Belle Plaine’s Eli Wiseman, Wellington’s Zane Cornejo named Big Cheese Athletes of the Week
Eli Wiseman
Zane Cornejo
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — This week we are going with two Sumner County football players as Big Cheese Athletes of the Week, who went beyond the call of duty in their playoff games.
Eli Wiseman of Belle Plaine was huge in giving the Dragons their first playoff victory since 1991. Wiseman ran for over 200 all-purpose offensive yards Friday night in Belle Plaine’s first-round victory over Chaparral 17-14. But his big play of the game came on special teams. With the Roadrunners snagging a 14-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Chaparral kicked off to Wiseman, who took it to the house on an 80-yard touchdown return to give the Dragons the lead for good. He also scored a 3-yard touchdown run which was set up by a 25-yard pass reception.
Meanwhile, in Buhler, Wellington’s Zane “Beast Mode” Cornejo would get his team on the board with an incredible 84-yard run that took Wellington from its own 15 to the Buhler 1, setting up the Crusader’s lone touchdown in a 19-7 loss. Cornejo, the 210-pound senior, also was a force on defense. He had eight solo tackles, one assisted tackle, two tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery.
For their effort, Wiseman and Cornejo both receive a large delicious Big Cheese Pizza at 324 N. Washington in Wellington.
