EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday or Friday throughout the calendar year.
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal
Carter Runde, Sr., WR/DB/KR, Cuba City football
POTOSI — Cuba City senior Carter Runde proved to be the proverbial back-breaker in the Cubans 27–20 victory over Potosi/Cassville last Friday night, scoring three touchdowns on a trio of plays that covered 231 total yards.
Runde's first touchdown came seconds after Potosi/ Cassville broke a scoreless tie early in the second quarter when Sam Infield hauled in a four-yard TD pass from Aaron Edge to give PC an early 7–0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff though, Runde broke through a number of tackles and raced 85 yards to the end zone, pulling Cuba City to within 7–6, and quieting the home team’s enthusiastic crowd.
Coach Siegert’s squad managed to find the end zone one more time in the second quarter on a three-yard TD run by River Sahr, as PC held a 13–6 lead at the half.
Cuba City owned the third quarter, getting a four-yard TD run from Bradley Rowe and a 63-yard TD pass from Hudson Kieler to Runde, as the Cubans took a 19–13 lead into the fourth quarter.
Potosi/Cassville regained the lead on a 34-yard TD pass from Edge to Sahr with 5:49 left in the game. The extra- point kick by Edge gave the Chieftains a 20–19 lead.
Then, Runde struck again, taking the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to the house, followed by a two-point conversion run by Bradley Rowe.
Runde finished the game with two kick returns for 167 yards, four catches for 72 yards, one carry for 14 yards and 3 total touchdowns.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Aaren Bedward, Sr., RB/DB, River Ridge football
Bedward caught two passes for 90 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown catch, rushed for 38 yards and two more TDs, and intercepted a pass on defense to help the Timberwolves beat Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg 45–29 last Friday night.
Martin Anderson, Sr., QB, Pecatonica/Argyle football
Anderson completed 9 of 11 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 75 yards and 2 TDs to lead the Vikings to a 44–0 shutout of Deerfield last Friday night.
Tanner Degenhart, Sr., RB/LB, Highland football
Degenhart rushed for a game-high 182 yards on 36 carries, and recorded a game-best 18 tackles (8 solos, 2 TFL) to lead the Cardinals to a 22–20 victory over Wisconsin Heights last Thursday.
Brody Diman, Sr., QB, Platteville football
Digman completed 17 of 25 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 138 yards and 3 TDS on 13 carries to lead the Hillmen to a 40–18 victory at Mauson last Friday night.
Jayden Schoepp, Sr., WR/DB/KR, Richland Center football
Schoepp returned a pair of kickoffs fo 93- and 82-yard touchdowns, caught two passes for 82 yards and a TD, rushed for a fourth score and recorded five tackles on defense in the Hornets' 40–12 non-conference victory over Viroqua last Friday night.
Landry Stluka, Jr., RB/LB, North Crawford football
Stluka rushed for 159 yards and 4 TDs on 13 carries, caught two passes for 75 yards and 1 touchdown, and recorded a team-high 12 tackles in last Thursday's 38–6 win over De Soto.
Wyatt Temperly, Jr., QB/DB, Belmont football
Temperly completed 10 of 12 passes for 166 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for an 10-yard touchdown in the Braves' 48–0 shutout of Kickapoo/La Farge last Thursday night.
Colton Tollefson, Sr., RB/LB, Fennimore football
Tollefson rushed for 73 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with six minutes left, then helped force a game-sealing fumble four minutes later in Fennimore's 26–20 victory over Iowa–Grant last Friday night. He finished the night with eight total tackles, two for loss and one sack.
