Wolverines an SLC favorite, Bakken says Burlington is biggest challenge
By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
Right now is a good time to remember that the Waterford High School football team has won a share of the Southern Lakes Conference title and advanced to the WIAA Division 2 playoffs in each of the last four seasons.
So don’t stress too much about the Wolverines breaking in a new starter at quarterback, or being inexperienced along the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker.
“Regardless of the age of the players, they know what is expected of them,” coach Adam Bakken said. “They know the effort and intensity that it takes to play varsity football. It’s a problem all schools have. Everybody graduates some very key players.”
Bakken said the Wolverines feature a strong complement of returning skill players but are light on experience in the trenches. Inexperience at any position does not change Waterford’s expectations.
“I think it’ll take a little time, but I don’t ever use inexperience or playing a lot of underclassmen as an excuse for not putting together a quality football team,” Bakken said.
Waterford finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 7-4 and finished 5-2 in SLC competition. The team shared the SLC title with Burlington, Elkhorn and Wilmot.
The Wolverines advanced to the Division 2 playoffs and defeated South Milwaukee 21-14 Oct. 24 in a Level 1 game at South Milwaukee.
Waterford lost 20-14 to Waukesha West Oct. 31 in a Level 2 game at West. It marked the third consecutive year West ended Waterford’s season.
The Wolverines scrimmaged Aug. 14 at Milton with Badger, Janesville Craig and Milton. The Wolverines’ inexperience showed at first.
“We did not play well to start with against Milton, on offense especially,” Bakken said. “On defense, we did alright.
“I think what we really learned is the speed of the game is so much different than in practice. When we started executing and blocking the way we were capable of, the last 10 minutes against Janesville Craig were impressive, offensively.”
Bakken attributed the slow start to “just learning how you have to play to give your team the best opportunity for success. You can’t simulate that in practice, no matter how hard you try. It’ll be even faster on Friday.”
The Wolverines open their 2015 season Friday against non-conference foe West Allis Nathan Hale at West Allis. Hale finished 4-5 overall in 2014, and went 2-5 in the Greater Metro Conference.
Waterford plays a second non-conference game, and its home opener, August 28 against Racine Case.
Making his first varsity start at quarterback for Waterford against Hale is Sam Allen, who moves to the position after playing receiver last season.
Allen gets an experienced backfield behind him in Anthony Miller, Ben Michalowski and Dyln Ross. Receiver Johnny McCormick is back, as are Austin Kaul, Chris Saltzmann, Kevin Huckstorf and Aaron Gallo.
EJ Mastrocola is the only returning starter on the offensive line, and will be joined by Wyatt Shipley, Brady Francisco, Michael Benavides, Tucker Opgenorth, Austin Werth and Alex Strabley.
Bakken said Francisco and Opgenorth each weigh more than 260 pounds, and combine with the others along the line for a good mix of size and agility.
McCormick and Ross start at cornerback on defense, and Saltzmann lines up at safety. Those three, and linebacker David Bansemer, are the returning starters on defense.
Kaul and Shipley will play at defensive end and Miller and Pankonin will line-up at defensive tackle.
“We run a whole bunch of different stuff, most of the time in a four-person front,” Bakken said.
Bakken said he’s never seen the SLC tougher than it appears this season, and said he considers Burlington the SLC favorite.
Waterford opens its SLC season Sept. 4 at home against Wilmot. In SLC competition the Wolverines play home games Sept. 25 against Westosha Central and Oct. 9 against Delavan-Darien.
The Sept. 25 contest against Central is Waterford’s Homecoming.
The Wolverines play SLC road games Sept. 11 at Burlington, Sept. 18 at Elkhorn, Oct. 2 at Union Grove and Oct. 16 at Lake Geneva Badger.
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