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Football Alumni Round-up: October 16th

10/16/2019, 1:30pm CDT
By Colton Wilson

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 10 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Alumni Update

Many players are set to play their final high school game in the next few days around the state. Others, like those featured in this article, will be ending one chapter of their football career, and turning the page to another. A chapter that has seen many alumni break records, earn All-American status, and even become All-Pros at the NFL level.

Ashwaubenon is one of those teams that will get at least one more week of play after the regular season this year. It is also a school that currently has three different alumni manning the helm for collegiate teams in both Division 1 and 2.

James Morgan, a 2015 graduate of Ashwaubenon has led Florida International to two consecutive blowout wins in Conference USA play. This past Friday, FIU downed Charlotte 48-23 behind the strong arm of Morgan. James completed 13 of 16 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

The other two former Ashwaubenon grads faced off in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Play as Will Ark and Michigan Tech took down Ryan Johnson and Northern Michigan. Ark completed 21 of 30 passes for 347 yards and three scores in the 24-20 win. He also booted a career long 66 yard punt. Despite the loss, Johnson was efficient under center, throwing for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Garrett Wegner was an Associated Press FCS third team All-American last season for the North Dakota State Bison. The Lodi graduate was also the WSN Kevin Stemke Award winner in 2015. However, Garrett had never been named the Missouri Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. That is, until now. Last week Garrett averaged a whopping 50.7 yards per punt, including a season long 60 yard boot as North Dakota State beat tenth-ranked Northern Iowa 46-10.

UW-Oshkosh stifled UW-Stevens Point in their 20-7 win last Saturday. Mount Horeb grad Nick Noethe was a big reason why. He had a game high 12 tackles, including seven in the fourth quarter en route to being named the WIAC Defensive Player of the Week. Jaydon Haag of Sparta High School was darn near perfect with his leg for Oshkosh. Haag put three of his punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line and also was perfect kicking the ball; going two for two on both field goals and extra points. Jaydon was named the WIAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

In other WIAC play, UW-Eau Claire looked to go above .500 in conference play as they took on UW-River Falls. Austin Belot was an absolute workhorse for Eau Claire as they won 27-14. The former Neenah back rushed the ball 30 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns. His performance earned him WIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

It has been noted this year and last how absolutely dominating Chris Garrett has been for the Conccordia-St. Paul football team. This week may have been his most impressive performance to date. Chris had a team high 11 tackles, six and a half of those went for loss. He added five sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pass break up for safe measure as Concordia downed Minnesota State-Moorhead 24-17. Chris was named the Northern Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He now leads all of Division 2 football with nine total sacks.

Elsewhere in the Northern Sun Conference, Bemidji State was down 24-0 with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. That’s when quarterback and Madison Memorial grad Emmett Enright finally got things going. Emmett led four consecutive touchdown drives as he threw for 318 yards and two scores throughout the game. He threw a game-winning 27 yard touchdown pass with ten seconds left to seal the deal.

Zach Reader, formerly of Oak Creek, got his first start at quarterback this past weekend for Upper Iowa University. Despite a 27-21 loss to Mary, Zach played phenomenally. He threw for 201 yards and a score, while adding 82 yards rushing.

Drake Football has a plethora of former Badger State alumni on their squad, and many of them contributed in a 42-7 win over Butler this past weekend. Alex Bray of Catholic Memorial, Matt Hartlieb of Homestead, and Mitch McFarlane of Winnebago Lutheran all hauled in at least one catch. Alex Rogers of Racine Case led all tacklers with five on the defensive side of things while Ben Nienhuis of Oconomowoc saw time at quarterback in the shutout.

Like Drake, Beloit College has many in-state alumni on their roster. Chase Carrat of Parkview High School was the leader of a stout defense that hindered Lawrence University’s offense in a 13-7 win for Beloit. Chase tallied four tackles for loss, including three sacks.

In other Midwest Conference play, Nate Ihlenfeldt ran all over the field as St. Norbert College beat Ripon College 24-6. Ihlenfeldt, a Notre Dame High School alum, rushed the ball 29 times for 241 yards and three scores.

In other Division 3 play, Emanuel Jenkins was outstanding at the receiver position for Dubuque College in their 28-7 win over Central College. The Menasha product caught nine passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Emanuel was named the American Rivers Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Earlier in the year, we had mentioned that former Marquette High School and University of Wisconsin tailback Dare Ogunbowale saw his first NFL touches for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This past weekend the Buccaneers faced off against the Carolina Panthers in a game played in London. Despite a 37-26 loss, Dare scored his first ever NFL touchdown on a three yard run.

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