FIRST AND SHORT

Week Four Wonders: the week in area football playmakers

JR Radcliffe
jr.radcliffe@jrn.com

Here's a peek at some of the top players from Week 4 of the high-school football season among area teams.

Marcus Arteaga, Whitnall. The Falcons running back was money for the second straight week, carrying the ball 20 times for 153 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons handled Cudahy. Arteaga also caught two passes for 34 yards.

Rayvon Barlett, Jr, Greenfield. The quarterback completed 15 of 22 passes for 253 yards and four scores, finding four different touchdown targets. Ezekiel Banks once again was big with 123 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground as the Hawks overwhelmed Brown Deer.

Bo Bassindale, Whitefish Bay. With the Blue Dukes missing injured starting quarterback Cade Garcia, they turned to the run game, and Bassindale delivered 153 yards and two touchdowns as his team handled Port Washington in a key North Shore battle.

Zach Clayton, Oconomowoc. Goodness. Clayton finished within two catches of a state record, hauling in 18 passes for 284 yards, and OHS needed every ounce in a 50-40 win over Watertown. The high-scoring Raccoons appear unstoppable on that side of the ball, with quarterback Ben Nienhuis emerging as an Offensive Player of the Year candidate in the state. He threw for 317 yards and four scores. Clayton, by the way, also had 54 yards rushing.

Sam DeLany, Kettle Moraine. The Lasers fell to Waukesha North, but DeLany caught 13 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown to reaffirm his status as one of the area’s elite pass catchers.

Brennan Demark, Waukesha North. One of the area’s top passers had another strong showing with 180 yards and two scores, but his running prowess took an unlikely turn in the spotlight with 166 yards on the ground and a score, coming on a 66-yarder, as North moved to 4-0 with a 24-10 win over Kettle Moraine.

Joe Friedman, Messmer/Shorewood. The Greyhounds are legitimately in the hunt for a Woodland East title after downing South Milwaukee. Friedman completed 9 of 12 passes for 209 yards and two scores, and he ran for another 22 yards in a 41-34 victory. His 25-yard touchdown in overtime was the difference in the thrilling win.

Darios Garrett, Martin Luther. In one of the night’s biggest upsets as Martin Luther downed Kenosha St. Joseph, Garrett ran 15 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Jack Birch, Grafton. Birch not only caught six passes for 112 yards, but he also made 10 tackles on the other side of the ball as Grafton held off a charge from Nicolet in the North Shore. Teammate Vincent Giorgi rushed 36 times for 141 yards as the Black Hawks.

Tripp Grebe, University School. In a 35-0 win over SJNMA, Grebe caught 10 passes from David Hutton for 147 yards and one score.

Zach Heckman, Brookfield Central. A regular to this list, Heckman racked up another four touchdowns on 155 yards rushing with just 16 carries. Central had no problem moving to 4-0 with a win over West Allis Central.

Patrick Hoffman, Cedarburg. Yet another heatbreaker for Milwaukee Lutheran, with lost 36-35 after the Bulldogs scored with 1:29 left on a rushing touchdown by Jack Meyer and a conversion pass to Alex Kluck. Hoffman scored three times and rushed for 184 yards to lead the Bulldogs.

Paris Howell, Wauwatosa West. He ran 18 times for 146 yards and two scores, and he also authored a late two-point run that pulled his team to within a score of powerful Greendale. The Trojans couldn’t quite pull off the upset, though, falling 5 yards short on the final drive of the end zone.

Nick Mirasola, Sussex Hamilton. After a shutout loss to Marquette the week before, Sussex Hamilton turned the tables with a shutout win over Tosa East. Mirasola carried it 12 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns.

Spencer Papandrea, Arrowhead. The running back carried the ball 19 times for 139 yards and Arrowhead got back on track with a 24-0 win over Waukesha West.

Michael Walters, Pewaukee. The Pirates receiver caught only one pass, a 25-yard touchdown, but also had his presence felt on defense, where he made three tackles and hauled in two interceptions. Pewaukee brought down New Berlin West, 34-0. Carl Renz had three rushing touchdowns for the Pirates.

Bradley Woldt, Homestead. The final installment of the Homestead-Germantown rivalry went to the Highlanders, with Woldt rushing for 133 yards, catching two passes for 22 yards and scoring once. Quarterback Eric Zoeller (114 yards rushing, two touchdowns) also had a major hand in the win.