West Allis Central's Deberry voted high school athlete of the week

Diez Deberry of West Allis Central football was the winner of last week’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel high school athlete of the week poll for the week of Aug. 17-22.

Only two players across the state ran for more yards in Week 1 than the senior running back. The back tallied 22 carries for 285 yards and four touchdowns, including an 87-yard run, in Central’s 34-27 victory over Saint Thomas More. It was an emotional night for the Bulldogs as they paid tribute to former coach Stevie Calvin, who passed away from kidney disease this summer.

Deberry received 592 of a possible 953 votes in last week’s poll.

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Aiden Goines of Menomonee Falls football was the runner-up in last week’s poll. The junior running back touched the ball only nine times in Menomonee Falls’ 49-19 victory over Nicolet to open the season. Five of those nine touches for Goines went for touchdowns as he registered 240 yards and five touchdowns for the Phoenix, including three catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Other nominees in the poll included Jack Bunyan of Port Washington football, Nolberto Rosales of Kenosha Bradford football and Maurice Mullins Jr. of Racine Horlick football.

You can make a nomination for player of the week during the 2026-27 school year by sending an email with statistics and context on their performance to mwhitlow@gannett.com and zbellman@gannett.com. Do not send votes to these addresses.

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Kenosha Bradford tight end Corbin Burrell-Warfield (1) races down the sideline for a touchdown in the first half.

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Marquette running back Bear Bonk looks for running room.

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Kenosha Bradford quarterback Nolberto Rosales unleashes a pass against Marquette.

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Marquette wide receiver Marley Mahaga looks for a way around Kenosha Bradford linebacker Moreno.

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Kenosha Bradford defensive back Kameryn Rodriguez (8) and linebacker Anthony Wilson (5) break up a Marquette pass.

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Kenosha Bradford wide receiver Marvin Jones (4) turns the corner past Marquette defensive back Silas Kwaterski on his way to a touchdown.

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Marquette tight end John Bark (88) fights for yardage against Kenosha Bradford linebacker Damarion Moreno.

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Kenosha Bradford lineman Alijah Chavours Orbe (74) bears down on Marquette quarterback Ben Schroeder.

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Marquette quarterback Ben Schroeder rushes between Kenosha Bradford linebacker Damarion Moreno (6) and defensive lineman Adrian Merz (70) on his way to a touchdown.

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Teammates congratulate Marquette quarterback Ben Schroeder on a touchdown.

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Kenosha Bradford tight end Corbin Burrell-Warfield (1) fights for yardage against Marquette.

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Kenosha Bradford running back Gahari Barnes (22) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against Marquette in a game Friday, August 28, 2026, at Hart Park in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

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Marquette wide receiver Christian Miller makes a catch in front of Kenosha Bradford defensive back Ayden Jackson.

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Marquette running back Bear Bonk breaks free for a 14-yard touchdown run.

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Kenosha Bradford punter Damarion Moreno (6) leaps for a high snap in his end zone.

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Kenosha Bradford punter Damarion Moreno (6) runs the ball out of his end zone after a bad snap.

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Kenosha Bradford wide receiver Larenzz Pratt hangs onto the ball despite a hit from Marquette defensive back Kadre Lee.

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Marquette linebacker George Hohenwalter celebrates a fumble recovery.

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Marquette tight end Judah Sanders (8) tries to run over Kenosha Bradford defensive back Marvin Jones (4) after a catch.

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Kenosha Bradford inebacker Jacob Kleutsch (21) shows his disappointment after missing an interception.

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Marquette kicker Axel Schmidt (16) tries to avoid being hit after attempting a 53-yard field goal out of the hold of Henry Foy.

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Marquette defensive lineman Atticus Godfrey (11) tries to pull down Kenosha Bradford running back Gahari Barnes (22) by his shirt.

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Kenosha Bradford wide receiver Larenzz Pratt makes a catch in front of Marquette defensive back Caleb Miller.

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Marquette defensive back Josh Imediegwu (34) makes in interception in front of Kenosha Bradford wide receiver Marvin Jones (4) in the final seconds of regulation.

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Kenosha Bradford wide receiver Kameryn Rodriguez (8) works for yardage against Marquette defensive back Silas Kwaterski (21) in overtime.

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Kenosha Bradford running back Gahari Barnes (22) bust through the middle against Marquette on his way to a touchdown in overtime.

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Kenosha Bradford running back Gahari Barnes twists his way into the ends zone against Marquette in overtime.

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Marquette running back Bear Bonk works for yardage on the Hilltoppers’ overtime possession.

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Marquette quarterback Ben Schroeder (obscured) follows the block of offensive lineman Matthew Kormanik (52) into the end zone in overtime to tie the score.

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Marquette kicker Axel Schmidt (16) connects for the winning extra point in a 31-30 victory.

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Marquette holder Henry Foy (13) finds himself between celebrations after kicker Axel Schmidt connected for the winning extra point against Kenosha Bradford.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: West Allis Central’s Deberry voted high school athlete of the week