MacCudden set to add to impressive résumé
WAUKESHA – As far as careers go, Peter MacCudden’s started in what proved to be fitting fashion.
In the second quarter of his first varsity game, the then freshman defensive back was in the right spot at the right time as he scooped up a fumble and returned it 26 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in a victory over Watertown at home.
It was early, but the youngster had already grown up.
“He was making plays all over the place,” Waukesha West coach Steve Rux recalled. “You couldn’t look at him like a freshman any longer.”
Fast-forward three years and countless big plays later and MacCudden is the veteran of all veterans. He has 42 varsity games under his belt, played in two state final games, received allconference accolades on both sides of the ball and rushed for 2,000 yards in a season.
It makes you wonder what is in store for his grand finale.
“Being healthy, coming out strong every game and doing the best we can as a team,” he said in sharing his goals. “If we do good things as a team, good things will happen for me and everyone else.”
The 5-foot-9, 185pound senior is that kind of player and West has that kind of team. The Wolverines, who have won 30 games in the past three seasons, have the caliber of talent you need to play deep into November. It all sets up for a potentially memorable finale to what has been a family affair for the MacCuddens and West’s program.
His father, Tony, has been a long-time coach in the program and currently coaches the running backs and linebackers on junior varsity. Older brother Kevin played on the Wolverines’ 2010 state championship team and played a couple of years at Wisconsin. Thomas, a 2014 graduate, was the starting fullback on a team that reached the state semifinals his senior year.
All that football knowledge and competitiveness proved to be the perfect incubator for the youngest brother.
“Football is one of those things that is close to religion in our family,” MacCudden said. “It’s like Friday night we’re going to be at the game. Saturday morning everyone’s got film. My brother will watch film with me of the next team that we play just because we’re all so football orientated. Everyone knows what they’re talking about.”
Kevin was secondteam all-Classic 8 as a senior at running back and defensive end as a senior after claiming honorable mention accolades on defense as a junior. Tommy was a second-team all-league running back as a senior in 2013 when he helped pave the way for 2,000yard rusher Elijah Fort.
Peter followed his brothers’ lead and then took it to another level.
He received honorable mention all-conference recognition as a strong safety as a freshman and sophomore. At the same time, he tied for third on the team with 15 catches in 2014 and was second on the team in rushing the next year with 578 yards in 72 carries.
Last year he was asked to do more physically as he moved to inside linebacker and became the team’s primary ball-carrier.
The result was 2,040 yards and 23 touchdowns and the Classic 8 offensive most valuable player award. He was also a first-team all-conference pick on defense.
He enters his senior year as a two-year captain. His latest scholarship interest has come from Ohio, which offered a scholarship, and Iowa, which offered him a spot as a preferred walk-on.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him miss a tackle,” Rux said.
“He protects the football. He’s got durability as a running back. He catches the ball really well. When you see him in practice and you see him around the guys, he just brings that energy to practice. If you’re in the clutch, you want him to have the football.”
That is the plan this year, though Rux and his staff will pick their spots.
Easing some of the physical toll for MacCudden will be his move back to strong safety. The team also has capable backups in the backfield in senior Jordan Xiong and junior Sam Mikulak.
They’re part of a squad that returns seven all-conference players who include senior offensive linemen Bryce Texiera (6-2, 285), a Navy recruit, and Christian Sheedy (6-3, 270).
The run for what could be a special season begins Friday at Kettle Moraine.
“I think we’re all set. …,”’ MacCudden said. “We’re looking for some big things, but we’ve got to make sure we keep one game at a time... because when you look too far ahead, you get into trouble.”