Oh, what a game.
Last Friday’s Southern Lakes Conference throwdown between visiting Wilmot and Union Grove had everything: long runs, deep passes, stellar defense, a spirited comeback, heavy rain, fog and even a lightning suspension.
Wilmot jumped out early, the Broncos awakened in the second half, and it was anybody’s victory by late in the fourth quarter.
But Grove quarterback Matt Nelson’s late interception coupled with gritty, smash-mouth offense from Wilmot allowed the Panthers to hang on for the 20-13 victory.
Wilmot improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SLC, while Union Grove suffered its first loss of the season (4-1, 2-1).
The matchup was the conference’s second major tilt of the 2015 season, which is officially at its midway point.
On Sept. 11, Waterford crunched Burlington, 34-14, in the first critical outcome that could decide the SLC champion.
The Broncos remain a contender, with their best start since 2009, while the Panthers, defending conference co-champs, continue to plug in new faces and achieve victories year in and year out.
One of the most consistent squads in the SLC, Wilmot seems well on its way to a sixth straight playoff appearance.
Wilmot jumped out to a 13-0 lead at the half thanks to a 37-yard touchdown pass from AJ Frisby to Josh Schroeder with 22 seconds to go in the second quarter.
The way the Panthers’ defense was playing, it seemed Wilmot had Nelson figured out.
But like all good quartebacks do, Nelson willed his team back in the third quarter.
The steady rain made gripping the fooball far from ideal, and Grove all-world athlete Joe Peterson leapt to intercept Frisby early in the third.
If he hadn’t run into his own player, Peterson would’ve scored.
It took until third down, but Nelson found tight end Holden Whybark for a score to cut it to 13-7.
Then, the Grove defense held strong, setting the team up in Wilmot territory.
After a Peterson 20-yard scamper, Nelson hit Peterson on a beautifully-placed fade to the corner of the end zone, and the game was tied at 13-13.
Wilmot’s next drive essentially won it the game. After a couple stuffed runs, George Bennett was handed the inside handoff in a classic triple-option look.
It took a few seconds before the fooled defense even knew where the speedy back was, and 50 yards later, Bennett had set up a first and goal.
Frisby, who finished with two interceptions on the night, took it from there.
His short touchdown made it 20-13, and Wilmot would never lose the advantage despite another late interception by Frisby.
Thanks to a defense that flies around the field combined with brute strength, Wilmot was able to hold Nelson and the potent Broncos attack the rest of the game.
Wilmot ran for 230 yards and held the Grove to only 24 on the ground.
Peterson had eight catches and two interceptions for the game.
Panthers frustrate Nelson
Nelson was forced to do it all himself in the second half, as he chucked up 37 pass attempts, completing 22 for the game. However, Wilmot swarmed with four sacks, constant pressure and sure tackling.
On the Grove’s final drive, a shortened stint that ended at midfield, the Panthers blanketed Peterson (eight catches, 59 yards) and gave up nothing deep.
Nelson said his late interception was a killer.
“The ball slipped, and the weather played a big role,” he said. “I didn’t put the ball where I wanted to. It was a bad decision, and I shouldn’t have made that play.”
“Our captain, Even Storm-Voltz, got us fired up at halftime, and we came back. But we shot ourselves in the foot.”
Overall, Wilmot overcame a lost fumble, two picks and 18 penalties to pull out the impressive road victory.
Minus a seven-point loss in overtime at undefeated Waterford, Wilmot would be perfect. Also, people forget that Wilmot beat a Division 1 powerhouse, Kenosha Bradford, to start the season.
With their ability to pound the ground (five players combined for 230 rushing yards), Frisby’s ability to throw downfield just enough and a fast, physical defense leading the way, the Panthers have a good as shot as any to win the SLC this season. Despite heavy losses of key talent to graduation, Wilmot successfully reloaded.
“Their defense flew around, and they’re fast and strong,” Nelson said of Wilmot. “They’re defense is pretty good.”
Frisby completed all of two passes, but they went for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Bennett led the squad with 78 rushing yards on four carries, while Jake Raiman added 69 yards on 12 carries.
Wilmot hosts conference-leading Lake Geneva Badger (4-1, 2-1), and I feel confident in saying the Panthers will win.
After picking against Wilmot all season, the boys from the border are coming into their own.
The Panthers’ defense is elite, the offensive line is big and fast, and they have enough playmakers to hang with high-scoring teams.
Wilmot still has to face the likes of rival Badger, but Waterford is in the rear view.
A road game at fellow conference co-champ Burlington won’t be easy, but the Demons like to finesse like the Grove, so Wilmot’s speedy d-backs should hold their own.
Waterford still must lose, which it shouldn’t, so Wilmot will have to win out if they want a chance at SLC glory.
Along with a tough test at Burlington, Wilmot hosts Badger and must travel to Delavan-Darien.
Of the remaining opponents, Badger employs a physical, nearly-unstoppable run attack, while Burlington and Delavan are similar with spread passing attacks.
I expect Wilmot to finish with only one more loss, and if it can avoid an early playoff meeting with Waterford, Panther fans should expect a multiple-game playoff run isn’t out of the question.
They’re right on the same level with Waterford, and it’s clear they’re more dynamic and can beat you in more ways than Union Grove or Lake Geneva Badger.
Entering Week 6 of the fall high school football season, Wilmot is the second-best team in the SLC.
Grove still has tons of promise
Union Grove coach Craig McClelland said Nelson was hit while throwing when he threw the decisive interception late in the ball game.
He said Nelson has the type of character where he holds himself accountable for his own mistakes, thus the comment that he didn’t make the play he should have.
“It’s never a good feeling to lose,” McClelland said. “At the end of the day, it’s one loss in a nine-game season. We didn’t play our best game, and we still had a chance to win it.”
“I thought we opened it up throwing more in the third quarter, because the rain subsided. We let Matt Nelson be Matt Nelson. Wilmot was the better team today.”
McClelland said if Nelson didn’t get hit on his late interception, Joe Peterson probably would’ve caught the ball and scored as he was wide open.
Moving forward, the Broncos still must play Burlington, Badger and Waterford, a murderer’s row of legit teams.
The Broncos still must win two of their final four games to make the postseason for the first time this decade.
“We can learn a lot more from a loss than we can from a win,” McClelland said. “We will tweak some things, and we’ll be back.”
McClelland shared his strategy for the morning after games.
“We watch the whole game and coach on it,” he said. “We’ll watch a little bit of our next opponent. They don’t learn unless they see it. We’ll lift and condition, and we’ll get out of here.”
PREDICTIONS
Last week: 4-1
Season: 25-8
I’m back, baby. After a rough week, I bounced back with some pretty accurate blowout predictions.
My 45-14 Burlington pick was only eight off (49-10), and my Toppers score wasn’t too shabby, either.
With a little better competition this week, anything can happen.
I hope to see you Friday night in Delavan, as I will witness first-hand the return of Steve Tenhagen to Comet Land.
Follow me on Twitter @mikeramczyk17, and on the Standard Press Sports Facebook page for all the high school football action, LIVE!
GAME OF THE WEEK
Lake Geneva Badger (4-1, 3-0 SLC) at Wilmot (4-1, 2-1)
My newly-crowned hottest team in the SLC is back at home, and Frank Bucci Stadium can get all kinds of rowdy.
Expect a running fest, as both team employ a triple-option look. Both teams have the capability of making the occasional big play in the passing game as well.
The difference will be the defense. Wilmot has been able to slow down every run game it’s faced this season, though Badger will be the best.
The quarterback play of AJ Frisby, a poised, physical pass-run threat, and a superior defense will be too much for the Panthers’ rival to overcome.
PREDICTION: Wilmot 24, Lake Geneva Badger 18
Burlington (3-2, 1-2) at Delavan-Darien (3-2, 1-2)
What happens when fireworks collide with fireworks?
You have yourself and highly combustible explosion, capable of harming anything in its path.
That’s the route I’m thinking this one is going to go. Two offenses that are scoring more than 30 points per game are fun to watch, and the defenses will be in for major challenges.
Delavan is bit banged up on the defense with a few key injuries, but Burlington has the momentum of a big win last Friday night.
The Comets are desperate for a victory after two straight defeats, and their home crowd will undoubtedly be into this one, as Burlington’s head coach returns to the place where he led the 2010 Comets to an SLC championship.
There’s still a lot of love for Tenhagen in Delavan, but that may change after Friday night’s game.
Burlington is a little more explosive offensively, and the Demons’ defensive playmakers like Hegeman Tiedt and Erik Viel will make some game-changing plays to stop Delavan.
Grab your popcorn and a cold beverage, it’s going to be a party.
PREDICTION: Burlington 45, Delavan-Darien 35
Union Grove (4-1, 2-1) at Elkhorn (1-4, 0-3)
They have no offense, but somehow the Elks managed to hold the mighty Waterford Wolverines to 14 points last week.
And each week, Elkhorn seems to improve and close in on that first conference win.
It’s going to have to wait another week, though, as Matt Nelson will be ready to pass for 300 yards after a shaky performance last week.
The Grove has a good enough defense to shut out Elkhorn, and even an inspired, once-in-a-lifetime outing from the Elks’ ‘D’ won’t stop Nelson and Joe Peterson.
The Broncos will return to the win column, as this is their best chance at victory with Burlington, Badger and Waterford still ahead.
PREDICTION: Union Grove 21, Elkhorn 7
And now, we get to our donuts…I apologize in advance for these scores, but these games will be ugly and should be considered for cancellation.
Other area predictions
Catholic Central 54, Whitefish Bay Dominican 0
Waterford 49, Westosha Central 0
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