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Football Alumni Round-up: October 17th

10/17/2018, 11:15am 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.

Alumni Update

As the WIAA high school football playoffs commenced level one last weekend, the NFL and NCAA seasons are just picking up steam.

Speaking of picking up steam, it appears Nathan Stanley has found his groove for the Iowa Hawkeyes. A week after throwing for over 300 yards and 4 scores, the former Menomonie standout upped the ante by throwing for over 300 yards and 6 touchdowns in the Hawkeye’s 41-16 victory over Indiana. Stanley was named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his aerial assault.

In the division three Midwest Conference, another former in-state quarterback accounted for 6 touchdowns for his team, however not in the conventional way. Cormac Madigan rushed for 281 yards and 6 touchdowns in Ripon College’s 49-14 win over Beloit College. Despite playing quarterback, Madigan, a Laconia High School graduate, attempted only 3 passes and completed none of them. His 6 rushing touchdowns in a game set a record at Ripon and also earned him Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.

With one minute remaining in St. Norbert’s battle with the University of Chicago, Chicago scored a touchdown to bring the score to within 21-20. On the ensuing extra point, St. Norbert’s Blake Oleniczak (Notre Dame) rushed through the line and blocked the game tying extra point, ensuring a St. Norbert victory. Blake was named the Midwest Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week for that.

A couple in-state high school alumni and former Wisconsin Badgers have been putting together impressive seasons in the NFL.

Kenosha Bradford standout Melvin Gordon had a monster day in the Los Angeles Charger’s 38-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Gordon rushed a mere 18 times for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day. He currently is third in the NFL in rushing yards (486), eighth in yards per carry (5.1), and fourth in total scoring with 58 points accounted for.

Alex Erickson has established himself as a top of the league return specialist for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Darlington High School alum had 3 kick returns for 122 yards in the Bengal’s 28-21 loss to the Steelers, averaging over 40 yards per return. He currently leads the NFL in that category with a kick return average of 34.6 yards.

UW-Oshkosh has had a potent offense for the last couple years, but it was their defense that helped stifle UW-Platteville in a 31-10 win. Taylor Ripplinger of Arrowhead recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. He was named the WIAC’s Defensive Player of the Week. Teammates Tyler Staerkel (Kimberly) and Calvin Shilling (South Milwaukee) each had an interception, while Jake Murphy (Waupun) had 2 sacks for the Titans.

In UW-Stevens Point’s 63-27 loss at the hands of UW-La Crosse, Christian Almonte (Menomonee Falls) was one of a few bright spots as he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score late in the first half. Almonte was named the WIAC Specials Teams Player of the Week for that return.

Two James’ had spectacular days in division 1 football this past weekend. Firstly, James Nachtigal was all over the field defensively in Army’s 52-3 win over San Jose State. The former Fort Atkinson wideout and linebacker had a team high 8 tackles, 3 sacks, forced a fumble, and also returned a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown.

James Morgan has been putting together an incredible season at Florida International University. That continued this past weekend as the former Ashwaubenon athlete threw for 311 yards and 2 touchdowns in FIU’s 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee. He led the Panthers on a ten play, 84-yard, game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, capped off by a 23 yard touchdown pass.

The Northern Sun Conference had a magnitude of impressive defensive performances throughout the weekend.

A week after recording 2.5 sacks, Chris Garrett had 6 tackles and another 3 sacks in Concordia St. Paul’s 17-7 win over the University of Mary. The Wisconsin Lutheran High School graduate is second in the Northern Sun in sacks, with 8.

Former Kaukauna High School athlete Nic Patterson had a game high 15 tackles in Upper Iowa’s impressive 27-24 victory over Bemidji State. Patterson is currently fourth in the Northern Sun in tackles with 64.

Minnesota Duluth was helped to a 42-13 win over Southwest Minnesota State behind a couple of big performances on the defensive side. Gus Wedig (Big Foot) had 9 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Mitchell Johnson-Martin (La Crosse Central) recovered that sack fumble and returned it 50 yards for a Duluth touchdown.

It wasn’t all defense in the Northern Sun as Sam Santiago-Lloyd rushed for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns in Winona State’s 51-13 win over Minnesota Crookston. It was the Brookfield East alum’s first ever 100 yard rushing game. Darryl Williams (Chetek-Weyerhaeuser) also recorded his first ever receiving score.

Isaiah Lesure has been outshined a little bit by his record setting quarterback this season for Western Illinois. The Mount Horeb High School grad grabbed the highlights, though in a 34-7 losing effort to North Dakota State. Lesure had 12 catches for 170 yards (both career highs) and also a touchdown.

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