Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Many high school football standouts in Wisconsin go on to big things at the college level and in the pros, and this is our spot to recognize those athletes each week and help you keep up with what is going down on some of your favorite players from the past. If you have alumni news, please send it to Colton Wilson by 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Last week, we noted that former Whitefish Bay athlete Nick Bellore was getting more playing time for the San Francisco 49ers. This week, Bellore had 11 tackles and half a sack in his first career start as the 49ers fell 33-21 to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Missouri Valley Conference features many teams with multiple players from the state of Wisconsin, and a few of them have been mentioned in weeks past. The Illinois State safety duo of Alec Kocour (Catholic Memorial) and Mitchell Brees (Greendale) continue to rack up the tackles, compiling 10 in the Red Bird’s 20-6 loss to Youngstown State. Ty Deforest (Marshall) registered his first career tackle in the game as well.

Western Illinois was again led by their quarterback Sean McGuire in a thrilling 36-35 win over Indiana State. The Franklin alumn threw for 363 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for an additional score. In other Missouri Valley news, Sepestiano Pupungatoa (River Falls) was named the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week in South Dakota State’s 45-29 win over Southern Illinois.

Second ranked UW-Whitewater had its second top 10 matchup in a row when #5 UW-Oshkosh came to town. The Warhawks prevailed with a 17-14 win. Drew Pearson (Sussex Hamilton) had a rushing touchdown for Whitewater. Vince Mason (Green Bay Southwest) had a fumble recovery and interception, while Brandon Tamsett (Waterford) and Bryce Leszczynski (Pius XI) combined for 2 sacks for the Warhawks. Will Meyer (Sheboygan Falls) and Ben McCarthy (Franklin) were named Whitewater’s co-special team’s players of the week. Dylan Hecker (Winneconne) and Dom Todarello (Arrowhead) scored the only 2 touchdowns for Oshkosh.

Elsewhere around the WIAC, Matthew Knapp (Eau Claire Memorial) had 132 receiving yards and score in UW-Eau Claire’s 21-41 loss to UW-River Falls. Kimberly’s Evan Dux scored his first career touchdown in Stevens Point’s 31-57 loss to UW-Platteville. Brad Birkhauser (Assumption) also had 8 tackles and an interception for the Pointers. UW-La Crosse’s quarterback Tarek Yaeggi (Watertown) had 301 passing yards and 3 combined touchdowns in La Crosse’s 47-6 win over UW-Stout.

Wisconsin Dells’ tight end Shane Wimann continued his scoring tear in the MAC, recording his 5th touchdown catch of the season in Northern Illinois’ 45-30 loss to Western Michigan. Also in the MAC, James Morgan got his second start for Bowling Green, throwing for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Falcon’s 30-24 loss to Ohio.

Northern Sun play was again highlighted by players from the Badger State. Quarterback Nick Mehlum from Superior got his first start for Bemidji State. He threw for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 31-28 overtime win over Northern State. Tight End Eric Wunrow (River Falls) caught one of those touchdowns. Clintonville alumn Skyler Lehman had 119 receiving yards and a touchdown in Upper Iowa’s 27-13 loss to Winona State.

One week after crossing the 2,000 receiving yard threshold, Cumberland’s Brady Rose put up a career high 12 catches for 119 yards in Sioux Falls’ 48-28 win over Southwest Minnesota State. Former Appleton East linebacker Sam Johnson had 9 tackles in St. Paul Concordia’s 45-10 loss to Minnesota State Mankato. He is averaging 10.6 tackles a game this year. Virgil Hammond (Oak Creek) had 115 rushing yards for Minnesota State Mankato.

Also, Joe Rademacher (St. Croix Falls) recorded 7 tackles and one fumble recovery for Minnesota State Moorhead. Nick Greenlund (Eau Claire North) had 86 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while Jack Horter (Marquette) recorded 12 tackles in St. Cloud State’s 41-7 win over the University of Mary.

Tyler Terveer (Whitefish Bay) and Ximi Asani (Madison La Follette) combined for 9 tackles in Drake’s 35-21 win over Valparaiso.

Former Plymouth standout Samuel Stahling was named one of the Midwest Conference performers of the week. The St. Norbert College wide receiver had 4 catches for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns in St. Norbert’s 68-28 win over Beloit College. That’s an astounding 54.25 yards per catch. Brad Boockmeier (Green Bay Preble) had a combined 3 touchdowns while Elijah Fort (Waukesha West) also had a score. 

In other Midwest Conference play, former Almond-Bancroft standout Austin Bunders rushed for 146 yards on 10 carries in Ripon College’s 51-29 loss to Lake Forest College. Tyler Robida (Colby) recorded 11 tackles for Ripon as well.