NEI/OSAA Network Game of the Week: Liberty @ Putnam: By Jordan Johnson

*This game is being featured as a Game Of The Week and you can find the online broadcast at OSAA.TV . When the game ends it will be archived and available to view within the hour. This is a free service presented by PlayOn! Sports.

(Deshawn Stephens is ranked the #1 WR in the Northwest after going for 40+ Tds a season ago)

 

LIBERTY FALCONS (1-4)

 

QB

 

Mike McBride 5-8 160 Jr
Bryon Greenlee 6-2 190 So


A couple young QB’s that haven’t thrown a ton. McBride has been your starter and can run well. He plays bigger then 5-8 but just doesn’t have much experience.

 

RB

 

AJ Antillion 5-7 165 Sr
Austin Mason 5-8 165 Sr


Antillon was a first team all league kid last season and is also a district wrestling champion. He has ok speed, but incredible balance that allows him to bounce off tacklers pretty consistently. Mason is one of the better sophomores within the state, and should be a kid we hear about moving forward. He has gotten in the end zone multiple times.

 

WR

 

Aaron Holman 6-5 190 Sr
Sheldon Pittman 5-11 160 Sr
Brynden Delle 6-1 200 Sr


Holman was hurt last year, but is a quality athlete and someone that could be an all league WR. He is a talented basketball kid has legit size. Pittman plays on both sides of the ball and can get the job done.

 

OL

 

Juan Ocampo 5-11 270 Sr
Javier Picard 5-8 215 Jr
Austin Krieck 6-1 225 Jr
Zane Chitwood 5-11 225 So
Dylan Conklin 6-0 205 Sr
Tyler Richart 6-1 190 Sr


Ocampo is going to be your best lineman on both sides of the ball, as he is a district wrestling champion and someone that moves very well for his body type. Picard is a actually a talented junior, but is just small. Krieck and Chitwood are both good overall athletes (baseball) and should contribute. Three of the top four kids are underclassmen so that is good for the future.

 

DL

 

Juan Ocampo 5-11 270 Sr
Javier Picard 5-8 215 Jr
Austin Krieck 6-1 225 Jr
Zane Chitwood 5-11 225 So
Tyler Richart 6-1 190 Sr


Ocampo once again is your guy that will create match up problems as he uses his wrestling ability to out maneuver bigger O lineman. All of the remaining lineman are very similar and will need to get pressure up front in order to somehow disrupt Bailey from getting the ball to his very dangerous targets.

 

LB

 

Brynden Delle 6-1 200 Sr
Jacob Batke 6-2 200 Sr
Ryan Knippel 5-10 170 Jr

 

Delle may be the best overall athlete and football player on the field for Liberty.He is by far and away the best backer, and learned a great deal from two of the best In Oregon last season with the Ducks Bret Bafaro and the Utah Utes Evan Eggiman. Batke is a good sized senior that will need to step up.

 

DB

 

Sheldon Pittman 5-11 160 Sr
Austin Mason 5-8 165 Sr
AJ Antillon 5-7 165 Sr
Jonathan Hill 5-10 175 Jr
Chase Voss 5-9 170 Sr


This group will have to play the game of their lives as the Kingsmen are getting very confident through the air. You will have to double team Stephens all night or he will kill you by himself. The Liberty DB’s will have problems with the much bigger Stephens and Hager, while trying to keep up with Skiles.

 

 

PUTNAM KINGSMEN (2-3)

 

QB

Max Bailey 6-1 170 Sr


Bailey threw for 5 Tds last week in what was his best game of the season. Max had a good junior year and when in his groove is a very efficient QB. Attended our elite events and did well, throwing 2 Tds to the region’s #1 WR Deshawn Stephens a week ago.

 

RB

Trevor Fleischmann 5-10 170 Sr


Converted receiver that has taken over the running duties, when it had been by committee previously. Had his best game of the year last week with 93 yards.

 

WR

Deshawn Stephens 6-4 190 Sr
Eli Skiles 5-9 165 Sr
Devin Hager 6-2 175 Sr


Very impressive receiving core with the NW’s top WR leading it. Stephens went for 40+ Tds a season ago, and looked back in prime form last week when he went for (3 Tds – 2 receiving 53, 75, 1 punt return 70) . Skiles went off himself adding 4 Tds (2 rushing, 2 receiving), and Hager is one of the more underrated players in the state catching a 53 Td pass last week as well.

 

OL

Brady Eberhardt 6-1 240 Jr
Austin Snyder 6-3 290 Sr
Bryant Brown 6-1 190 Sr
Nick Edwards 5-9 175 Jr
Trevor Schneider 6-1 245 Sr


Line has done OK, Snyder brings back some good experience and competed well at our elite events during the winter. The other guys have improved over the year, and Eberhardt is a good sized junior center with potential.

 

DL

Todd Weiderhold 6-4 290 Sr
Trevor Schneider 6-1 245 Sr
Brandon McCuin 5-10 240 Jr
Moein Resaei 5-10 190 Sr

 

Weiderhold is a big strong kid that can create match up problems with his size, still needs to be more physical. Schneider goes both ways and can be valuable.

 

LB

Trevor Fleischmann 5-10 160 Sr
Nick Edwards 5-9 175 Jr
Taylor Lewis 5-9 170 Sr

Fleischmann is a quality overall athlete and will lead this group. Not big kids, but hey will have to step up and make sure tackles on Antillon- Liberty as he was a first team all league kid last year.

 

DB

Eli Skiles 5-9 165 Sr
Kolleh Mitchell 5-9 165 Sr
Deshawn Stephens 6-4 190 Sr
Nick Parr 5-9 165 Sr
Josh Cardinal 5-10 170 Jr


Definitely the strength of the team, where Stephens plays on a necessity only basis and is just filthy at everything that he does. Skiles is a super talented kid on both sides of the ball, and Mitchell was a second team all league athlete last year, but missed the first few games due to an academic suspension. Parr and Cardinal look will be your corners.

 

Advantage:

QB Putnam
RB Liberty
WR Putnam
OL Putnam
DL Putnam
LB Even
DB Putnam


Outlook:


Putnam is starting to play some good football as they finally have most of their players eligible and healthy. Head Coach Brad Lewman is one of the best coaches in the state, and has his kids believing. Deshawn Stephens is a legit big time D1 kid and will create all types of problems for Liberty. I would expect 3-5 Tds from Stephens as Liberty doesn’t have anyone that can guard him. No disrespect to the Falcons as Deshawn is one of the better receivers in the country.

Liberty will have to use their two talented backs to run clock and keep the Kingsmen off the field. Stephens, Skiles, and Hager are all big play guys and you can bet they are going to go up top right away and test Liberty deep. Putnam put up 68 points last week against Parkrose and they are just getting started.

Prediction:

 

Putnam 59 Liberty 24