By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Call it a miracle. Call it lucky. Whatever you call it, “it” resulted in the Waterford football team’s second straight conference title.
In last year’s regular-season finale, Waterford trailed Badger, 3-0, with less than a minute to play. Faced with the daunting task of driving 80 yards in 45 seconds, Waterford coach Adam Bakken pulled a rabbit out of his hat, and it worked.
On 3rd and long, Bakken called a run play, and Waterford’s signal-caller took off on a 60-yard run down the right sideline. On the very next play, with less than 30 seconds to go, Ryan Danbrea broke a tackle and scored the game-winner.
The dramatic 6-3 win marked the second straight year Waterford got over on the seemingly better, more dominant Badgers.
But that’s just the way Bakken gets things done. No matter the obstacle, no matter the talent differential, he devises a plan that puts his team in the best position to win.
And this Friday is no different. Both Waterford and Badger are 1-1, but the Badgers are highly touted, with a much bigger front line and a back in Andrew Allen that leads the Southern Lakes Conference in rushing.
All the Wolverines can boast is a 27-13 victory over winless Racine Case where nobody really stood out. Impressive, yes, but these aren’t the same Wolverines of the past two seasons that advanced to the Division II state title game and were upset in the playoffs after a 7-2 campaign.
Just ask Bakken.
“Things won’t be easy this year,” he said Wednesday. “We just don’t have the size.”
Bakken said the offensive line picked things up against Case after the team was shut out against Pewaukee in Week 1. He said the defense must pick things up and tackle better.
Against Badger in the game of the season with the conference title potentially on the line already, expect the Wolverines to be amped.
However, Bakken realizes these Badgers are big time.
“They got way more size than us,” he said. “We aren’t as physically talented. We must use the proper techniques and call the right plays. We can’t go 1-on-1 with them.”
Though Waterford got back on the winning track last week, Bakken said momentum doesn’t exist in high school football. Anything can happen on any Friday night, he said.
It’s a guarantee Badger will run the ball. They lead the conference with 268.5 yards per game on the ground. The added dimension of passing with quarterback Collin Broderick makes the Badgers even more dangerous than last season.
Waterford always finds a way, though, and the Wolverines know what’s in front of them – the potential for a third straight conference title. For Bakken, though, the hype just isn’t there.
“We will do our best to get ready,” he said. “It’s a different season. Don’t buy into our momentum.”
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