Special Teams Football Academy Blog: State Quarterfinal Playoffs- Special Teams Players of the Week (2015)

Our Player of the Week posts are designed to recognize the top kicking, punting and long snapping performances of the week in Minnesota at the High School Level. We will also recognize the top STFA trained collegiate specialists and our 'out of state' athlete performances too.

It's a special time of the year for all the teams that are still playing this far into the playoffs, as teams have just wrapped up the State Tournament Quarterfinal games. It is always fun to see what teams continue to stay strong, and what teams make surprise upsets.

Grant Ryerse of East Ridge HS (Class 6A), has shown again why he is one of the top kickers in the state of Minnesota. Grant played a major role in his team's State Quarterfinal Win. Grant went 4 for 4 on PATs and made 1 field goal 42 yards for a total of 7 points. Ryerse's 42 yard field goal ended up being the game winning field goal with 3 seconds left in a huge win over Wayzata HS.

The Top Punter was Alex Probert of Andover HS (Class 5A). Alex had 3 punts for 137 total yards and a 45.7 yard average.

The top Out of State STFA trained Specialist is Cameron Hausman of New Richmond HS (WI). He's had a recent surge of big game performances the last 4 weeks. This week he converted 3 for 3 PATs and 1 field goal of 33 yards- 6 points. He also had 3 punts for 114 total yards and a 38 yard average. 1 punts I-20. He helped his team upset a topped rank team to advance in the playoffs.

This week we name 2 STFA trained collegiate athletes for our kickers of the week. Isaac Aanerud of Bemidji State University kicked 3 for 3 on PATs and 3 field goals of 37, 46 and 27 yards for 12 points. He also had 3 punts for 107 total yards and a 35.7 yard average. Long 60 yards. The other top specialist is punter Nate Skare of Upper Iowa University. He booted 5 punts for 256 total yards and a 51.2 yard average. Long 65, 1 punt I-20 and 2 punts 50+ yards.

Congrats to everyone who earned a spot this week on their big kicking performances! Good luck to everyone still in their state playoff runs.

Grant Ryerse

Top Minnesota High School Specialists

Top Kicker

Grant Ryerse- East Ridge HS- 4 for 4 PATs and 1 field goal of 42 yards. Game Winner over Wayzata with 3 seconds remaining- 7 points

Honorable Mention

Tyler Knutson- Maple Grove HS- 3 for 3 PATs and 1 field goal of 35 yards- 6 points
Dean Lumb- Osseo HS- 3 for 3 PATs and 1 field goal of 30 yards- 6 points
Rueben Baltierez- Belle Plaine HS- 3 for 3 PATs and 1 field goal of 29 yards- 6 points
Henry Russert- Caledonia HS- 6 for 7 PATs- 6 points
Tyler Defor- Mankato West HS- 6 for 6 PATs- 6 points

Alex Probert

Top Punter

Alex Probert- Andover HS- 3 punts for 137 total yards and a 45.7 yard average.

Honorable Mention

Lucas Dertinger- Becker HS- 3 punts for 108 total yard and a 36.0 yard average.
Travis Brown- St Michael Albertville HS- 4 punts for 137 total yards for a 34.2 yard average.

Cameron Hausman

Top Out of State STFA Specialists

Cameron Hausman- New Richmond HS (WI)- 3 for 3 PATs and 1 field goal of 33 yards- 6 points. 3 punts for 114 total yards and a 38 yard average. 1 punts I-20

Game Winners

Mitch Bourgerie- St Michael Albertville HS- 1 field goal of 42 yards. Game Winning Field Goal 15-14 victory over Spring Lake Park.
Kale Wurdeman- Hamline University- 4 for 4 PATs and 1 field goal of 21 yards. Game Winning PAT in 31-30 over St Olaf- 7 points

Isaac Aanerud

Top STFA Collegiate Specialists

Isaac Aanerud- Bemidji State University- 3 for 3 PATs and 3 field goals of 37, 46 and 27 yards.- 12 points. 3 punts for 107 total yards and a 35.7 yard average. Long 60 yards
Nate Skare- Upper Iowa University- 5 punts for 256 total yards and a 51.2 yard average. Long 65, 1 punt I-20 and 2 punts 50+ yards

Nate Skare

Honorable Mention

Nathan Mesher- Wilfrid Laurier U- 2 PATs and 2 field goals of 39 & 32 yards- 8 points
Brady Beuschel- Upper Iowa U- 2 for 2 PATs and 2 field goals of 29 & 22 yards- 8 points
Reid Taubenheim- U of North Dakota- 5 for 6 PATs and 1 field goal of 44 yards- 8 points
Donnie Mavencamp- U of MN- Morris- 7 punts of 314 total yards and a 44.9 yard average. Long 68
Owen Schommer- UW- River Falls- 7 punts for 303 total yards and a 43.3 yard average. Long of 74 yards, 3 punts I-20 and 2 punts over 50+ yards