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Favorites emerging for Offensive Player of the Year in the state

09/22/2021, 12:45pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Franklin senior quarterback Myles Burkett is the favorite for WFCA Large School Offensive Player of the Year

The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) presents both an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year award in the state of Wisconsin each season for both Small Schools and Large Schools, and usually, there are pretty clear candidates that emerge very early in the season. By the mid-point of the regular season, a handful of possible recipients usually stand out and it's a race to the finish to see who will grab the award. This year, I think there is a favorite emerging, but still a number of other quality players in the running and a long ways to go before the decision is made.

It takes the right combination of name recognition, statistical success, and team success to win the award. Generally, the player must be from a very successful team that is either unbeaten or a favorite to compete for a state title. However, a few years ago we saw Brown Deer's Zach Baun receive the award in a close vote, despite the fact that his Falcons finished just 8-3 overall and went out in Level 2 of the playoffs. His individual brilliance was too much to pass up however, despite a strong pool of candidates.

To be clear, the Offensive Player of the Year is presented by the WFCA, and I do not have a vote in the process (it is voted on by the 20 Region Reps). However, below is my take on the favorites as well as other top candidates, though there is a long ways to go before the selection is made after Level 4 of the postseason, and more candidates could certainly emerge.

Large SCHOOL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Favorite: Myles Burkett, Franklin

Myles Burkett of Franklin has everything you want in a Player of the Year favorite. He's got the name recognition as a two-time Southeast Conference Player of the Year, returning WFCA All-State choice, and is a Badger recruit. He's been incredibly productive once again this season with 1,284 passing yards, completing 74.8% of his passes for 13 touchdowns with no interceptions. He has a signature moment with a huge comeback against Appleton North back in Week 1, culminating in a Hail Mary victory. And the Sabers recently took over the top spot in the Division 1 Coaches Poll. It will be hard to knock him out of the favorite role this season.

Others Top Candidates

Cole Berghorn, RB, Badger -- Berghorn leads the state in rushing through five weeks, carrying the ball 114 times for 1,115 yards with 14 touchdowns on the ground. Badger is unbeaten in Southern Lakes Conference play, though there are some extremely tough games remaining on the schedule.

Joe Brunner, OL, Whitefish Bay -- The Offensive Player of the Year award has almost always gone to a skill position player, but if a lineman is in the mix, it would be Brunner. A massive, dominating player up front for the Blue Dukes, Brunner has committed to Wisconsin and is our top-ranked player in the state.

Jerry Kaminski, QB, Sun Prairie -- Kaminski shared time with returning starter Brady Stevens in the alternate spring season and that experience is paying huge dividends in his junior campaign. Playing for his father and coach Brian Kaminski, Jerry has completed 58-of-83 passes (69.9%) for 1,014 yards with 17 touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a quarterback rating of 150.8. He's also rushed for a pair of scores as the Cardinals are unbeaten and ranked third.

Quentin Keene, QB, Waunakee -- While we do not have full stats from Waunakee yet, Keene has been outstanding once again as the Warriors are unbeaten heading into this week's showdown against DeForest. For his career he completes nearly 75% of his passes and has seen his yards per attempt and passer rating go up each year since stepping in midway through his sophomore season.

Mason Keyes, QB, DeForest -- Keyes completes the suburban Madison triumverate with Kaminski and Keene, and while he's the only first-year starter of the group, the junior signal-caller has been just as good as any of them. Keyes has completed 67% of his passes for 787 yards and 17 touchdowns with no interceptions as the Norskies are unbeaten heading into a huge Week 6 showdown with rival Waunakee.

Others to Watch:

Cody Cotton, Union Grove
Trevor Garski, Mosinee
Thomas Harper, Wauwatosa East
Waquon Kelly, Wauwatosa West
Nate Kollath, Sussex Hamilton
A.J. Korth, Menasha
Vito Massa, River Falls
Cayden Neri, Rhinelander
Caden Pendleton, Kimberly
Jakob Simmons, Westosha Central
Charles Smith, Arrowhead
Isaac VandenBush, Luxemburg-Casco
Riley Warzynski, Stevens Point


Small School Offensive Player of the Year

Favorite: Robby Michael, Kohler/Sheboygan Lutheran/Christian

Robby Michael of Sheboygan Lutheran/Christian may have set several state records last season if not for the pandemic-shortened schedule. In just seven games in 2020, he threw for 2,309 yards with 31 touchdowns, averaging 330 yards per game. His yards per game is slightly down as a senior, but he has been even more efficient, completing 65.4% of his passes for 999 yards with 19 touchdowns and just one interception through five games. His passer rating is 131.2, and he's also been extremely dangerous with is legs, leading the team with 697 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

Other Top Candidates

Maddux Allen, QB, Cumberland -- Cumberland has been dominant this season, and Allen's pass attempts are down for now, but he remains an incredibly efficient passer who will undoubtedly put up even bigger numbers as the year progresses. he's completed 68% of his passses for 796 yards and 11 touchdowns in just four games, averaging 199 yards per game with a total passer rating of 124.8. The senior is in his third year as a starter and the Beavers now own the state's longest active winning streak at 13 games.

Simon Bauer, RB, Durand -- Bauer is the third-leading rusher in the state and tops among small school players with 1,042 yards on 115 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt and 208 yards per game. He's scored 15 rushing touchdowns with another receiving plus two passing scores while playing on defense and special teams as well. 

Brycen Cashin, RB, Pacelli -- Cashin just finds a way to get into the end zone, as his 19 rushing scores lead the state and he is up to 55 in his career. The senior running back has carried it 84 times in just four games, racking up 916 yards with an average of 229 per game. He's also caught six passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. 

Brennen Dvorachek, QB, Reedsville -- Reedsville is undefeated and ranked second in Division 7 after a running clock victory over Hilbert last week. Dvorachek ran wild in that one to the tune of 283 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries, with another 119 yards and a touchdown throwing the football. On the season he has completed 71.4% of his passes for 537 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception. He's also the team's leading rusher with 569 yards and nine scores on the ground.

Jackson Flottmeyer, QB, Aquinas -- Flottmeyer has the Blugolds unbeaten and ranked sixth heading into a key Coulee Conference showdown with Arcadia. The junior quarterback has completed an amazing 78.7% of his passes for 1,156 yards with 18 touchdowns and just one interception, good for a 151.5 passer rating. He's posted two perfect passer ratings (158.3) in a game this season, with another of 157.5, as his lowest rated game was 123.6.

Luke Haertle, QB, Lake Country Lutheran -- Haertle is a three-year starter who led the Lightning to a Division 5 state title as a sophomore. A dual-threat athlete, he has completed 63.1% of his passes for 747 yards and 12 touchdowns as Lake Country Lutheran is unbeaten and ranked number one. He's also scored three touchdowns on the ground and has often saved his best for later in the season and playoffs.

Others to Watch:

Logan Arrowood, Cedar Grove-Belgium
Gage Boegli, Brodhead/Juda
Trey Colts, Cambridge
Joseph Gardner, Campbellsport
Colin Girdaukas, Kohler/Sheboygan Lutheran/Christian
Carsen Hause, Stanley-Boyd
Carson Hinzman, Saint Croix Central
Jonah Jensen, Brookfield Academy
Beau Kopp, Cuba City
Dawson Rud, Mondovi
Billy Schrauth, Saint Mary’s Springs
Dylan Thomson, Oconto Falls


About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

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