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

The Los Angeles Rams offensive line has had a lot of moving parts this season, and had another change in the starting rotation in week 3. Kimberly grad Logan Bruss got his first ever NFL start as the Rams knocked off the San Francisco 49ers 27-24.

Bruss was a third round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He tore his ACL and MCL in the preseason of his rookie season and was eventually cut before the start of the 2023 season, signing back on the practice squad. Bruss made the active roster this year and it's resulted in his first start.

We've already discussed the next two alumni at length over the past few weeks, but their play deserves another nod.

Will McDonald IV continued his coming out party with the New York Jets a week after getting three sacks. The former Waukesha North great tallied two more sacks in the Jet's 24-3 win over the New England Patriots. McDonald is second in the entire NFL with five total sacks.

We've mentioned how a change of scenery for Zack Baun has done wonders for him in Philadelphia. The Brown Deer grad has been unleashed early on in his fifth season. Sunday in the Eagle's 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints, Baun had a game high 13 tackles. He's tallied 37 tackles through three weeks, which is good enough for second in the NFL.

FBS

Malcolm Gillie graduated from the now closed HOPE Christian school in Milwaukee. He now suits up for Ball State and has found his spot at wide receiver for the Cardinals. Saturday Gillie hauled in four catches for 52 yards and the touchdown shown above in Ball State's 37-34 loss to Central Michigan.

Tripp Walsh is a redshirt freshman tight end with the Iowa State football team. The Cyclones dominated Arkansas State 52-7 and the Arrowhead alum got to see action. Walsh hauled in his first career collegiate catch in the victory.

Gavin Meyer will get to suit up against the home state Badgers this upcoming weekend as his USC Trojans welcome in Wisconsin in a Big Ten matchup. However, this past weekend the Franklin grad was a playmaker on defense despite a 27-24 loss to Michigan. Meyer recorded two tackles from his defensive lineman position and also blocked an extra point.

FCS

Joey Giorgi was a second team All-Ivy League running back last season, rushing for over 600 yards and three scores for Columbia. The Ivy League kicked off its season this past Saturday and Giorgi picked up where he left off. The Grafton grad rushed the ball 17 time for 90 yards and hauled in a lone reception in Columbia's 31-20 loss to Lafayette.

Minnesota State-Mankato handled Minot State 40-6 this past Saturday and former Kewaunee standout Mitchell Thompson saw snaps at quarterback for the Mavericks. Thompson, a redshirt freshman, tossed his first collegiate touchdown, shown above, in the win.

Concordia-St. Paul and Southwest Minnesota State squared off in a Northern Sun matchup with Concordia coming away with a 27-17 victory. Muskego alum Richard Wauer was all over the field for the Bear's defense, racking up a team and career high 13 tackles. Wauer was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week. Also for the Bears defense, Ben Rehl of Mukwonago recovered a fumble for a touchdown while Racine St. Catherine's Isaiah Wray blocked a field goal.

For Southwest Minnesota State Kendon Krogman got his first start at quarterback. The Regis grad went 19 of 28 for 186 yards and a score, adding 52 yards and another score on the ground.

Duluth's defense is scattered with many former alumni that play significant snaps for the Bulldogs. In the 43-7 win over Mary on Saturday, the Bulldogs pass rush was aided by those alumni. Andrew Klopp of Baldwin-Woodville, Mac Strand of Xavier, and Cassius Rohadfox of Sheboygan North all had at least two tackles for loss and a sack while New Richmond alum Brock Unger recorded an interception for the Duluth defense.

Like the Duluth defense, Winona State's defense is littered with former Wisconsin high school standouts. In the Warrior's 28-21 loss to Wayne State, De Pere's Kyjuan Vengrowsky, Onalaska's Conner Haggerty, Colby's Brent Jeske, and River Ridge's David Nies all got to the quarterback and recorded a sack.

Jax Hertel is the leading tackler for the Northern Michigan football team and that trend continued despite a 44-27 loss to Alma. The Big Foot grad had a team high nine tackles, bringing his season total to 27, including 3.5 for loss.

The special teams for the Wildcats is also highlighted by a pair of alumni. Owen Halverson of Middleton handles the punting duties and had a busy afternoon Saturday, punting eight times. He averaged 44.1 yards per punt and planted four inside the 20-yard line. Stanley-Boyd grad Michael Karlen handles the kicking duties and went two for two on field goals and three for three on point after attempts in the loss.

Quon Williams is a senior receiver at Lock Haven University and found the end zone this past weekend in a 27-20 loss to California (PA). Williams, a Kenosha Bradford grad, hauled in a lone catch for 22 yards and the score.

Joey Kidder entered the record books this past weekend for Bethel University in a 51-30 win over UW-Eau Claire. The New Richmond grad hauled in 11 receptions for 126 yards and a school record four touchdowns in the win. He is the new career leader in touchdown receptions in the school's history with 31. Kidder was also named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Offensive Player of the Week.

Kidder's teammate and Neenah grad Matt Jung has been an absolute ball hawk from his safety position with Bethel. In 13 career games, Jung has 11 interceptions. In Saturday's win, he had a team high ten tackles and two more interceptions en route to being named the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week.

UW-Eau Claire got plenty of contributions from a few alumni in the loss as Winneconne grad Harry Boubidoux threw for 402 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Bonduel's Isaac Garside had 13 catches for 175 yards and two scores while Waukesha North's Franko Williams had 13 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Nathan Streiff racked up 57 catches for 679 yards and nine touchdowns last season with Carleton College. This past weekend the New Glarus grad hauled in six catches for 91 yards and a score in the Knight's 28-7 win over Minnesota-Morris.

Wisconsin Lutheran College picked up a 36-6 win over Eureka on Saturday as the offense was fueled by a trio of alumni. Quarterback and Cudahy grad Bryce Barbian went 25 of 36 for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Fellow Cudahy grad Emmitt Hawkins hauled in six of those passes for 136 yards and 2 scores. Fox Valley Lutheran's Liam Heiges rushed 23 times for 116 yards and a score while also tossing a one-yard touchdown.

St. Norbert College struggled mightily in a 49-0 loss to Aurora. However punter Mason Levake was a lone bright spot. The Lake Mills grad punted an astonishing 11 times, averaging 46.3 yards per punt, including two that traveled over 70 yards. Levake was named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Special Teams Player of the Week.

Lakeland University picked up a wild 66-61 win over Concordia-Chicago that culminated with 56 total points being scored in the fourth quarter. Robby Michael, a Sheboygan Lutheran grad, led the way for the high powered offense from his quarterback position. The junior signal caller threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns while adding 204 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Michael completed an 84-yard pass for a score with 36 seconds left in the game to secure the win. He was named the NACC Offensive Player of the Week for good reason.

Finally there was WIAC action, though many of the top teams fell.

UW-Whitewater fell to Mary Hardin-Baylor 35-17 for its first loss of the season despite a pair of special teams touchdowns. New Berlin Eisenhower's Eli Hoelke recovered a blocked punt for a score while Port Washington's Patrick Lippe recovered a muffed punt and scored a touchdown for the Warhawks.

UW-Stout improved to 2-1 with a 56-19 win over the University of Norrthwestern out of Minnesota. Lake Mills grad Adam Moen threw for 220 yards and three scores for the Blue Devils while Chase Hughes of Hortonville had a rushing and receiving score. Athen's Cooper Diedrich and Onalaska's Sebastian Smith both returned interceptions for touchdowns in the victory as well.

UW-River Falls is one of two undefeated teams in the WIAC after demolishing Greenville 66-7. Wittenberg-Birnamwood grad Ben Wesolowski had 117 yards on the ground and 83 through the air for the Falcons. Three alumni found the end zone in Trevor Asher of Plum City/Elmwood, Isaiah Randall of Baldwin-Woodville, and Michael Krueger of River Falls. Fond du Lac grad Justin Scheberl was perfect kicking the ball as he went nine of nine on extra point attempts and knocked in his lone field goal attempt.

The other undefeated team in the WIAC is UW-Platteville and they handled business against Wabash College 42-21. Defensively for the Pioneers Elijah Krantz of Mount Horeb had a team high eleven tackles while Riley Christianson of Belmont, Will Straka of Mineral Point, and Cormac Sammons of Oshkosh North all recorded sacks.

The UW-Platteville offense was fueled by running back Zackary Bothun. The former Milton standout carried the ball 24 times for 158 yards and four touchdowns, while adding five catches for 34 yards. Bothun was deservedly named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Week.