Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net are happy to announce Waukesha West's Peter MacCudden as the 2017 recipient of the Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award as the most outstanding senior running back in Wisconsin, part of the WSN Senior Football Awards.

MacCudden has been a key part of the Wolverines' offense and defense since his freshman season, when he scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in in the 2014 state title game.

Last year he rushed for more than 2,000 yards, and went over that mark again this season, with 2,165 yards and 28 touchdowns through 11 games, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

He's also thrown three touchdowns this year and caught a score, while playing in the defensive secondary as well. MacCudden was recently named a WFCA All-State selection. He holds a number of Division 1 and Division 2 scholarship offers.

Finalists for the award were MacCudden, John Chenal of Grantsburg, Javian Dayne of Waunakee, Justin Evans of Menomonie, Joe Garcia III of Racine Horlick, Evan Gates of Lancaster, Henry Geil of Green Bay Preble, Colton Kizewski of Stevens Point, Zach Krause of Clinton, Zayne Rodencal of Fox Valley Lutheran, Brady Schipper of Stoughton, and D.J. Stewart of Kimberly.

Past winners of the award include Appleton North's Steve Lichtfuss (2009), Kenosha Bradford's Melvin Gordon (2010), Waunakee's Leo Musso (2011), Big Foot's Mason Dixon (2012), Saint Mary's Springs' Ike Floyd (2013), Waunakee's Troy Laufenberg (2014), Kimberly's Blair Mulholland (2015), and Darlington's Hunter Johnson (2016).

The award is named after "Crazylegs" Hirsch, a legendary athlete from Wausau High School who later starred at both the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan. Hirsch spent 12 seasons in professional football, including nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams who moved him to end. His 1951 season is one of the greatest receiving years in NFL history. He caught 66 passes for a record 1495 yards and 17 touchdowns. The yardage mark wasn’t broken for 19 years while his 17 touchdowns tied the record and wasn’t broken until 1984. He later served as the Wisconsin athletic director from 1969 to 1987, overseeing a revival of UW athletics. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Hirsch passed away in 2004. 

The voting panel for the WSN Senior Football Awards consisted of:  Travis Wilson, WSN General Manager and Head Football Writer;  Norbert Durst, WSN Content Manager; Dennis Semrau, ESPN Madison; Justin Hull, WSCO The Score 95.3 in Appleton; JR Radcliffe, NOW Newspapers; Dan Barwick, WSN Contributor; Colton Wilson, WSN Content Producer; Fan Vote

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.