By Mike Ramczyk
The high school football season kicked off last week with a bang.
Area teams opened with nonconference opponents, and that will continue for this weekend before conference play opens Sept. 5.
So what did we learn from Week 1?
Burlington needs some more time to learn its new system, understandably.
Catholic Central’s defense can fly around like no other.
Waterford is a force to be reckoned with. Union Grove already has the same amount of wins this year as it did all of last year.
Also, Delavan-Darien is extremely dangerous on both sides of the ball, and Elkhorn is on the rise.
Lake Geneva Badger is young and will need some time to gain varsity experience, and Williams Bay is poised for a very big year.
Last week on www.myracinecounty.com on my Sports Check blog, I began my high school football predictions, a feature that has stirred some controversy over the last year.
Just to be clear, I am still doing them. They are entertaining, I’m not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings and the one and only Don Dalton says he reads them. So they’re staying. He’s a legend, people.
Each week, we will look at the most intriguing matchups, breaking down the possibilities and offering an educated guess on the score.
I implore players and coaches to take this for what it’s worth, a light-hearted way to get the readers excited about watching some Friday Night Lights.
Don’t take my picks to heart. They’re mostly wrong, anyways. After all, I’m simply stating my opinions. And you know what they say about opinions.
This comes from 10 years covering area high school football games on Friday nights. I’ve seen a lot of games from Badger, Big Foot, Williams Bay, Burlington, Waterford, Union Grove and the list goes on.
Last week, I went 7-3 on a whim. My three losses were Burlington, Union Grove and Badger.
With one week gone, it’s time to use good old stats to help sway my picks. Will it help?
Before we get to the predictions, remember to join as many fantasy football leagues as possible this weekend before the big season opener, Green Bay at Seattle, Sept. 4.
Remember: Don’t draft a quarterback in the first round, stock up on stud receivers in PPR leagues and keep personal fan feelings out of your picks.
Stay tuned later this week to my Sports Check Blog for fantasy football tips that may, I repeat, MAY, help you win your league.
Week 2
(all games 7 p.m. Friday unless noted)
Football Predictions
Last week: 7-3
Season: 7-3
Waterford (1-0) at Racine Case (1-0)
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup on the docket, this pits Waterford’s stingy defense against Case’s explosive, playmaking offense.
The Wolverines utililized classic Waterford football to edge Pewaukee, 14-13, in Week 1.
Case scored on a kickoff return and an 80-yard touchdown run against Burlington in a Week 1 win, but Waterford is a different animal defensively.
Expect Waterford to keep Case at bay and make enough big plays with Dylan Malecki and Johnny McCormick in the passing game to earn the win.
PREDICTION: Waterford 28, Racine Case 17
Lake Country Lutheran (1-0) at Catholic Central (1-0)
In another battle of unbeatens, the Toppers are looking to avenge last year’s Division 7 playoff loss to Lutheran.
That could be a tall task, however, as the Lightning return stud quarterback Ben Wilkins.
Wilkins threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns in Lake Country’s 53-12 win in Week 1. Also, Grant Johnson caught six balls for 200 yards and three touchdowns.
Catholic Central’s defense shut out Whitewater, but that’s Whitewater. The Toppers may not be able to match up with the overall speed of Lutheran, which is ranked No. 11 in the Division 6 state rankings.
Although Ben Heiligenthal and Cole Kresken should be able to do some damage for the Toppers, Lake Country is a very polished club.
PREDICTION: Lake Country Lutheran 31, Catholic Central 21
Racine Horlick (0-1) at Burlington (0-1)
The Demons just have to work out a few kinks on the defensive side of the ball, and they should be fine.
After putting up 500 yards of offense and 34 points, don’t expect the offense to slow down.
Horlick, on the other hand, lost in Week 1 to Mukwonago, 31-17.
Horlick ran for 114 yards.
Horlick was a playoff team last year, but Ricky Neal, Jr. has graduated. So far, their young players have been less than impressive, but everyone showed a little rust in Week 1.
Expect the Demons to right their wrongs and find a way.
PREDICTION: Burlington 35, Racine Horlick 28
Union Grove (1-0) at Kenosha St. Joseph (0-1)
The Broncos are on the come up. With more than 80 players in the program, Jordan Hein is making sure to erase the memory of last year’s one-win season.
The Grove already tied last year’s win total with a 25-6 drubbing of Evansville last week.
With another game against a small school this week, expect more of the same. St. Joe’s lost, 34-0, in Week 1 and only put up 50 yards of total offense.
Jameson Radke, who led the Broncos with three touchdown catches last week, should have a field day.
PREDICTION: Union Grove 40,
Kenosha St. Joe’s 14
Big Foot (1-0) at Delavan-Darien (1-0)
These Walworth County rivals play each other every year, but the Comets are bigger and badder this season.
With the entire starting offensive line back and conference player of the year Jesse Collins under center, Delavan should do some things in the SLC.
In Week 1, Delavan put up 530 yards of offense. Collins totaled 300 passing and running, and Fabias Shipman bursted onto the scene with 10 carries for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Watch out for the shining Comets this season.
Big Foot is a little too young and not deep enough to hang.
PREDICTION: Delavan-Darien 30, Big Foot 20
Other predictions
Elkhorn 35, East Troy 10
Oak Creek 21, Wilmot 17
Mukwonago 33, Lake Geneva Badger 15
South Milwaukee 24, Westosha Central 11
Williams Bay 30, Almond-Bancroft 25
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