Week Three Wonders: Area players who stood out on the gridiron

It's been an incredible season of football thus far. Following up a thrilling Week 2, we had a monster upset in Week 3, an overtime victory, another game that came down to a 2-point conversion in the final 2 minutes and a game that literally came down to the final snap of regulation. Here are the standouts in Week 3:

Marcus Arteaga, Whitnall. The Falcons are a traditional passing offense, but in a 35-0 win over Brown Deer, it all came on the ground. Arteaga ran 35 times for 274 yards and five touchdowns in the lopsided conference win.

Ezekiel Banks, Greenfield. The powerful back found the end zone six times, including five rushing scores on just 87 yards and 18 carries. He also caught two passes for 52 yards, including another TD.  Quarterback Rayvon Bartlett was a catalyst, as well, passing for 215 yards and rushing for 146, with a touchdown in both disciplines.

Sam DeLany, Kettle Moraine. One week earlier, DeLany was injured and didn’t see the field, but he was certainly available in Week 3, catching 10 passes for 194 yards and a score from quarterback Max Duchow, who was once again on target for 19 of 25 passing, 319 yards and two touchdowns. Kettle Moraine lost to Catholic Memorial, but they were impressive numbers against the favorite in the Classic 8.

Brennan Demark, Waukesha North. Last week’s Push Player of the Week was arguably even better in Week 3, helping his team topple Arrowhead with 288 yards passing and four touchdowns, not to mention 41 yards rushing. His receiving duo of Taylor Anderson (7 catches, 86 yards, two touchdowns) and Kendall Gould (6 catches, 143 yards, one touchdown) were big pieces of the puzzle.

Zach Harrison, Greendale. In a game where points were at a premium, Harrison caught nine passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in a 13-0 win over New Berlin West.

Zach Heckman, Brookfield Central. The Lancers won a lopsided victory over West Allis Hale, rolling up 206 yards on 20 carries with two scores. It’s been a monster season thus far for the junior running back.

Michael Kirkendoll, Whitefish Bay. The Blue Dukes took advantage of opportunities to down Cedarburg, and his two interceptions were part of the package. He also ran one time for a 61-yard touchdowns and caught a pair of passes.

Peter MacCudden, Waukesha West. The junior was huge in his team’s last-second victory over Muskego, hammering out more than 50 yards of rushing on the game-winning drive. He finished with 176 on the ground and two scores and also caught three passes for 34 yards and another touchdown as West staged the 26-24 walk-off victory. He also played through leg cramps in a game that ended controversially.

Zoe McDowell, Messmer/Shorewood. Still missing a handful of players, Messmer/Shorewood nonetheless defeated Cudahy, with McDowell racking up 23 rushes for 127 yards and a score.

Ben Nienhuis, Oconomowoc. At this point, it’s noteworthy when Nienhuis doesn’t throw for 300 yards. He had 312 in an overtime win over Hartford, with two touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Zach Clayton caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score. Nienhuis also had three rushing touchdowns for the Raccoons.

Matt Ruppel, Port Washington. In one of the week’s thrillers, Ruppel racked up 206 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns, but nothing was bigger than the 2-point conversion with 1:138 to go that tipped the scales, 28-27.

Joey Scaffidi, New Berlin Eisenhower. Ike rolled up one of the week’s surprising outcomes in a lopsided win over Wauwatosa West, and Scaffidi found the end zone four times. He rushed for 87 yards and three scores and caught a 9-yard TD pass, as well.

DiKim Teel, St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy. The Lancers have struggled to find the win column, but Teel’s 108 yards rushing and two scores led the way in a victory over Kenosha Christian Life on Friday.

Ethan Wittenburg, Franklin. The Sabers held off upset-minded Racine Case, with Wittenburg catching six balls for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Down to their third-string quarterback, Mitchel Alba, it was especially important for the skill players to rise to the occasion and help Franklin rally for 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Tony Wojnowski, Catholic Memorial. Once a candidate to start at quarterback, Wojnowski has turned into a reliable ball carrier, this time going 189 yards on 28 carries with two scores as the Crusaders held off upstart Kettle Moraine.