Prep athletes of the week

Two days after it happened, the junior running back still has a hard time believing what he saw.

Bloom rushed for a school-record 348 yards on only 12 carries (a 29-yard average) in Rogers' 41-24 victory over Big Lake.

"I can't take credit for it," Bloom said. "Our offensive line played great. They made some huge holes. I'd turn the corner on a sweep and see nothing but open field."

Bloom, whose older brother, Bjorn, quarterbacked Rogers to the Class 4A championship game in 2010, ran for a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter, then ran wild after halftime, scoring on touchdown runs of 64, 85 and 59 yards, all in the third quarter. As a team, Rogers rushed 30 times for a whopping 501 yards.

"I was getting a little winded," Bloom said. "But touchdowns are awesome, and it just kept happening. I didn't mind at all."

Knowing he couldn't have done it alone, Bloom said he would find a way to reward his linemen.

"I'm going to get them something," he said. "I definitely owe them."

The senior outside hitter/setter led the Bengals to a 6-1 record and a third-place finish in the Eastview Invitational, during which she had 97 set assists, 88 kills, 81 digs, 17 ace serves and 10 blocks. Dimke has committed to play at Purdue next year.

The Storm won the 16-team Apple Valley October Classic last weekend with Gitzen, a junior outside hitter, providing much of the spark. In six overall matches last week, Gitzen had 101 kills, 95 serve receives and 65 digs.

The junior midfielder, who led the Class 1A, No. 2 Cougars in scoring all season, was also their offensive leader in the Section 3 playoffs. He scored twice in a 4-1 victory over St. Paul Highland Park and had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over Minneapolis Washburn.

The Class 2A, No. 4 Lightning routed No. 7 Eagan 5-1 in the Section 3 semifinals Thursday, led by a hat trick from the senior forward. Two days earlier she scored a goal in a 2-0 quarterfinals victory over Henry Sibley.

The Islanders cruised to a 47-0 victory over St. Anthony behind a four-touchdown effort from the senior tailback. Williams rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries and caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Billy Hart.