Scouting Notes: Mason defeats Harper Woods despite big plays from four-star junior

Mason defeated Harper Woods on Friday night in a game that some may have seen as an upset, but the Bulldogs are a very good and well-coached program. Harper Woods was just coming off a win over Clarkston though and have lots of offensive firepower. Notre Dame was in the building to see the recruits in the contest, of which the Pioneers have several. The MVP of the game was Mason junior Troy Peters. On a field full of Division I skill talent, Peters was hurting the Harper Woods defense all night. He’s a 5-foot-10, 175-pound athlete who did a lot of damage as a wildcat quarterback. He’s just a really good, tough football player. Is he a college running back, receiver, or defensive back? That remains to be seen, but he was excellent on Friday night against a good opponent. Sophomore slot-back Jeffrey Reisner made a lot of plays too. He’s 6-foot-0, 175 pounds as a 2029 and showed some quickness and speed that will make him a player to watch over the next couple of years. For Harper Woods’ stars, the one who was most impactful in this one was junior four-star DeAndre Bidden. He caught a deeper touchdown and then had a highlight-reel type kick return where he wiggled out of a few tackles then used his outstanding speed to out-run defenders. He’s a utility guy in college probably. He has played slot, outside receiver, and now frequently lines up as a running back. He is a fast offensive weapon who doesn’t necessarily need a set position. Oregon commit Dakota Guerrant ran for a touchdown as a wildcat quarterback. He caught a few balls underneath. Mason was playing pretty far off to not allow him to get down the field, then did a nice job of surrounding him and gang tackling. Guerrant is skilled and makes things look easy. In this particular contest though, Mason deserves credit for not letting him make big plays. Junior defensive lineman Jeremiah McCall was active and made several plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. He plays end mostly but may be a college three-tech. That’s the biggest thing is what his body will grow into. He’s listed at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds so a little bit of a tweener, but he’s quick, high-motor and disruptive. Heavily recruited safety Jayden Evans was in on a couple tackles. With Mason’s offensive attack, he did not see many balls in the air, but was in on some key stops. Junior receiver/tight end A.J. Henley had one grab later in the game. He’s a flex type guy who can be in the slot and has a 6-foot-3 frame and receiving skills. Sophomore quarterback Austin Mitchell is still a work in progress but offers some size and arm talent that should make him a prospect schools will evaluate over the next couple years.