Players left their marks on 2021 season
The Classic 8 and Greater Metro continued to be arguably the best/deepest football conferences in southeastern Wisconsin, but when it came to reaching the biggest stage in the sport, the leagues were on the outside looking in this season.
It was the first time in a decade that at least one of the two conferences didn't have a team reach the finals.
The rest of the area picked up the slack, though.
Four area teams reached the state championship games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Three – Franklin in Division 1, Pewaukee in Division 3 and Catholic Memorial in Division 4 – won championships. The other, Homestead, capped a season that was a smooth transition under new head coach Drake Zortman.
But before the title games, the 2021 season was marked by the end of some long-standing droughts.
Not counting last season's pandemic-adjusted playoff format, Nicolet qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1989 and earned its first postseason victory in school history.
Wauwatosa West enjoyed a similar resurgence. It won its first playoff game since 1984 by reaching the Division 2 quarterfinals equaled its deepest playoff run.
Sussex Hamilton went from worst to first in the Greater Metro. Winless in league play last season, the Chargers were undefeated in the conference this season and reached the second round of the playoffs.
* Kettle Moraine showed the depth of the Classic 8 in the postseason. The Lasers finished fourth but won three playoff games to reach the Division 2 semifinals, their longest postseason run since 1988.
Some of the players who engineered those turnarounds or brought home a championship to their school made the Journal Sentinel's all-area team, which was selected based on all-state and allconference recognition and personal observations.
Offense Quarterback
Myles Burkett, 6-2, 205, sr., Franklin: The University of Wisconsin recruit enjoyed one of the best seasons ever for a high school quarterback in the state. He completed 206 of 289 passes for 3,427 yards, 36 touchdowns and four interceptions. That single-season yardage total is tied for the eighth-best in state history, according to records kept by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, and the touchdowns rank 19th-best.
Running backs
Alijah Mahar-Parr, 5-9, 165, sr., Arrowhead: At times it appeared that the Classic 8's offensive player of the year played at a faster speed than everyone else. He ran for 2,140 yards in 257 carries, an 8.3-yard average, He gained at least 100 yards in every game but one. Four times he rushed for at least 200 yards, including a season-best 391 in 30 carries, a 13-yard average, in a 53-49 loss to Muskego in Week 6.
Waquon Kelly, 5-8, 225, sr., Wauwatosa West: Tosa West runs a Power T scheme that runs the ball almost 100% of the time, so defenses were able to stack up to stop the run. Kelly still ran for 1,733 yards, 18 touchdowns and averaged 11.8 yards per carry. Three times he had 200-yard games. In the playoffs he carried for 352 yards in 51 carries, a 6.9-yard average to lead the Trojans to their first playoff win since 1982 and a postseason run that ended in the Division 2 quarterfinals.
Cole Berghorn, 6-1, 210, sr., Badger: The Southern Lakes offensive player of the year ran for 2,178 yards, averaged 9.9 yards per carry and scored 27 touchdowns. He was remarkably consistent. He had a six-week stretch when he gained at least 200 yards and had seven such performances in the Badgers' 11-game season. He'll start college as a preferred walk-on at Minnesota.
Receivers/Tight ends
Keaton Arendt, 6-1, 190, sr., Franklin: This physical pass catcher finished with 54 receptions for 930 yards and 11 touchdowns. Five of those touchdowns came in the playoffs, including three when he made six catches for a careerhigh 164 yards in the Division 1 quarterfinals against Bay Port. He achieved those numbers while serving as the team's only two-way player. He also started at defensive back and intercepted a pass in the state final.
Cole Trimborn, 5-11, 170, sr., Nicolet: Trimborn was one of the Knights' most versatile players. He caught 31 passes for 542 yards, an average of 17.2 yards, and grabbed nine touchdown passes. He also rushed 34 times for 400 yards, an average of 11.8. He scored 17 touchdowns in his 65 touches from scrimmage, an average of one score every four touches. When you add his play at defensive back, Trimborn was one of the most indispensable players in arguably the best season in school history.
Linemen
Ashton Beers, 6-6, 300, sr., Slinger: Beers shared the North Shore Conference's offensive lineman of the year honor with Wisconsin recruit Joe Brunner. Initially a North Dakota State recruit, Beers changed his commitment to Minnesota. He is also a standout defensive lineman who combines great athletic ability and high football IQ.
Joe Brunner, 6-6, 315, sr., Whitefish Bay. The four-star recruit, according to Rivals, is the state's top prospect for 2022. The tackle ranks 73rd in the nation in Rivals' rankings. The Wisconsin recruit anchored a line that helped Bay average 235.5 rushing yards per game, helping the Blue Dukes become the first in school history to win back-to-back North Shore titles.
Joey Okla, 6-3, 295, sr., Arrowhead: The Illinois recruit anchored the Warhawks' line at guard. With Okla leading the way, the line helped produce 2,858 rushing yards, an average of 259.8 per game and 8.0 per carry. The team led the Classic 8 in scoring in league play. Chad Schuster, 6-6, 285, sr., Franklin: The Syracuse recruit anchored the Sabers up front at tackle. While the team had the most prolific passing game in the state, it also ran the ball effectively, gaining 147 yards per game and 5.5 yards per rush. In the Division 1 state final, he led a unit that made way for 187 rushing yards and helped senior Tanner Rivard (32 carries, 147 yards) have his best day as a prep.
Alex Pethan, 6-2, 295, sr., Oak Creek: The Knights embodied physical football and Pethan's play up front was key to that. He played guard and then moved to center due to a teammate's injury. Seventy-three percent of Oak Creek's plays from scrimmage were runs, and the team averaged 6 yards per carry and 202 per game. He'll play at UWWhitewater.
Kicker
Andy Justus, 5-9, 180, sr., Greendale: The all-Woodland Conference selection made 7 of 9 field goal attempts and 36 of his 37 extra point attempts. He made field goals of 23, 28, 44, 30, 32, 37 and 36 yards to help the Panthers win the conference title and advance to the second round of the Division 3 playoffs.
Defense Linemen
Gabe Alyousef, 6-2, 275, sr., Oak Creek: The Southeast Conference defensive lineman of the year for the past two seasons, Alyousef was a four-year starter who anchored one of the most stout units in the area. Oak Creek held opponents to 3.2 yards per carry and 81.7 rushing yards per game. He finished with 37 tackles, 26 solo, and four tackles for a loss.
Joe Brunner, 6-6, 315, sr., Whitefish Bay: The Wisconsin recruit will play offense in college, but he was also a difference maker on defense. He finished with 36 tackles, 16 solo, for the Blue Dukes. He1 also posted eight tackles for a loss, 3 ⁄2 sacks and recovered a fumble for a defense that held opponents to 12.4 points and 200.8 yards per game.
Mila Stephens, 6-0, 380, sr, Catholic Memorial: An immovable force in the middle of the Crusaders' defense. Stephens finished fourth on the team with 64 tackles, 24 solo, with eight tackles for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble. He was especially productive in the playoffs, when he recorded his three highest tackle totals of the season. He capped the year with six tackles, one shy of the team high, in a 21-12 win over Ellsworth in the Division 4 final.
Ends/outside linebackers
Ben Rehl, 6-1, 201, sr., Mukwonago:
The Classic 8 Conference defensive player of the year could do it all, be it rushing the passer, covering receivers or making plays sideline to sideline. He made 133 tackles, 72 solo, and 12 tackles for a loss, and also forced three fumbles and intercepted two passes. He wrapped up his career with a season-high 19 tackles, including three for a loss, in a 38-31 loss to Sun Prairie in the Division 1 semifinals.
Reid Jamerson, 6-1, 215, sr., Whitefish Bay: The North Shore player of the year lined up all over the defensive line but made his biggest impact at end and outside linebacker, where he was best able to take advantage of his relentless pursuit. He finished with 70 tackles, 51 solo, with 24 tackles for a loss and 121⁄2 sacks on a team that reached the Division 3 quarterfinals.
Inside linebackers
Langston Latham, 6-2, 235, sr., Catholic Memorial:
The Parkland Conference defensive player of the year missed the first game of the season while recovering from a knee injury that ended his junior year after three games. He finished with 71 tackles, third-best on the team, but proved to be the missing piece to a defense that set the tone for the Crusaders' fifth state title in the past 10 seasons.
Max Sheridan, , 6-2, 195, sr., Pewaukee: The Pirates rode their defense to the Division 3 state championship and Sheridan was the player who set the tone. He posted 118 tackles, 62 solo, with 14 tackles for a loss and two interceptions. According to coach Justin Friske, Sheridan's savvy allowed the Pirates to employ multiple schemes and his nose for the ball allowed him to impact the game as a blitzer, third-level defender or traditional linebacker.
Jack Baretz, 6-3, 218, sr., Franklin. The Southeast Conference linebacker of the year provided a big, physical presence in the middle for the Division 1 state champion. He finished with 92 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and nine sacks. A physical specimen who runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, Baretz is weighing a handful of invitations to walk on to Division I programs.
Backs
Daniel Martens, 6-3, 185, sr., Franklin: The Southeast Conference player of the year was the quarterback of the Sabers' defense. He also made a lot of plays, leading the unit with 114 tackles and posting three interceptions for the Division 1 champion. One of those interceptions stopped a potential firstquarter scoring drive for Sun Prairie in the state final.
Evan Redding, 5-11, 170, sr., Menomonee Falls: The future Minnesota Golden Gopher – he accepted an invitation to walk on last summer – finished with 36 tackles, 25 solo, for the Phoenix. He had one interception but was the kind of player quarterbacks didn't test. He also led the Phoenix in receiving, ball skills that helped his play on defense. Charlie Jarvis, 6-0, 195, sr., Catholic Memorial: The three-year starter sealed the Crusaders' 2021 state title with a fourth-quarter interception. It was his fourth pick of the year. He also finished with 59 tackles, 20 solo, and seven tackles for a loss. He was indispensable in the backfield and an overall asset to the team thanks to his ability to play receiver, return punts and take snaps at quarterback.
Punter
Rory Fox, 6-2 180, sr., Catholic Memorial: He punted 13 times for an average of 40.5 yards to help the Crusaders win the Division 4 state title. Eight of his punts were downed inside the 20. He also received all-state honorable mention at quarterback.