Friday Night Recaps Week 3: Connecticut gets in on the action

Welcome back to Friday Night Recaps, your rundown of every Michigan football commit’s performance in their high school football games.

Two Connecticut prospects, Jack Stewart and Charles Thomas, kicked off their seasons, with two very different results. The last holdout, David Ojabo, starts his season next week.

Without further ado, let’s see how everybody shaped up this week.

Cade McNamara: Damonte Ranch (NV) (3-0) vs Spanish Springs - W 49-19

McNamara continued his hot start to the season, passing for 290 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for a score in the blowout win. He is showcasing his ability to both run and pass in his first few games, something that will have a place in the Michigan offense that Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey have shown.

Here’s a 44-yard TD pass for you, one of two 40+ scores of the night.

Season totals: 40-of-75, 686 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 2 rush TD

Next week: @ St. Mary’s

Zach Charbonnet: Oaks Christian (CA) (4-0) vs Alemany - W 56-14

Charbonnet got national attention this week for his amazing 47-yard touchdown run.

If you’ve been reading anything I’ve wrote about Charbonnet, you know I’ve been salivating over his cutting ability. I’m glad that the rest of the country is catching up.

Meanwhile, Oaks Christian continues to be one of the best teams in California, if not the country.

Season totals: 66 carries, 603 yards, 7 TDs

Next week: vs Murrieta Valley

Eric Gray: Lausanne (TN) (3-0) vs Whitehaven - W 26--23 (OT)

Facing a tough challenger to their win streak, Lausanne squeaked by new rival Whitehaven in overtime, to win their 30th straight game. Lausanne leaned hard on Gray, who delivered the winning touchdown.

Gray toted the ball 37 times, more than doubling his season carries, for 284 yards and 3 touchdowns. He did have a costly fumble at the goal line that caused the game to go to overtime, though.

Look for him to break the 1,000 yard mark in his FOURTH game of the season next week.

Season totals: 71 carries, 853 yards, 9 TDs

Next week: vs Craigmont

George Johnson III: Martin County (FL) (1-2) vs Fort Pierce Central - W 25-0

Johnson’s team finally got in the win column on Friday, and with a shutout to boot. Starting at quarterback, Johnson threw for two touchdown passes.

Here’s a pass that didn’t count, but is impressive nonetheless.

Season totals: At least 1 reception for 74 yards, 1 TD, 4 carries for 50 yards, 1TD, and 5 pass attempts for 132 yards, 3 TDs

Next week: vs Treasure Coast

Quintel Kent: St. Edwards (OH) (1-2) vs Cathedral Prep - W 35-3

St. Edwards finally got in the win column, with a blowout win over Pennsylvania squad Cathedral Prep.

Kent did not get to touch the ball much since they were dominating. The Eagles kept the ball mostly on the ground, rushing for four touchdowns, with the other one coming on a fumble return.

Season totals: 9 receptions, 156 yards, 4 TDs, 82 return yards, TD

Next week: @ Elder

Erick All: Fairfield (OH) (2-1) vs Hamilton - W 40-6

In a huge rainstorm, Fairfield cruised to an easy victory. Up 34-0 at half, they kept the ball mostly on the ground, as Jutahn McClain continues to blow up.

I have still yet to find any evidence that Erick All has caught a pass this season, who knows.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: vs Lakota West

Nolan Rumler: Archbishop Hoban (OH) (3-0) vs Wayne - W 47-28

Down 28-27 at half, Hoban went on to score 20 points and hold their opponent scoreless in the second half to keep their undefeated season going.

Rumler anchored the line again for at least four rushing touchdowns.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: vs Ursuline

Trente Jones: Grayson (GA) (2-1) vs Marietta - W 38-31

Jones faced off against 2020 QB target Harrison Bailey in a wild game. Up 35-0 in the middle of the 3rd quarter, Bailey sparked a furious comeback that saw Marrieta with a chance to tie late in the 4th quarter.

The Marietta offense couldn’t convert, though, and Grayson escaped with the victory. Bailey threw five touchdown passes in his high-powered offense, but Grayson countered with almost 300 yards rushing, no doubt helped by Jones at right tackle.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: @ Westlake

Karsen Barnhart: Paw Paw (MI) (2-1) vs Edwardsburg - L 0-41

After two big wins to start the season, Paw Paw ran into the buzzsaw that is Edwardsburg football this season. Through three games, they have not allowed a single point.

Paw Paw will look to get back on track in what was shaping into a promising season next week against South Haven.

Season totals: 4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD

Next week: vs South Haven

Zach Carpenter: Archbishop Moeller (OH) (2-1) vs Scott County - L 7-10

Facing their second Kentucky opponent in as many weeks, Moeller suffered a major upset against Scott County.

In a rain-soaked battle, the Moeller offense could never get going, only gaining 170 total yards.

The loss was especially uncharacteristic, considering they beat 13-time Kentucky state champions Trinity Catholic the week before. They have their third consecutive game against a Kentucky team next week.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: @ Lafayette

Jack Stewart: New Canaan (CT) (0-1) vs St. Joseph - L 0-28

No. one ranked New Canaan did not get their season off to a good start, getting blanked by no. three St. Joe’s, 28-0.

This was the first shutout for the program since 2006. A frustrating loss saw them fumble away scoring opportunities and defensive linemen consistently in the backfield.

They’ll try to bounce back next week against Danbury.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: vs Danbury

Chris Hinton: Greater Atlanta Christian (GA) (1-2) vs Prestonwood Christian - L 7-13

GAC traveled to Texas to take on defending state champs Prestonwood Christian. While they fought the entire game, the Spartans walked away with a close loss, their second heartbreaking loss in a row.

The game was delayed for an hour in the 1st quarter due to lightning, as weather affected several games across the country for the second week in a row.

Hinton was once again silent, with no plays of note being highlighted.

Season totals: 2 sacks, 2 deflections

Next week: @ Thomson

Mazi Smith: East Kentwood (MI) (2-1) vs Caledonia - W 56-20

East Kentwood crushed winless Caledonia, behind 6 touchdowns from their running back.

Smith had a tackle downfield on a screen and maybe half a sack based on his short highlight video.

Season totals: 1 tackle, .5 sack, 1 rush TD

Next week: @ West Ottawa

Gabe Newburg: Northmont (OH) (3-0) vs Tippecanoe - W 35-14

I’m unsure if Newburg was in action against for his team on Friday, after leaving last week’s game with an injury. Either way, I was unable to find any impact that he made.

Season totals: A “few” tackles, .5 sack

Next week: @ Butler

Tyrece Woods: Belleville (MI) (3-0) vs Dearborn - W 51-14

It looks like the Belleville squad is finally up and rolling. They started off hot, getting up 35-7 at half. This was a welcome change compared to their first two games, which were close affairs.

Again, I could not find any defensive stats for Woods, who visited Michigan for their game on Saturday with teammate Andre Seldon.

Season totals: 1 reception, 14 yards, TD

Next week: @ Glenn

Charles Thomas: St. Thomas More (CT) (1-0) vs Nordhein-Westfalen - W 47-0

St. Thomas More started their season in interesting fashion, facing off against German team Nordhein-Westfalen. The Germans were clearly outmatched, as the Connecticut squad loaded with FBS talent coasted to a shutout victory.

Finding stats for Thomas will be tough, as he’ll be competing with Karsen Barnhart for hardest guy to find updates on this year.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: @ Choate-Rosemary

DJ Turner II: IMG Academy (FL) (3-0) vs Liberty - W 35-0

IMG traveled to take on the no. 2 team in Nevada and walked away with a shutout victory.

The secondary stifled Liberty to 6/11 passing with only 49 yards.

During the week, Turner shared an impressive 100-yard pick six he had against Norland the week before. Hey DJ, share this stuff earlier so I can include them here!

Next week, IMG travels to Washington DC to take on St. John’s College, in one of the most anticipated high school matchups this season. He’ll be going against fellow commit Quinten Johnson in the first face-off between Michigan commits this year! I’ll be in attendance so be sure to look out for some live scouting later next week.

Season totals: 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT (pick six), 1 PBU

Next week: @ St. John’s

Quinten Johnson: St. John’s (DC) (3-0) vs Miami Central - W 37-34 (5OT)

Speaking of Johnson, his team won an absolutely wild game against Florida power Miami Central. St John’s finally won on a one-handed touchdown catch by big-time 2020 wide receiver Rakim Jarrett.

Being in attendance next week hopefully means I’ll be able to get actual statistics of Johnson, which have been impossible to find!

Season totals: 1 tfl

Next week: vs IMG Academy

Joey Velazquez: St. Francis de Sales (OH) (2-1) vs Cardinal Mooney - L 18-19

Unlike Nolan Rumler and Archbishop Hoban last week, Velazquez and the St. Francis de Sales team could not pull out the victory against Cardinal Mooney.

Down 19-12 with 3 minutes left, a punt return touchdown pulled St. Francis de Sales within one point, but they could not convert the extra point. An absolutely tough way to lose the game.

Velazquez looked to be limited on offense, and I couldn’t find any defensive stats.

Season totals: 10 tackles, 4 tfls, 2 forced fumbles, 149 yards, 2 tds

Next week: vs Belmont

Kalil Branham: Northland (OH) (1-2) vs Granville - W 28-21

The Branham boys led Northland to a victory over previously undefeated Granville. Branham scored through the air and on the ground, passing for a touchdown and rushing for two more.

Based on his game highlights, I say he rushed for around 45 yards on 6 carries and had 85 yards passing.

Season totals: 112 rush yards, 3 TDs, 86 pass yards, 2 TDs

Next week: @ Centennial

Denver Warren: West Aurora (IL) (3-0) vs Streamwood - W 54-0

Unbelievably, West Aurora shut out their opponent 54-0 for the second week in a row, and are outscoring their opponents 163-6 this season.

Finally, we have some recognition that Warren is playing, let alone playing well! Daily Herald’s Kevin McGavin said Warren “single-handedly disrupted the Sabres’ offense.”

While we don’t have any concrete statistics still, it’s nice to hear that Warren is competing at a high level.

Season totals: n/a

Next week: @ Glenbard East

Andre Seldon: Belleville (MI) (3-0) vs Dearborn - W 51-14

After Seldon’s three interception performance last week, I think it’s safe to say Dearborn stayed away from him this week. I don’t blame them.

Season totals: 4 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 PBU

Next week: @ Glenn

And there you have it, a comprehensive look at every commit’s high school football season. As a couple more additions to the class are to be expected this week, there may be even more athlete’s to cover every week!