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Football Alumni Round-up: Week 3

09/23/2021, 4:00pm 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.

Division 1

FBS

Isaiah Gash was dominant at Bay Port High School, especially during his senior year when he was named the WFCA Large School Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-State nominee. This past weekend, the redshirt freshman saw his first action for Michigan in their 63-10 win over Northern Illinois. Gash got his first collegiate carries, rushing the ball four times for ten yards.

Derek Schweiger was a 2020 Second Team All-Big 12 offensive lineman at Iowa State in his first season starting for the Cyclones. This season, the Plymouth graduate is an anchor for the offensive line once again. Schweiger started his fifteenth career game for Iowa State this past weekend in a 48-3 win over UNLV.

The kicker position is generally overlooked and/or overly scrutinized in college football. Minnesota has nine Badger State alumni on its roster, and Oak Creek's Dragan Kesich may see the most action. Kesich, just a sophomore, handles all kickoff duties for the Gophers.

FCS

Garrett Steffen is just a freshman for Western Illinois, but made his first big play this past weekend despite a 62-56 loss to Eastern Washington. Steffen, an Altoona grad, made a splash on special teams, blocking a field in the second quarter.

Ivy League football finally started up this past weekend. Eight alumni suit up for six different teams throughout the league including Ben Hoitink at Penn. Hoitink, a Slinger grad, started his first career college game on the offensive line this past weekend as Penn downed Bucknell 30-6.

North Dakota State is a powerhouse in FCS and has been for a long time. The school has also been a mainstay in recruiting Wisconsin high schools. Fullback and Spencer High School grad Hunter Luepke has been a major tool for the Bison the past few years, proof by his First Team All-American honors in 2020. This past weekend Luepke scored his twelfth career touchdown in three seasons as North Dakota State beat Towson 35-7.

South Dakota is another successful FCS program littered with athletes from the state of Wisconsin. A pair of tight ends have been playmakers for a few years now in Kiel's Austin Goehring and Oconomowoc's Brett Samson. Goehring had two catches for 59 yards and a score and Samson had three catches for 40 yards in the Coyote's 48-14 win over Cal Poly last Saturday.

Division 2

Peyton Buckley made it three weeks in a row that a Wisconsin alum took home player of the week honors in the Northern Sun Conference (NSIC). Buckley, a Rice Lake grad, had two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two pass break ups as Augustana topped Minnesota State-Moorhead 43-17. Buckley took home NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Peyton's brother Parker also starts on the Augie's defense that held Moorhead to -17 rushing yards.

In other NSIC action, Minnesota Duluth knocked off Winona State 29-23 in conference play. Placekicker Curt Cox proved to be a difference maker as he went three for three on fields and two for three on extra points for the Bulldogs. Cox, a Mineral Point grad, was named the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week for his kicking ability.

Northern Michigan took down Davenport 20-14 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action as Will Borchert was all over the field from the linebacker position. The Mukwonago alum had a game high 12 tackles for the Wildcats.

Despite Wayne State's 51-45 loss to Missouri S&T, another former alum wrecked havoc from the linebacker spot. Julius Wilkerson, formerly of Homestead, also had a game high 12 tackles.

Division 3

The WIAC finished up its last week of non-conference play this past weekend as the powerhouse D3 conference will take a week off before beginning league play next Saturday.

With that being said, UW-La Crosse squared off with Division 2 Grand Valley State, coming up short 45-24. Eagle's defensive back Elijah Alt caused havoc all over the field. The River Valley grad had a game high 11 tackles while forcing and recovering a fumble and also intercepting a ball. Alt was named the WIAC Defensive Player of the Week for his huge day.

UW-Platteville secured their first win of the season last Saturday, knocking off Franklin College 44-19. Placekicker Andrew Schweigert earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors in the WIAC for his performance with his leg. The Sussex Hamilton grad booted a 50 yard field and connected on five of six extra point attempts.

The University of Dubuque notched a convincing 28-2 win over Luther College this past weekend as running back Kallion Buckner ran wild. Buckner, a Madison La Follette grad, rushed 17 times for 208 yards and two scores for the Spartans.

Carroll College improved to 2-0 on the season squeaking out a 34-33 win over Illinois-Wesleyan. Wide receiver Austin Eichstaedt had a career day for the Pios. Eichstaedt hauled in 12 catches for 229 yards and two scores earning him CCIW Offensive Player of the Week honors. Eichstaedt caught all of his passes from quarterback and West Allis Hale grad, Michael Johnson, who finished with 365 passing yards and four scores.

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