Waterford-Wilmot highlights start of SLC season
Burlington football coach Steve Tenhagen consoled his team in the postgame huddle after last week’s loss at Racine Horlick.
After a 28-12 loss, he told his guys that the “real season” begins this week.
Tenhagen is exactly right, as he’s referring to the conference season.
Now, the games count, and every single play will go toward making the postseason or missing out.
You must win three of your seven conference games to be eligible for the playoffs, but a winning record (4-3) is pretty much a guarantee to play beyond the regular season.
The Southern Lakes Conference season kicks off with a few marquee rivalry games.
Wilmot, Waterford, Lake Geneva Badger and Union Grove are all 2-0 after breezing through the nonconference season.
Last week saw the return of my football predictions, and the offseason rust showed in a 6-5 week.
I opened up the picks to just about all of our area teams, but I will mostly be focusing on the Southern Lakes Conference and Catholic Central this season.
Please be safe and have fun on this “end-of-summer” Labor Day weekend, and let’s get into this week’s games.
Football Predictions
(all games 7 p.m. Friday)
Last week: 6-5
Season: 6-5
Game of the Week
Waterford (2-0) at Wilmot (2-0)
The Panthers opened the season with a solid win at Kenosha Bradford before laying a 64-7 beatdown on Cudahy last week.
Wilmot’s Robert Brent leads the SLC with 235 yards rushing in two games.
Waterford underwhelmed in a 17-7 win over Racine Case last week, but the Wolverines racked up plenty of rushing yards, led by Jared Krattiger’s 128.
Waterford will bring the pain, and it will be just enough in a low-scoring battle.
PREDICTION: Waterford 17, Wilmot 16
Lake Geneva Badger (2-0) at Burlington (1-1)
The Badgers have shown defensive brilliance in two wins.
Since Burlington rejoined the Southern Lakes Conference in 2009, the Demons have not beaten Lake Geneva.
This season, senior Mason DuMez is second in the SLC with 223 rushing yards.
The Demons counter with Jack Miller, who’s gained 200 yards on the ground in two games, and Nick Klug, who has shown flashes of his elite athleticism and strong throwing arm.
Also, Dale Damon has emerged as the Demons’ receiving leader.
Badger’s defense is very strong, and the young Demons are still learning on offense.
It may just be a coincidence, but Badger seems to have Burlington’s number.
PREDICTION: Lake Geneva Badger 31, Burlington 20
Elkhorn (1-1) at Delavan-Darien (1-1)
Both teams picked up big wins last week, and there isn’t a ton of love lost in this intense rivalry betweens two schools separated by a mere five miles.
Delavan’s high-powered attack features Jake Benzing’s 652 passing yards and more than 200 receiving yards from both Ethan Cesarz and Mike Alder.
Bryce Jacobson is emerging as a backfield threat for Elkhorn, but the Elks don’t have the weapons to keep up with the Comets.
PREDICTION: Delavan-Darien 35, Elkhorn 17
Catholic Central (0-2) at Shoreland Lutheran (1-1)
These Metro Classic Conference rivals have each lost talent to graduation.
Last year, Catholic Central won, 49-30, and the Toppers have taken nine straight in this series.
Catholic Central is 14-3 all-time against the Pacers.
Shoreland’s Scott Hoffman has run for 298 yards in two games.
Catholic Central junior quarterback Chad Zirbel has shown promise in his first two varsity games under center, totaling more than 200 total yards.
Look for Zirbel and big-play threat Cole Pankau to finally break out in this one.
PREDICTION: Catholic Central 27, Shoreland Lutheran 21
Union Grove (2-0) at Westosha Central (1-1)
The Broncos offense features firepower, as senior quarterback Matt Nelson has thrown for five touchdowns and ran for three.
Tight end Holden Whybark, a 6-foot-3 powerhouse, is Nelson’s primary target.
Josiah McDermit, Logan Hughes, Tre Williams and Austin Kurylo are big reasons Falcon football fans have hope for a program turnaround.
The Falcons haven’t won an SLC game in two years, and it was against the Broncos.
However, the Broncos are still on the rise after last year’s playoff appearance, and the Falcons simply aren’t ready to knock off one of the SLC’s top squads.
PREDICTION: Union Grove 40, Westosha Central 24
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