My Friday Night Game of the Week for Week 7 took me out to Pawnee Park in Columbus to watch the host Columbus Discoverers take on the Papillion-La Vista South Titans as both teams were looking to get back on track. The Discoverers got off to a hot start, marching down the field on their opening drive to score, then recovering a fumble with great field position and scoring to go up 14-0. From there, Papio South settled in offensively and defensively and went on to score 22 unanswered points. Columbus responded with a touchdown drive of their own, and from there it was all Papio South. The Titans burst the game open in the second half, taking advantage of turnovers and a stifling defense to roll to a 42-20 victory.
Here are five Papio South standouts from Friday night’s game:
Player of the Game:
Pierson Ivener, 2027 – TE – 6’3″ 215 lbs – (@piersonivener)
It was not an easy task to assign “Player of the Game” honors to only one person, but ultimately Pierson Ivener’s breakout game was hard to overlook. The senior TE exploded for 11 catches, 211 receiving yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns. The most impressive part of Pierson’s outing was that he was doing damage at all levels of the field, showing the speed to stretch defenses vertically, the ability to separate over the middle of the field to give you a target in intermediate range, and the ability to outphysical defenders in short/red zone situations. He does a great job locating the ball and can adjust on the fly, showing he can elevate to the high point and even use every inch of his massive catch radius to haul in passes. One underrated aspect of Pierson’s game is his run-after-catch ability, powered by his bigger frame and physicality at the point of contact, which makes him tough to bring down on the first tackle attempt. A strong blocker who is willing to dig his nose into a defender’s chest and drive them off the ball at will. Reliable hands at the catch point. Uncommitted senior who would be a massive steal at this point in the recruiting process.
Notable Standouts:
Colin Raybourn, 2027 – QB – Sioux Falls Commit – 6’3″ 205 lbs – (@raybourn_colin)
Senior Colin Raybourn showed why he’s one of the top QBs in his class with an efficient bounce-back performance for the Sioux Falls commit. Colin ended the night completing 21 of 26 pass attempts (81%) for 288 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and a 154 QBR. Despite the Titans falling behind 14-0 early in the game, Colin seemed unflustered and operated business as usual, consistently making great reads and delivering the ball with excellent timing and accuracy. He combines a high football IQ with excellent field vision as he works through his progressions to find his best option. Great at keeping the ball out of harm’s way, even on his throws; he can place it right where only his receiver can make a play on it, preventing turnovers. Good footwork in the pocket, along with the mobility to evade pressure or extend plays outside of the pocket. The Coo are getting a great addition in Colin!
Ty Gideon, 2029 – DB/WR – 6’1″ 160 lbs
Sophomore Ty Gideon is another player who had quite the breakout performance, as he impacted the game in several ways. Gideon proved his effectiveness on both sides of the ball with 38 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown, three tackles, and two interceptions. I was very impressed with the range he showed in coverage on the defensive side of the ball. He plays with excellent instincts and is sharp at diagnosing plays, which helps him get there and make a play. Gideon can easily pick up receivers crossing into his path and travel with them across the field or flip his hips to drop back to get depth as your centerfield defender who can shut down big plays over top.
DD Chambers, 2028 – DB/ATH – 6’0″ 160 lbs – (@_ddchambers)
Junior DD Chambers jumped on my radar over the summer after a great showing at a camp as a receiver, and now I got a good look at him on the defensive side of the ball. As one of the Titans’ starting DBs, DD had a strong game, recording six tackles and an interception. He checks out as a solid coverage cornerback who can be physical when challenging receivers at the LOS and at the catch point, using his length to play through their hands and force breakups. He moves well in coverage, showing good footwork, fluid hips, and quick change of direction that let him stick with his receivers. Another aspect of DD’s game that stood out was his willingness to step up and make plays against the run. He played very close to the box, which let him step into gaps and fit the run while staying quick enough to bail out into coverage when he sees a pass. Smart DB who can read offenses and has the quick instincts to get in position to make a play. Definitely someone to keep watching as he goes into the offseason.
Dallas Davison, 2028 – WR – 5’11” 160 lbs – (@DallasDavison)
Junior Dallas Davison was a nice surprise in my first in-person look at the Titans’ prospect. Dallas hauled in two catches for 28 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown. Although the stats may not pop off the page, Dallas still showed a lot even when the ball wasn’t coming his way, especially as a route runner. Davison also showed a nice level of suddenness in his route running, as he can stop/start to get DBs to bite on double moves or make a quick change of direction at the top of his route, with nice explosiveness out of his breaks. He has explosive speed, with a reported 10.4 100m and a 4.4 40-yard dash, which translates to the field with great burst off the ball and quick acceleration through the stem of his route. Very good hands catcher who will go up to snag the ball and has the strength to hold on through contact. Dallas has received an FCS offer from Grambling State, showing the high level of upside he possesses already!
