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.

Over the past few weeks we’ve touched on freshmen quarterbacks getting their chance to take snaps for Division 1 schools. Bowling Green’s James Morgan has been mentioned many times, and this week he put on a show for the Falcons. The former Ashwaubenon standout threw for 335 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Falcon’s 42-35 loss to Toledo. That performance earned him MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Former Brookield Central alumn Joe Thomas started his 150th consecutive game since being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2007.

UW-Whitewater’s 32-22 win over UW-La Crosse featured a couple WIAC players of the week. Watertown’s Tarek Yaeggi threw for 401 yards and a combined 3 scores for La Crosse to be named the Offensive Player of the Week. Whitewater’s Paul Foster (Janesville Craig) had 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception to earn Defensive Player of the Week in the WIAC.

Also, UW-Oshkosh punter Clark Riedel earned Special Teams Player of the Week. The Waukesha West alumn booted 5 punts for an average of 44 yards that saw each punt placed inside the 20 yard line.

Army linebacker James Nachtigal (Fort Atkinson) was named Army’s Special Teams Player of the Week in their 62-7 win over UL-Lafayette. He recorded 2 tackles.

The University of Wisconsin’s thrilling 30-23 overtime loss to Ohio State saw many in-state athletes make big plays for the Badgers. Jazz Peavy (Kenosha Tremper) had over 70 rushing and receiving yards and a touchdown, while Austin Ramesh (Northland Pines) scored a rushing touchdown. Defensive end Conor Sheehy (Marquette) had a sack while freshman linebacker Zack Baun (Brown Deer) recorded 6 tackles, including one for loss to help lead the Badger’s defense.

Elsewhere around the Big Ten, RJ Shelton again put up huge numbers for the Michigan State Spartans. He had 190 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in the Spartans’ 54-40 loss to Northwestern.

Two in-state quarterbacks saw time for #22 Bemidji State in their 52-28 win over Minot State. Jared Henning (Kettle Moraine Lutheran) rushed for 172 yards and 3 scores, while Nick Mehlum (Superior) threw for 2 scores. Alex Burgess (Hudson) had 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery for the Beavers as well.

In other Northern Sun play, Turtle Lake’s Will Cross had 18 tackles in Minnesota Crookston’s 26-13 loss to the University of Mary. Aeric Berner (Antigo) also had his first career interception. St. Cloud State got touchdowns from Joe Blando (Oak Creek) and Nick Greenlund (Eau Claire North) in their 41-38 win over Minnesota State Moorehead. Matthew Lechner (Catholic Memorial), Ben Watters (Verona), and Carvel Graham (Kenosha Bradford) all made big plays on defense for St. Cloud State as well.

Senior quarterback Ryan Saeger (Arrowhead) threw his first passing touchdown of the year in South Dakota’s 33-30 win over Indiana State. Elsewhere in the Missouri Valley Conference, Racine Horlick’s Rickey Neal had 8 tackles and 1 forced fumble in Northern Iowa’s 14-10 loss to Youngstown State.

St. Norbert College got 5 touchdowns from in-state recruits in their 62-0 win over Lawrence University. Elijah Fort (Waukesha West) had 3 rushing touchdowns, while Samuel Stahling (Plymouth) and Brad Boockmeier (Green Bay Preble) each had receiving touchdowns. Ryan Grandic (St. Mary’s Springs) also recorded an interception for St. Norbert.

Beloit College’s 24-14 win over Ripon College featured many athletes from around the state. Belleville’s Michael Nolden had 100 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns for Beloit. Shayne Ellis (Janesville Craig) had an interception, and David Lafayette (Madison East) had 8 tackles and a sack to help Beloit College to victory. Ripon’s rushing attack was led by Samuel Shroyer (Oconto Falls) and Cody Chase (Weyauwega-Fremont) who combined for over 200 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Patrick Barany (Chilton) also recorded an interception for Ripon.