Sectional football kicks off tonight with first round matchups. This is where it matters most. Every player and team has dreams of titles, starting with a sectional crown. But lose and you go home.
Here are five players to watch closer in games tonight’s Week 10 matchups.
Tyler Call, Angola vs. East Noble
Call has guided the Hornets back to the top of the NECC Big School Division and back to being a contender for a sectional title. Call finished the regular season with 1,656 total yards and 21 touchdowns. Call has matured as a quarterback and been the senior leader that the Hornets look to in tough situations. Call will have to deliver tonight and beyond for Angola to stay alive this postseason. The Hornets could be dangerous and it starts with Call.
Wyatt Marks, Churubusco vs. Central Noble
Marks has been lining up for the Eagles for the last four seasons, and his final season has been his best. Marks surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for rushing yards and has eight touchdowns. He had his season-best total for yards against the Cougars a couple weeks ago, so I would expect him to have another productive outing. The Eagles are going to need Marks to continue to produce at high level to make a deep postseason run.
Mylan Graham, New Haven vs. DeKalb
Graham has been excellent all season long despite opposing defense knowing the ball is coming to him. He ranks third in the state in receiving yards, according to MaxPreps, with 1,149 yards and 13 touchdowns, eight of which have come in the last three weeks. The DeKalb defense has allowed quite a few points this season and Graham should be primed to have another big week.
James Rusher, Concordia vs. Woodlan
Rusher lives up to his name. The senior linebacker has been a fixture in the Cadets’ defense for the last three seasons, but this year, he’s been taking more opponents down behind the line of scrimmage. He has 67 total tackles and 13.5 for loss. He does a good job of taking the correct pursuit angle and knows how to effectively get off blocks to make the tackle. Rusher will have his hands full tonight with Woodlan’s Drew Fleek and Jacob Snyder.
Brady Beall, South Adams vs. Fremont
Beall had eight tackles, a sack and caught three passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win over Southern Wells last week. He’s third on the team with 70 tackles and has eight tackles for loss and two interceptions. Beall leads the Starfires with 51 receptions, 610 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Beall should have another stat-filled week against Fremont as South Adams brings in a lot of momentum into postseason play.
What no Adams Central players?