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 10 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Injuries have have a thorn in the side of many former alumni in the NFL this season. Milwaukee Riverside's Brandon Brooks suffered pec injury early in the season for the Philadelphia Eagles and has been on the IR since week 2.

Kenosha Bradford's Trae Waynes came into the year hurt for the Cincinnati Bengals, but returned in week 4. He then suffered an injury in week four and has been out since.

Both Robert Windsor of Fond du Lac and Vince Beigel of Wisconsin Rapids have been on the IR since the beginning of the year.

J.J. Watt of Pewaukee went down a few weeks ago for what may be the remainder of the season for the Arizona Cardinals.

This past week, fellow Watt brother T.J. went down in the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-16 tie with the Detroit Lions and is questionable to return this week.

The biggest injury news was former Bay Port standout and current Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold. The third year former Badger suffered a torn ACL that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2021 season and more than likely some of 2022.

On a brighter note, professional football is not just a sport played in the United States. The Canadian Football League is in full swing and a former Franklin standout has continued his career up north. Sean McGuire, who played collegiately at Western Illinois, currently plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In limited play this season, he has taken the reins at quarterback and currently leads all the CFL with eight rushing touchdowns.

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It's getting harder and harder to go a week without mentioning the stars on the Wisconsin Badgers, especially as they continue to win and in impressive fashion. True freshman and Fond du Lac grad Braelon continues to earn conference accolades as he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 173 yards and three scores in the Badger's 35-7 win over Northwestern in his first career "start". Menomonee Falls grad Julius Davis also has seen more carries with Chez Mellusi sidelined with an injury.

Michigan State continues its impressive season, and Noah Harvey has seen an uptick in his playing time down the stretch. The Arrowhead grad filled the stat sheet this past week in a 40-21 win over Maryland. Harvey tallied five tackles, a sack and an interception.

This past weekend in a 35-21 win over Colorado State, the Air Force Falcons racked up 388 rushing yards. Former Franklin High School standout and 2016 WSN Tim Krumrie Award winner Hawk Wimmer is a part of the offensive line that fought in the trenches for that Falcons team.

Keonte Schad transferred from Minnesota to Oregon State this past offseason and has found a spot on the Beaver's starting defensive line. Last week in a 35-14 win over Stanford, the Madison East grad had three tackles and recovered a fumble.

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Ben Nimz stepped into the starting quarterback role at Valparaiso and hasn't looked back. The Catholic Memorial grad had his best game yet in Valpo's 47-3 win over Butler this past week. Nimz completed 19 of 24 passes for 241 yards and three scores for the Beacons. He added a rushing touchdown for good measure.

North Dakota squeaked out a 14-7 victory over Illinois State and field position played a big part in the game. Thankfully for the Fighting Hawks, Cade Peterson was handling punting duties. The Kewaskum grad averaged 36.5 yards per punt, but pinned two within the 20 and didn't allow a single return. Peterson was named Missouri Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.

Despite losing 21-14 to St. Thomas, Drake got some great contributions from a pair of alumni, one on each side of the ball. Offensively, Homestead's Matt Hartlieb led the Bulldogs in receiving with five catches for 40 yards. On the defensive side, Alex Rogers of Racine Case had a team high ten tackles and picked off a Tommie's pass.

Nick Howard has been impressive all season running the ball for Dartmouth. That continued this past week in a 41-7 throttling of Cornell. The Ashwuabenon graduate rushed 13 times for 172 yards and four touchdowns as he was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week. On the season, Howard has gained 739 yards on 110 carries, with 13 touchdowns.

Hillsdale came back from a 14 point, fourth quarter comeback to top Ohio Dominican 21-17 this past Saturday. Quarterback and Luxemburg-Casco grad Garritt Aissen orchestrated it all. The sophomore signal caller threw for 152 yards and all three touchdowns. Aissen connected on a three touchdown pass with 9:04 left pull Hillsdale with 17-14. He then threw a 15 yard score with :43 seconds left to give the Chargers the victory.

D.J. Stewart has slowly been finding his footing in the Northern Michigan backfield. The Kimberly grad and former WFCA Offensive Player of the Year in Wisconsin, rushed 16 times for 131 yards and a score in the Wildcat's 34-26 win over Northwood.

Southwest Minnesota State didn't put up much of a fight against Augustana in a 55-0 loss. However, a pair of alumni did see more action for the Mustangs offense. Running back and SJNMA grad Donald Austin rushed for nine yards and hauled in three catches for 47 yards. Teammate Dustin Pammel of Lakeside Lutheran caught five balls for 35 yards in the game.

In other Northern Sun Conference play, Jarrett Gronski got to see some extended play for Bemidji State as they outscored the University of Mary 62-40. Gronski, a Superior alum tallied his first collegiate rushing score.

UW-La Crosse is one of two WIAC teams to qualify for the Division 3 football playoffs; the other being UW-Whitewater. Last weekend in a 44-20 win over UW-Eau Claire, a pair of alumni took home WIAC weekly honors. Westby's Ryan Daine tallied nine tackles, two and a half for loss, one and a half sacks and a force fumbled for the Eagles, earning WIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors along the way. Teammate and West Salem grad Ryan Beirne connected on three of four field and all four extra points, while scoring a receiving touchdown, en route to being named WIAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Whitefish Bay's Cade Garcia saw his first start of the season at quarterback for La Crosse, completing 20 of 29 passes for 261 yards and four scores.

In other WIAC action, UW-Platteville and UW-Stout squared off with Platteville coming out on top 35-28.

For the Pioneers, Lancaster grad Evan Gates scored the game winning touchdown with 1:48 left in the game. Defensively, Sam Smith of Pewaukee had a game high 11 tackles, New Berlin Eisenhower's Samuel Tausz had ten tackles and an interception and Reedsburg's Danny Kast also added an interception.

Stout running back and Chippewa Falls grad Matt Pomietlo carried the ball 26 times for a season high 154 yards and a score. On the defensive side of the ball, Appleton East's Mason Priebe had a team high eight tackles and an interception.

Keon Miller has continued to impress with his playmaking ability at Carroll University this season. The sophomore wideout and returner had a career high 161 yards of six catches and two scores in a 30-28 win over Elmhurst University. Miller, a Richland Center grad, scored on a 54 yard toss from West Allis Hale's Michael Johnson. Cudahy grad Austin Eichstaedt added eight catches for 98 yards and a score for the Pios.

St. Norbert ended their regular season with a 34-0 shutout of Concordia-Chicago as Nicolet alum had 12 tackles, one and a half for loss and a 90 yard interception return for a score. Also on defense, Jake Berken of Green Bay Preble had ten tackles and a sack while Neenah's Joe Jung tallied five tackles. two and a half for loss, and an interception.