg Brown
Last week: Ross shut out Toledo Start 17-0. Brown had 45 yards on 19 carries. The Fremont Ross Forum's thoughts:
Also very workman-like last night was Greg Brown. The future Wolverine was hammered by Spartan defenders every time he got near the ball. Greg kept his wits about him, got up, walked back to the huddle and played ball.
This week: The Little Giants take on Toledo Whitmer on Friday at 7:30.
MI CB Delonte Hollowell
Last week: Paul and I were at Eastern Michigan as Cass Tech escaped Ann Arbor Pioneer by a score of 44-42. Here's the HD video:
Hollowell had a handful of tackles and a pair of pass breakups. He didn't play on offense, and looked like he may have been dinged up, which could explain his "meh" performance (also explaining it - Pioneer's gameplan placed an emphasis on avoiding his side of the field). His younger teammates 2012 LB Royce Jenkins-Stone and CB Terry Richardson also impressed, with Jenkins-Stone pounding away as a fullback (though he was inconsistent at linebacker), and Richardson playing well at both corner and receiver. Richardson returned a fumble 60-pluys yards for one of Cass Tech's scores.
Next Week: Cass Tech plays Detroit Central at 6pm Friday at Cass Tech.
August 30th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^
0:40 That is a sick grab for a DE.
Edit: The Beyer Vid
August 30th, 2010 at 4:44 PM ^
I read in the FNL board thread that he is a mega-hurdler. I can't seem to find a recruiting profile for him. Tim, do you know the story on the kid?
August 30th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
Drake is just a junior right now. He was on varsity last season and was one of the better players on a team that sent 11 kids to colleges/universities. Going back to the hurdles, he ran a 13.90 110 hurdle at the regional meet which was one of the fastest times in the entire nation.
August 30th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
think i read on rivals that Kellen Jones had 11 tackles (total), 8 solo, 5TFL's
August 30th, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
I have a request for these posts this year.... For players with video footage, can we get a mention of what color and number they are? Occassionally it will take me a minute to figure it out, then I have to go back to the beginning of the video and start over.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
Thanks for the update Tim. I am excited about Jones and Beyer, I think they could be real studs for the Wolverines. I am a little suspect about Posada though. I watched the game a little bit on ESPN and he looked decent, but he is a big kid. If he works at getting in shape, he could be pretty good, IMO.
August 30th, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^
to say im skeptical about hollowell's tackling ability would be an understatement. that attempt at the kids feet at 2:28 is pretty terrifying. He seemed to be solid in coverage. but he didn't look like he was working very hard to get off blocks to help out in run support. hopefully adding some bulk will alter his sentiments towards hitting people
August 30th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing about the tackling issue. He looks to be really fast but not like to tackle one bit. It almost looks like he shys away from some tackle where the ball carrier is coming to him.
August 30th, 2010 at 8:47 PM ^
August 31st, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
I think Hollowell's injured (no confirmation on that). He didn't play any offense, as I expected him to, and he didn't seem 100%.
August 30th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
How sweet would it be to land these two and have them celebrating in maize and blue next year?
Dallas threw for 2 touchdowns, both over 50 yards.
Sammy had 5 catches for 110 yards...in the first half (he sat the second).
The team they played, Barron Collier,is no slouch either. They have two Big 10 commits on the roster in Jeff Huerman (TE/DE-OSU) and Torey Campbell (RB/DB-Iowa). Pretty stiff competition and they still excelled.
edit: That's Crawford and Watkins, respectively.
August 30th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^
It seems to me like Beyer needs A LOT of technique work when it comes to defensive line. He was just bigger and stronger than everyone he lined up against but didn't use very good leverage and didn't use his hands very well to knock the opposing lineman away. He did have a lot of explosion off the ball and seemed to have a good motor.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
That's no different from most other line players. At the HS level they so often go against smaller players that there is no reason to develop good technique, they can just overpower there oponents. And if they aren't so much bigger/stronger then they are too small for college, there's a reason almost all linemen redshirt their freshman year.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
Awesome updates Tim. Beyer was definitely impressive, I love his never ending motor. He doesn't give up on plays. I wasn't impressed with Tony Posada or Hollowell, both need some work before they contribute to the Wolverines. GO BLUE
August 30th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^
What I really liked about the Jack Miller video was the girlish giggling from the...ahem...cameramen.
Miller is definitely an offensive lineman. No doubt about it.
August 30th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Oh, by the way, I'm still not impressed with Hollowell. He makes a lot of mental mistakes and he only plays when he wants to play. He's also only physical when the opponent isn't expecting it - he'll hit you from the blindside, but he won't stick his nose in there to tackle. I haven't been high on him all along, and this video only supports my stance. Hopefully it was just an off night for him.
August 30th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
..at 2:05 of Jack Miller's video when he cleans up a guy watching the pile?
August 30th, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
I went to the game and had mixed opinions. While he showed no interest in tackling he looked impressive in coverage. I just hope since he was banged up that he had a subpar night, but he needs to show the ability to help out stopping the run instead of standing watching his teammates tackle when the run comes to his side.
August 30th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
I failed to see any evidence that he was banged up, except for a moment when he clutched his calf. That seemed like a cramp, but cramps are different than "being banged up."
I could be wrong, but I don't think he was unhealthy.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
I'm almost certain he was indeed hurt.
But you're probably right, since you were there and all.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
Tim, for being a part of this site, you sure aren't very friendly to a lot of your readers.
I didn't say I was right, hence the "I could be wrong, but..."
I'm sorry you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but he didn't look hurt in the video. That's all I'm saying.
Have a great day.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
You can't act like an asshole and a know-it-all on the board all the time, and not be willing to take as much as you dish out. End of story.
August 31st, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
Stay classy, Tim. Keep calling your customers "assholes." See how far that gets you. And I'm not the only one you've been rude to. You do it to plenty of others. The difference between you and me is that I just comment here, and it's not my day job. Sometimes it might behoove you to be friendly to your readers, especially when they don't say anything particularly rude or divisive.
Regardless, what I said didn't require a sarcastic retort. I said "I could be wrong, but he didn't look injured." How does that make me an asshole? It doesn't.
August 30th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
in the Toledo city league; they rarely were/are. Heard about the game from a buddy that i went to HS with -- yes at SJ. He was PO'd that his son, a lineman on theJV squad didn't get in, because the brain trust that runs SJ thought it was going to be close. in which century?
August 31st, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^
Talked to a friend of mine that lives in Texas in Kellen Jones area. Said he had 11 tackles (5 TFL), 1 sack, and 3 hurries in his first game.
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