PREP FOOTBALL: Five Guys to Watch, Week 8

As always, we kick off our Friday mornings with five players to watch. Who is important in Week 8? Who’s a matchup problem? Did they shine in Week 7?

In this week’s case, four of the five make up two really critical and marquee matchups this week.

Here are the five guys you should keep an extra eye on tonight.

CHRIS MHOON, SOUTH SIDE (at Concordia)

With five of South Side’s 14 offensive touchdowns to his name, Mhoon has a couple of things he is racing towards at the end of this season. A big game tonight would help South Side to its second win and that could mean a shot at the Archers’ best season since 2013 if they can reach three wins. Individually, Mhoon is chasing a 1,000 yard rushing season as he sits at 759 yards. If he hits his average, he will hit the milestone. His run game will go a long way towards the Archers trying to get a win at Concordia a week after the Cadets got their first win.

BRAYLEND REBER, ADAMS CENTRAL (at Bluffton)

A week ago, Reber’s run game exploded as he had 132 yards and a touchdown on the ground. That expands the 6-foot-7 receiver’s game so much as Adams Central looks to defend its ACAC dominance against a robust Bluffton team. That said, the aerial assault has been one way that teams have been able to challenge the Tigers, most notably South Adams. Reber’s length and strength plays a big part in AC’s offense every week, but it will be more critical against an undefeated team that has given up more than 14 points just twice.

AJ STREVELER, BLUFFTON (vs. Adams Central)

Bluffton being able to strike quick and often has given it the chance to run away quickly more often than not this season. Streveler is a part of that quick-strike mentality, leading Bluffton with 28 catches for 475 yards and one third of Bluffton’s receiving touchdowns. He is a playmaker and gives quarterback Axton Beste someone in which to take some shots vertically in big moments. Streveler is averaging almost 70 yards receiving each game right now.

JAIDON VAN PELT, CARROLL (at Northrop)

Carroll has been an underrated house for big-time receivers for a decade and Van Pelt deserves more love for what has the Chargers in everyone’s focus after last week’s dominant win over rival Homestead. The balanced throwing attack has gotten quarterback Gabe Frisinger a good deal of praise, but Van Pelt has been the reliable recipient of 41 of those receptions and does bigger things with each of them, averaging 21.2 yards per catch as he has put one-fourth of his receptions in the end zone (10). Last week, Van Pelt had just four catches, but managed 41.5 yards per reception.

DEE HOGUE, NORTHROP (vs. Carroll)

If Carroll is going to air it out (190 passes for 1,857 yards this season) tonight, then Northrop’s defense is going to have to be stout. Hogue is cover man No. 1 in that pass defense with three interceptions and seven pass deflections to his name this season. He is quick to the ball and has a knack for being disruptive, which is something few have been able to be against Carroll receivers. Hogue’s 73 total tackles also leads the Bruins, showing how well he is able to cut off big-yardage opportunities as he hunts for the ball on every play.