Best of the Week: Offense Week 5
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Use code Johnson30 for 30% off a new subscription! This are starting to take shape across the WI HS football landscape. We are multiple conference games into the season, and standings are starting to sort themselves out. It will be…
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This are starting to take shape across the WI HS football landscape. We are multiple conference games into the season, and standings are starting to sort themselves out. It will be interesting to track who makes the late season push to move up the standings and earn playoff bids. Before we look forward and predict, let’s look back on Week 5 and see who dominated the gridiron on offense. We have a lot to choose from, so let’s get right into it!
Coming into the season we already were big fans of the D.C. Everest OT. Watching the recent film has me even more excited for his future. Latendresse has a great frame with long arms. His Week 5 performance highlighted his pass protection traits. Oscar is very light on his feet, able to get deep into his pass set slide against speed rushers. He uses his length to make first contact and steer edge rushers. The hands clamp on and control with strength while the feet move him smoothly. The balance is there to change direction well also. There is a lot here. Size, strength, athleticism, finish.
Highlights
Stats: 207 All Purpose yards, 2 TDsrnIn his first full game of the season because of injury Case’s standout RB Anthony Liggins Anthony Liggins 5’7″ | 160 lbs | RB Racine Case | 2026 State WI went off. The sophomore is a special playmaker. He has that knack to make the outstanding play look easy. Anthony is so explosive. He can jump cut or juke with elite lateral agility and his acceleration out of his cuts or breaks makes it look like the defense has stood still. Anthony’s vision and feel for the position are also elite. He sees the field so well, and if he can get the ball in space is an absolute nightmare to try and contain. Liggins is a mismatch nightmare that already has the FBS level interested and offering.
Highlights
Stats: 35 Carries, 275 Yards, 5 TDsrnWhat a week for the Whitefish Bay junior! Harry took over the matchup with West Bend East. Harry is an intriguing prospect because of the talent and his versatility. Through his first two seasons we have seen Harry all over the field. This season he has really found home at RB. The traits fit the role very well. At 5’9″ 175 lbs he is an undersized back, but he plays to his strengths. Between the tackles the junior thrives with his vision, burst, and short area agility. He can move so quickly in any direction while playing inside a phone booth. That athleticism allows him to be elusive even in a crowded front seven. Once he breaks loose, or gets outside contain, Bortolotti has enough long speed to create the big highlight play runs. Don’t sleep on the rising ATH.
Stats: 11/20, 230 Yards, 3 TDsrnDanny has been one of the most productive passers in WI this season. The senior is looking like a hidden gem after watching his Week 5 highlights. He is now listed at 6’1″ 170 lbs, yet Danny is able to create solid velocity on his downfield passes. Lodl has a quick, efficient throwing motion, and his lower body mechanics help add that extra bit of force behind the ball. The senior doesn’t panic in the pocket either. You see him constantly scanning for an open man and moving to buy time. Take a look at the film below.
Christian Collins
Christian Collins
Stats: 18 Carries, 254 Yards, 4 TDsrnA junior that has been rising on my radars, and needs to be on the boards of the next level is Notre Dame’s RB Christian Collins. Collins is proving that he is a workhorse RB with a compact, strong 5’10” 190 lbs frame. Christian has an exciting blend of burst and power. He is a one cut runner that explodes downhill when he sticks his foot in the ground. Collins also has the lateral agility and balance to be able to cut laterally when he square up with a defender in the open field. The instincts make him look like a next level prospect as well. He reacts so quickly to what he sees and finds his way to the open field so consistently, whether with power or burst. Do not overlook the junior.
Sam Ersland
Sam Ersland
Stats: 36 Carries, 229 Yards, 5 TDsrnWisconsin Dells wasn’t able to pull out the victory Friday night, but wow did Sam try his best to get it done! What a night for the junior who planted himself firmly on my radar. Right away, Sam grabs your attention with his college quality burst and long speed. He erased pursuit angles on the opening play of his highlights. They are quick highlights, but we also get to see his lateral agility and ability to stay elusive in narrows lanes. Ersland is on the rise. Do not miss this kid. The athleticism seems to be special.
Noah Taylor
Noah Taylor
Stats: 6 Receptions, 107 Yards, 2 TDsrnNoah is a long, lean, WR at 6’2″ 170 lbs. Friday night the senior consistently got open with his route running. He was smooth at his breaks, and possesses soft hands that caught the ball away from his body. Noah even brought in a quick pass that was outside his framework with one hand. Taylor also was elusive at punt returner and had the speed to also get around the edge of the punt team. Taylor is putting together a great season. He is Top 4 in receiving yards, and 10th in receiving yards per game. A name to check out.
Stats: 14/19, 247 Yards, 4 TDs, 9 Carries, 78 Yards, 2 TDs, 1 Reception, 22 YardsrnWhat a night for the junior QB/do it all athlete out of Weyawega- Fremont. He made big plays in every facet of the game. Kameron is a natural athlete who seems to be able to do everything well on the field. That is great or the next level. Versatility is huge, and should raise the value of players. At QB, Zielke was an aggressive passer. He pushed the ball downfield with accuracy. Kameron has the athleticism to play a lot of positions at the next level, and they use that athleticism to be a dangerous dual threat at QB. He stands out from the crowd in every game. Don’t sleep on him.
Highlights
Stats: 16 Carries, 190 Yards, 3 TDs, 1 Reception, 25 Yards, 1 TDrnThe Class of 2026 has multiple high end, D1 level RBs taking over games across WI. One of the best is Milwaukee Marquette’s Tommy Novotny Tommy Novotny 5’9″ | 170 lbs | RB Milwaukee Marquette | 2026 State WI . Vision. That is what jumps out right away. This kid sees lanes or blocks in places that his helmet isn’t even facing. He has a great feel for where lanes are going to open up. There is no hesitation in the sophomore’s running either. He attacks the line, and is always gaining ground. Of course the 5’9″ 155 lbs RB also has the game breaking speed when he hits the open field, and he has that lateral agility that leaves defenders talking the air. The young playmaker has great instincts too. His feel for the game is special. He is looking like one of the best prospects in his Class.
Other Noteworthy Performances
- Matt Buckman Matt Buckman 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Cambridge | 2025 State WI , QB- Cambridge: 16/19, 274 Yards, 5 TDs, 41 Rushing Yards
- Easton Arendt, QB- De Pere: 9/12, 144 Yards, 3 TDs, 27 Rushing Yards
- Parker Maney, QB- Reedsville: 7/10, 86 Yards, 2 TDs, 27 Carries, 147 Yards, 1 TD
- Evan Scholl, RB- Auburndale: 27 Carries, 233 Yards, 1 TD
- Tyler Sasse Tyler Sasse 5'8" | 155 lbs | RB Platteville | 2026 State WI , WR- Platteville: 3 Receptions, 92 Yards, 1 TD, 12 Carries, 43 Yards