WEEK 7's HERO OF THE WEEK -
Joel Mezera, RB/LB (River Ridge, jr.) – was an unstoppable beast last Friday night gaining a career-high 339 yards and six touchdowns on 41 carries in a narrow 43-41 loss at Shullsburg. He scored on runs of 1, 9, 30, 55, 3 and 59 yards and gained most of his yards after contact. Mezera’s 59-yard run in the final four minutes of the game pulled the Timberwolves within two, but the Miners stuffed River Ridge’s two-point run attempt and held on for the win, despite losing a fumble on their own 41 with less than two minutes to play.
Mezera’s 339 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns were both new school records. On the season, the junior running back has rushed for 852 yards and 11 touchdowns on 172 carries. Despite Ridge’s (0-7) winless season Mezera is having an outstanding year.
WEEK 7's OTHER FRIDAY NIGHT HEROES
2.Nate Carrier and Jacob Scott, RBs (Shullsburg, both are seniors) – as impressive as Mezera was individually the Miners' backfield duo of Carrier and Scott was even more impressive together leading Shullsburg to a wild 43-41 Six Rivers Conference victory. Scott did the heavy lifting early, which opened up running lanes for Carrier later in the game. Scott finished with 165 yards and two TDs (26, 64) on 16 carries and he added kickoff returns of 47 and 50 yards during the game. Carrier rushed for 209 yards on 21 carries with four TDs (10, 81, 15, 47) and he had a hand in both successful two-point conversion plays, including a key halfback pass to QB Brett Matye. The two combined for 492 of the Miners' 538 offensive/return yards.
3.Cassville defense – forced five turnovers recorded five sacks and shutout the high-scoring Black Hawk offense by shutting down the Warriors' passing attack in a key 7-2 Six Rivers Conference victory last Friday night. A goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter helped preserve the Comets’ fourth straight victory, which puts them in position for a playoff berth. Senior linebacker Dakota Berhardt led the team with 14 totals tackles, while defensive back Garrett Schauff had 11. Chance Clauer added 10 tackles, a sack and had a fumble recovery, while Jacob Haas added a sack and two fumble recoveries.
4.Tucker Arneson, RB (Weston, sr.) – scored four touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner in the fourth quarter of Weston’s 41-40 victory over Ithaca last Saturday afternoon. After Arenson’s final TD run, the Silver Eagles stopped a two-point conversion with two minutes to play in the game to hang on for a victory that may get them into the playoffs. The win came during a week that marked the fifth anniversary of the shooting of Weston death of principal John Klang by former student Eric Hainstock.
5.John Schmitz, RB (Mineral Point, jr.) – rushed for 90 yards and scored four touchdowns (4, 19, 14, 46) as the Pointers (4-3, 3-2 SWAL) bounced back from back-to-back losses to Iowa-Grant and Darlington with a 45-6 victory over Boscobel.
HONONABLE MENTION
Trent Napp, WR/DB (Fennimore, jr.) – accounted for two touchdowns in Fennimore’s 26-0 victory over Riverdale last Friday night. First he snagged a third-quarter interception and ran it in for a 30-yard touchdown return. Then he caught an 11-yard pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. On defense, he was second on the team in tackling with seven stops, including three solo and four assists, and he recovered a fumble.
Tom Keene, RB/LB (Potosi, sr.) – rushed for a team-high 120 yards of Potosi’s 191 rushing yards on nine carriers, recorded nine tackles on defense, including, three solo stops, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in the Chieftains’ 42-8 victory over Benton/Scales Mound.
Kickapoo/La Farge backfield - The combo of Alex Cejpek (10 carries, 160 yards, 3 TDs), Lee Lepke (9-114-1) and Dustin Clements (2 TDs) allowed the Panthers to run for 429 yards in a 57-14 win over North Crawford.
