OSHKOSH — The North football teams swept the South in the three-game WFCA Senior All-Star series on Thursday and Friday, July 14-15. The event, a friendly competition between the areas’ top players, also raised money for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Since 2008, the WFCA has donated $5.3 million to Children’s Hospital, including over $380,000 in this year’s games. Six players raised over $5,000, with Chilton’s Logan See collecting $8,065. 

For Darlington’s players, Max McGuire and Barrett Vieth, the cause had even more meaning, as they lost their friend and teammate Carson Hartwig to osteosarcoma in 2020.

“It’s a great cause,” Vieth said. “It hits close to home. Buddies of mine of been affected by stuff like this, so it feels good to help these people.”

SMALL SCHOOL
NORTH 44, SOUTH 12

The North scored 22 points in the second quarter, pulling away from the South for a victory on Saturday, July 15. 

In its first drive, the North faced two fourth-and-short opportunities, converting on both of them. A false start put the team at third-and-nine, where a tipped passed was caught. The South gave the North even more yards, as the defense was called for a face mask in the same play.

Although Lucas Milz (Black Hawk) tackled a North player in the back field, setting up a third-and-12 play, Jackson Flottmeyer (Aquinas) connected with Hunter Theil (Little Chute) for a North touchdown. Flottmeyer’s subsequent two-point conversion pass was incomplete, giving the North a 6-0 lead with 5:37 left in the quarter.

After back-to-back incomplete passes by Aidan Keyes (Belleville) to start the second quarter, the North received the ball at the 41-yard line. Flottmeyer ran five yards for a first down before David Gauderman (Wittenberg-Birnamwood) broke tackle after tackle, running 31 yards to the end zone for a 12-0 lead. This time, the two-point conversion was good with a run from Trevor Asher (Elmwood-Plum City). 

The South didn’t have the ball for long, as Jackson Ormond (Stratford) sacked the quarterback and stripped the ball in the process. Recovering the ball in the red zone, it took just two minutes for North to find the end zone on a seven-yard run by Flottmeyer. Dawson Rud (Mondovi) rushed for the two-point conversion, giving the North a 22-0 lead with just under nine minutes left in the half.

With the half winding down, the South gained momentum on a punt from DeMarcus Conner (Belleville) that pinned the North inside the 10-yard line. Although Mitchell Thompson (Kewaunee) ran for back-to-back first downs, the South intercepted his pass at the 38-yard line. 

The North aided the South offense with a five-yard encroachment penalty. On third-and-long, John Perugini (Racine St. Catherine’s) connected with Gabe Egan (Cedar Grove-Belgium) for a first down. Perugini then ran 11 yards for a touchdown with three and a half minutes left.

Although the South finally got on the board, they gave the North too much time to respond. After a first-down rush by Gauderman, Asher bounced to the outside for another first down. If it hadn’t been for Matthew Miller’s (Fall River-Rio) tackle, Asher would have scored.

The North eventually found the end zone, though, with 10 seconds left in the half on a Gauderman rush. Despite a failed two-point conversion, the North took a 28-6 lead into the half.

The third quarter began with three-and-out possessions for both teams before the North extended its lead to 36-6. The scoring drive began with a fumble recovery at the 12-yard line. Although the North’s first score was brought back for an illegal formation, Eli Coenen (Baldwin-Woodville) caught a touchdown pass from Flottmeyer four plays later. 

The South responded on its next drive, despite facing a fourth-and-nine at midfield. Egan caught a first-down pass, and Conner brought in a 27-yard pass at the 20-yard line. On fourth-and-eight, Egan kept his feet in bounds, catching a pass at the five-yard line. He completed the drive, securing a pass from Perugini in the end zone. 

Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, the North scored for the final time on a Rud rush, where the running back broke three tackles on his way to the end zone. Rud was one of three backs with over 50 yards on the ground, as the North offense compiled 256 rushing yards. 

The North had 324 yards of total offense compared to the South’s 77 yards. For the South, Keyes completed three passes for two yards, while Conner had one reception for 27 yards. Defensively, Lucas Milz had nine tackles, three of which were unassisted.

The game marked the last time father-son duo Cory and Lucas Milz would be on the field together. While Lucas Milz soaked up the last moments with his dad as a coach, the game also got him excited for college football. Lucas Milz will play for UW-Stevens Point, a member of the WIAC. As such, Lucas Milz will play on J.J. Keller field again in the future.

“It’s been an emotional week, knowing it’s the last time I’ll play under my dad,” Lucas Milz said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity because it also helped me get used to the college atmosphere. It got me excited and ready for the next level.”

LARGE SCHOOL
NORTH 49, SOUTH 7

Two interceptions and 169 rushing yards proved to be the difference in the North’s victory in the second game on July 15. After the South’s initial touchdown, the North scored 49 unanswered points.

After a fumble recovery in the back field, the North turned the ball over on downs, giving the South prime field position. It took little time for Mason Keyes (DeForest) to find Trevor Boucher (Mukwonago) for a touchdown. Ethan Tranel’s (Mount Horeb-Barneveld) extra-point kick was good, giving the South a 7-0 lead.

Najeh Mitchell (West De Pere) then returned the subsequent kickoff to the 45-yard line. Although Tucker Markham (Monroe) tackled a North player, setting up a fourth-and-short situation, quarterback AJ Korth (Menasha) ran for a first down. Jase Jenkins’s (Neenah) then rushed down the field, dove for the pylon but came up just short. Korth finished the drive with a touchdown run, and Caden Popp’s (Appleton North) extra kick was good to tie the game.

A three-and-out possession by the South set up a punt, which was blocked by Jenkins. The North took over at the three-yard line, where the 19-second drive ended in a touchdown run by Leo Brostowitz (Wisconsin Rapids). 

The South suffered another three-and-out but regained possession of the ball on the punt, as the returner signaled for a fair catch and muffed. A pass interference on the North gave the South a first down, but the South was unable to capitalize on the scoring opportunity. 

On the ensuing North drive, Will Van Fossen (Germantown) caught a 60-yard pass before being taken down at the 29-yard line. Three plays later, Korth ran five yards to the end zone. Popp’s extra point extended the North’s lead to 21-7. 

With the first half coming to a close, Nicky Odom (Onalaska) intercepted the South’s pass, getting tackled at the 35-yard line. Mitchell marched his team down the field, scoring on a three-yard rush with just under three minutes left in the second quarter. 

Despite limited time on the clock, the South marched down the field threatening to score. Keyes completed passes to Louie Schwabe (Muskego) and Joe Mueller (Vel Phillips Memorial), putting the South in the red zone. With no timeouts left, he spiked the ball with two seconds left setting up for one final play. His end zone pass to Boucher was dropped, as the North took a 28-7 lead into the half.

Although the South received the ball to begin the third quarter, the team was unable to score. In fact, the South gave the North optimal field position, as Tranel accidentally knelt on the punt.

Starting at the 32-yard line, Korth threw back-to-back first-down passes to Mitchell. On fourth-and-six, Korth connected with Odom for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Popp kicked the extra point for a 35-7 lead.

The North extended its lead by another seven points three minutes later. Korth targeted Preston Miller (D.C. Everest), who was guarded by Diego Hernandez (South Milwaukee). Miller took advantage of the nine-inch height difference to catch the ball over Hernandez’s head for a touchdown. Popp’s extra kick was good.

In the fourth quarter, the North scored on a 20-yard pass to Jenkins with the extra point by Avery Kurth (Slinger). 

While Korth threw for 120 yards, the North ran for 169 yards compared to the South’s 15. When it came to crunch time, the North converted all five of its fourth-down conversions and seven trips to the end zone.

Offensively for the South, Alex Hernandez (Monroe) had one carry for three yards before coming out of the game will a pulled hamstring. Markham tallied six tackles, while Drew Indergand (Monroe) had one.

Alex Hernandez will play football at the next level for St. Norbert College, just 46 miles from Oshkosh.

“It [the All-Star game] opened my eyes to the experience because I wasn’t aware of the work that goes to being a college football player,” Alex Hernandez said. “I’m coming away from this with a sharpened mind for next year.”