ELI GILLMAN
Dassel-Cokato • football
To say it's been a season of adaptation for the ultra-athletic junior is a decided understatement.
After Gillman made the 2019 Class 3A playoffs his coming-out party, rushing for 292 yards and four touchdowns in two games at U.S. Bank Stadium, expectations were lofty this season. But it's only been recently that he has been able to settle in.
First, there was the postponement and subsequent restoration of the season. During the downtime, his mother, Dawn, became the leader and voice of the "Let Them Play" movement in the state, turning the spotlight on his family. Finally, he was moved from running back to quarterback, taking him out of his comfort zone on the field.
"At the start of the season, I wasn't enjoying it much," he said. "I was trying to get used to it."
But when he has the ball in his hands, Gillman can be electric. On Friday he needed just 12 carries to gain 123 yards and score three touchdowns in the Chargers' 45-0 rout of Watertown-Mayer. He's used his 4.48 40-yard-dash speed to compile 723 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground through five games.
Best of all, Gillman is feeling much more comfortable in his role.
"I'm starting to get the hang of it," he said. "My passing still isn't the best, but I feel like I'm at the top of my game when I'm running the ball."
MCCABE DVORAK
St. Louis Park • football
In the Orioles' 35-27 shocker over Class 4A, No. 2 Orono, the senior receiver/defensive back was a force on both sides of the ball. He caught 14 passes for 144 yards and two second-quarter touchdowns, made seven tackles and intercepted three passes.
