Welcome to the first exciting installment of my high school football picks series.
Since I was transitioning from the Lake Geneva Regional News over to Southern Lakes Newspapers, it’s been hectic and I missed Week 1.
What did we learn from opening weekend?
Well, East Troy and Delavan-Darien can score some points (124 combined), Badger is so good four turnovers can’t stop them, Burlington is better than expected, Waterford’s offense needs to pick it up, Union Grove will surprise some people and Elkhorn and Wilmot are much improved.
Without any more dilly dallying, let’s look at my week 2 picks:
Racine Horlick 28, Burlington 21
Horlick boasts the best offensive player in Racine County with quarterback Ricky Neal, Jr., who almost single-handedly helped the Rebels pull off an upset against Mukwonago last week.
Neal totaled three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough as Wisconsin Badger recruit Dominic Cizauskas was in full beast mode, returning a kick, catching a pass and rushing for scores.
Expect this game to be close, but the Rebels simply have too much firepower. Their defense could wreak havoc for Burlington quarterback Brad Burling, who will make only his second varsity start.
Waterford 40, Racine Case 7
The Wolverines are too big and strong for an Eagles squad which relies on its quickness.
Waterford was shut out in a loss to Pewaukee in Week 1, and you can bet coach Adam Bakken won’t let that happen again.
Look for the Wolverines to break out in a big way and exert themselves as a force in the area.
Case still has a long way to go before it rebuilds its struggling program.
Lake Country Lutheran 34, Burlington Catholic Central 21
Though the ‘Toppers are ranked in Division 7, Lake Country is coming off a 41-0 thrashing in Week 1 and home cooking will only help.
Burlington was held to minimal yardage on offense thanks to football powerhouse Kewaunee, but quarterback Brett Gardner (146 yards) and receiver Tyler Burzawa (95 yards) showed promise.
Union Grove 23, Kenosha St. Joe’s 20
The Broncos will be violently bucking in the Grove tonight.
It’s the team’s first game on its brand new, multi-million dollar football field, which consists of field turf. Already used at Wilmot, Westosha Central, Indian Trails and Kenosha Tremper, it’s becoming the go-to turf in the area.
Expect the lethal passing combination of Kyle Dohjola and J.K. Witkofski to lead the Broncos to victory.
Other predictions
Mukwonago 28, Lake Geneva Badger 24
Cizauskas is too good, and the Badgers usually get better later in the season.
It will be close, but the Indians will live up to their top-10 state ranking.
Expect Andrew Allen and Collin Broderick to have big games for Badger, but Cizauskas will lead Mukwonago to victory.
Big Foot 63, Delavan-Darien 28
The Chiefs are still one of the best programs in the area, and Rodney Wedig’s bunch already spanked Westosha Central, 38-0, in week 1. The emergence of quarterback Brett Morris (250 passing yards) gives the normally run-first Chiefs another option.
Though the Comets put up 55 points last week, Big Foot’s defense is top notch and will shut them down like usual.
Elkhorn 38, East Troy 30
These aren’t the Elks you’re used to seeing get blown out in recent years.
These are the new-look Elks, the ones who hung a 38-0 shutout on Cudahy last week.
One area coach says Elkhorn is “much improved,” and they will find a way to wear down the Trojans, who put up 70 points in Week 1.
East Troy quarterback Brandon Matz, who tossed for 500 yards and seven touchdowns, can’t put up video game numbers every week.
Elkhorn back Braden Mann should have no problem slicing through the porous East Troy defense like a hot knife through butter.
Oak Creek 50, Wilmot 21
South Milwaukee 35, Westosha Central 14
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