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.

This past weekend in the NCAA there were multiple upsets and none quite as big as Syracuse beating Clemson. The Orange were aided by the play of two Wisconsin-bred lineman. Ashwaubenon’s Airon Servais and Waukesha West’s Sam Heckel led the Syracuse offense to over 440 yards of offense in their 27-24 upset victory over Clemson.

In another tight contest, North Dakota State pulled out a 27-24 overtime win on the leg of Regis graduate, Cam Pederson. His clutch kick earned him Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Special Teams Player of the Week. Defensively for the Bison, Grant Morgan (Oshkosh North), Nate Tanguay (Mukwonago), and Cole Karcz (Germantown) wreaked havoc in the backfield each recording a sack.

Western Illinois’ Sean McGuire continued on his tear at quarterback in the team’s 49-30 win over Missouri State. The Franklin alumn threw for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns, including one to Isaiah LeSure (Mount Horeb). McGuire has thrown for 15 touchdowns on the year.

The Wisconsin Badger football program continued its undefeated season with a 17-9 victory over Purdue. Defensively Alec James (Brookfield East) and Conor Sheehy (Marquette) recorded a sack each for the pestering Badger defense. Former Amherst standout Garrett Groshek saw clutch, late, fourth quarter touches at running back. Groshek ran twice for 32 yards and 2 first downs in the Badgers game clinching drive to end the game.

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) saw its fair share of good match-ups this past weekend as two division 3 top 10 ranked teams squared off as well as another ranked team going down.

#3 ranked UW-Oshkosh fended off #7 ranked UW-Platteville 28-14 with the aid of two WIAC’s Players of the Week. Linebacker Jon Kallas (Cedarburg) had 8 tackles, half a sack, and an interception to earn Defensive Player of the Week, while punter Turner Geisthardt (Oshkosh North) was named Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts booting the ball. Dylan Hecker (Winneconne) also rushed for 165 yards and 3 scores, while Cole Yoder (Oshkosh West) and Kollyn Beyer (Mount Horeb) each had an interception each for the second straight game.

In other WIAC play, Drew Patterson rushed for 221 yards and 3 scores to lead UW-Whitewater to a 21-14 win of #24 ranked UW-La Crosse. The Sussex Hamilton grad was named WIAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. Defensively Jacob Erbs (Reedsburg), and Bailey Breunig (Sauk Prairie) each recorded a sack. Harry Henschler (Janesville Craig) recorded 3 sacks, moving his WIAC leading sack total to 9.5.

Two Kenosha Bradford alumni continue to tear up the NFL. Melvin Gordon accounted for 150 yards and 2 more scores to help the San Diego Chargers to a 17-16 win over the Oakland Raiders. His high school teammate Trae Waynes had the game-sealing interception for the Minnesota Vikings in their 23-10 victory of the Green Bay Packers.

Two players recorded big days receiving in the NCAA this past weekend. Jester Weah (Madison Memorial) had 7 catches for 106 yards and score in the University of Pittsburgh’s 35-17 loss to North Carolina State. Elsewhere, Wisconsin Dells alumn Shane Wimann had 4 catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in Northern Illinois’ 14-13 win over Buffalo.

The Northern Sun Conference awarded Lakeside Lutheran graduate Stuart Vanden Heuvel Special Teams Player of the Week. Vanden Heuvel went 4-4 on extra points, and put 2 punts inside the 20-yard line for Sioux Falls in their 31-7 win over Wayne State.

St. Cloud State was once again led to victory by their backfield of quarterback Dwayne Lawhorn (Germantown) and Gregory Lewis (Wauwatosa West). Lawhorn threw for 177 yards and 2 scores, while Lewis rushed for 128 yards and a score. Defensively, Jamari Manuel (Madison East) and Carvel Graham (Kenosha Bradford) recorded interceptions in the 31-7 win over Minnesota-State Moorhead.

In Midwest Conference play, Julian Patton had a huge day in Ripon’s 52-28 victory over Beloit College. The former Madison La Follette quarterback rushed for 200 yards and accounted for 4 scores, while Tyler VanDeVelde (Badger) also rushed for a score.

Lastly, linebacker James Nachtigal is making the most of his extended playing time this year for Army. The Fort Atkinson grad had a game high 13 tackles in Army’s 28-27 win over Eastern Michigan. Nachtigal recorded his 50th tackle on the season en route to being named Army’s Defensive Player of the Week.