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.

Last week we highlighted great performances from Wisconsin high school alumni in college football. This week will be more of the same. However, the NFL season has begun and with that came a few outstanding performances.

In a 21-21 tie between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, two former Wisconsin Badger linebackers and Wisconsin high school alumni had huge days. Waukesha West standout Joe Schobert led the Browns with 8 tackles as well as 2 fumble recoveries. The second recovery came in the overtime period and set the Browns up for a game winning field goal. That field goal would go on to be blocked by Pewaukee High School graduate T.J. Watt. That was the icing on the cake of an outsanding day for Watt. Along with the game winning blocked field goal, he registered 11 tackles and an incredible 4 sacks.

In NFL action between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, both of these teams got contributions from Badger State kids. Melvin Gordon of Kenosha Bradford and 2010 Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch Award winner, started his fourth NFL season by hauling in 102 receiving yards and rushing for 64 yards. On the other side of the ball, Milwaukee Riverside alumn Eric Murray registered 9 tackles in his third career start as the Chiefs came out on top 38-28.

In WIAC action, Harry Henschler (Janesville Craig) recorded 5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and forced a redzone fumble as UW-Whitewater beat Concordia Moorhead 24-6. Henschler was named the WIAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Wide receiver teammates Mitchell Dees (South Milwaukee) and JT Parish (Cambridge) combined for 142 receiving yards and each hauled in a touchdown for the Warhawks.

Two different players recorded 2 receiving touchdown games in other WIAC play. Alex Herink of Hudson High School recorded his second straight 2 touchdown performance as UW-River Falls lost to Bethel College 32-27. UW-La Crosse wide receiver Dominic Labellarte (Brookfield Central) had 6 catches for 103 yards and 2 scores in their 34-31 win over Illinois Wesleyan.

D.C. Everest High School grad Brad Goetsch helped secure a 30-23 overtime win for UW-Eau Claire over St. Norbert College. The kicker went 3 for 3 on field goals en route to being named WIAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Goetsch wasn’t the only kicker to be a conference player of the week this past week. Ashwaubenon alum Emmitt Carpenter was 2 for 2 on field goals, both coming from 50 plus yards, in Minnesota’s 21-14 win over Fresno State. For that, he was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. In that game, Carpenter eclipsed the 200 point mark in his career.

In other Big Ten play, Wisconsin was once again helped to a 45-14 victory over New Mexico behind many in-state athlete contributions. Upfront, the stellar offensive line, featuring Tyler Biadasz (Amherst), Beau Benzschawel (Grafton), and Cole Van Lanen (Bay Port), led the Badger rushing attack to over 400 yards. 47 of those yards and a touchdown came from fullback Alec Ingold (Bay Port). Danny Vanden Boom saw his first action at quarterback late in the game. The Kimberly High School product, and former Dave Kreig Award Winner threw for his first collegiate touchdown in the waning seconds of the game.

Another former Kimberly High School player was named the Northern Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Adam Stage went 3 for 3 on field goals, including 2 from 40 yards or more, in St. Cloud State’s 44-14 win over Minnesota Crookston. Quarterback Dwayne Lawhorn (Germantown) again put up big numbers with 333 passing yards and 3 touchdowns.

In other Northern Sun play, Jason Balts (Barron) had 6 catches for 119 yards and 3 touchdowns, while teammate Johnny McCormick (Waterford) had 3 catches for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns in Minnesota Duluth’s 60-7 win over Minnesota State Moorhead. Balts now has 20 career receiving scores, while McCormick is just getting started with his first 2 of his collegiate career.

James Morgan transferred from Bowling Green to Florida International this past season and has taken up reigns as the starting quarterback. The Ashwaubenon High School product threw for 251 yards and 3 scores to lead the Panthers to a 28-20 win over Old Dominion.

Another former Ashwaubenon quarterback, Will Ark, guided Division 2 Michigan Tech to a 31-30 victory over Hillsdale College. Ark threw for 214 yards and rushed for 2 scores in his second game of action.

A few alumni had great defensive days around the FBS and FCS. 2016 John Anderson Award winner and Bay Port High School grad Matt Lorbeck had 2 sacks and a forced fumble in Northern Illinois’ 17-6 loss to Utah. 2013 and ‘14 WFCA All-State outside linebacker Ty DeForest helped Illinois State to a 48-10 win over Eastern Illinois. The Marshall alum had 4 tackles and his second interception in as many games to start the season.

In Midwest Conference play, Daniel Carter (Marquette) rushed for 132 yards and 3 scores in Grinnell College’s 46-0 win over Trinity Bible College. Elsewhere, in Ripon’s 70-0 dominant victory over Finlandia University, Julian Patton (Madison La Follette), Cormac Madigan (Laconia), Tyler VanDeVelde (Badger), and Austin Bunders (Almond Bancroft) combined for 7 touchdowns.