EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial
Jacob Divall, Sr., QB, Lancaster football
With an average of 8.4 yards per offensive play, the Lancaster Flying Arrow football team compiled a whopping 486 yards of total offense on their way to a convincing 52–19 season-opening victory over visiting Mineral Point. Senior quarterback Jacob DiVall accounted for 373 yards and six touchdowns in last Thursday night’s win.
“He was very composed, and a lot more settled in than last year,” said Lancaster coach Jordan Rolland.
On the ground, DiVall rushed for 203 yards and two TDs on 15 attempts, scoring from three yards and 69 yards out. Through the air, he completed 10-of-16 passing attempts for 170 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
DiVall first found junior wideout Andrew Taylor for a three-yard touchdown pass with 8:39 to play in the opening quarter. The kick by sophomore Michael Murphy was no good, leaving Lancaster with an early 6–0 lead. The score was set up by a fumble recovery by Bryce Galle on Mineral Point’s first offensive play of the game, giving the ball to Lancaster on the Pointer’s 18-yard line. The Arrows used six plays to find the end zone and take the advantage.
The Pointers responded on their next possession with a 15-play, 74-yard scoring drive that gave them a 7–6 lead with 4:11 to play in the opening quarter. From that point on, Lancaster went on to score 32 unanswered points on five consecutive touchdowns, holding a 38–7 lead with 4:29 to play in the third quarter.
During that stretch, DiVall scored on two rushing touchdowns, while also connecting with senior wideout Brady Oyen on a 17-yard TD pass. Junior running backs Colby Lull and Peyton Alvarado each found the end zone in that stretch, Lull from 10 yards out and Alvarado from seven.
The Arrows added two more passing scores in the fourth quarter, with DiVall connecting with junior Logan Wolf on a 25-yard score and then back to Taylor for a 22-yard strike.
HONORABLE MENITON (in alphabetical order):
Cadyn Burbach, Sr., QB, Darlington football
Darlington senior quarterback Cadyn Burbach accounted for five touchdowns — three with his legs and two with his arm — as the Redbirds stormed Platteville, 47–14, in their non-conference season opener on a rainy night at Martens Field on Friday, Aug. 19. Burbach ran for scores from 4, 74 and 4 yards and completed TD passes of 74 and 21 yards in the victory. Burbach finished 5-for-5 passing for 149 yards and two scores and also ran 12 times for 108 yards and three scores.
Brayden Crubel, Sr., WR, River Ridge football
Crubel hauled in eight passes for 172 yards and three touchdown passes in last Friday's 26–0 season-opening non-conference victory over Highland. Crubel caught a 33-yards touchdown pass from Matthew Nies midway through the first quarter, then added TD catches of 49 yards and 6 yards from Brandon Davis in the second quarter.
Jacob Duerr, Sr., QB, Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg football
Duerr completed 14 of 22 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns in last Saturday's 32–14 victory at Ozaukee.
