Senior wide receiver Sean Engel and senior safety Alex Machukans are at different ends of the size spectrum, but both played large roles in Chaska’s 35-0 victory over Holy Angels in a Suburban White subdistrict matchup Friday night at Chaska High School.

Engel is listed at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds while Machukans is 5-6 and 145 pounds, and Hawks coach Bryan Dahl said he tries to make the most out of every player.

“(In) high school, you don’t get to pick and choose and recruit kids, so you get what you get,” Dahl said. “We want athletic kids - big, small, whatever - and we’ll put them into roles where they can be successful.”

Engel chalked up Chaska’s first touchdown of the game on a 25-yard reception from junior quarterback Alex Strazzanti midway through the first quarter. 

Engel’s height and skill set drew more defenders to him, which opened other opportunities for his teammates.

Dahl cited the example of senior wide receiver Brendan Hagan, who had a 43-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter. It was the same play call as the Hawks’ first TD, but the Stars defense was cheating towards Engel’s side, which opened the field for Hagan. 

Engel said his size gives him a big advantage because most high school defensive backs aren’t taller than six feet.

“From the start of the play, you have an advantage, so it’s always good for the jump ball…it’s probably my favorite play, it’s the easiest,” Engel said.

Engel has been catching the eyes of some college recruiters. Wyoming, North Dakota State, Bucknell, Northern Iowa and Cornell are a few schools that have offered scholarships to Chaska’s second-leading receiver. 

Dahl said Engel’s just not a leader on the field, but in the classroom as well.  

“We want them to be good people. We care about these kids more than just football players. We want them to succeed after high school, so we’re really trying to push and get them to understand how important academics is,” Dahl said.

Machukans said he feels even smaller than usual when standing next to Engel.

“I’m small to other people, but when I stand by him I look like a (little person),” Machukans said.

Machukans may not have the same stature as Engel, but his impact on the field is as big as his teammate’s. He anchored the Hawks’ secondary and punted while also getting a couple touches as a running back in the second half.

“He’s done a great job to get us lined up on defense and in position,” Dahl said. “He does everything for us and we can count on a lot of the guys to do the big things for us.”

Dahl has to remind Machukans to preserve his body while on the field.   

“He always wants to cut back and run into other people and get hit,” Dahl added. “But we always tell him to run out of bounds, get down, you’ve got to save your body a little bit.”

Machukans said his mentality plays a huge role in how he approaches bigger players.  

“Since I’m a shorter guy, I’m a lot quicker and faster. I obviously can’t get big,” Machukans said. “I like to be mentally and physically tough. When I get hit, I like to pop right back up and show them that I’m tough.”

Engel said he and Machukans are equals in terms of skill sets and Machukans is also a good leader.

“He’s got the same, if not better, as me. He’s just as fast, he’s just as quick, he’s just got that size issue, but he plays through it,” Engel said.

No matter the size, players such as Engel and Machukans need to step up if the Hawks hope to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2013.

Junior quarterback Alex Strazzanti threw two touchdowns in Chaska’s 35-0 thumping of Holy Angels Friday night at Chaska High School.

The Hawks' first score was a 25-yard pass from Strazzanti to senior wide receiver Sean Engel. A successful PAT by senior place-kicker Eduardo Contreras put Chaska up 7-0 with 8:20 left in the first quarter.

Later in the first, junior running back Will Olson received a pitch from Strazzanti and trotted in from 4 yards out. The Hawks' first-half scoring was capped with a 43-yard receiving touchdown hauled in by senior wide receiver Brendan Hagen.

Holy Angels (3-2), ranked No.7 in Class 4A in the latest Associated Press state high school football poll, fumbled the ball away on its first play of the second half.

Chaska (4-1) then scored on a weird play as Olson ran about 10 yards before fumbling near the goal line. Engel recovered in the end zone, and with the successful PAT, the Hawks led 28-0 with 8:31 left in the third.

Olson tallied his second TD, scoring on a 15-yard run to extend Chaska's advantage with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter.

The Hawks challenge local rival Chanhassen next week while Holy Angels hosts Suburban White subdistrict rival Waconia.

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