By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
Arrive early tonight if you plan on watching two of the best football teams in the Southern Lakes Conference trade body blows for a shot at the title.
Waterford Union High School coach Adam Bakken said tonight’s game at home against Badger might be over in 90 minutes given each squad’s love of running the football.
The Wolverines are playing tonight for a share of the SLC title for a sixth straight season by virtue of their 41-6 rout Oct. 7 against the Comets in a SLC game at Delavan-Darien High School.
If Waterford (7-1, 5-1 SLC) beats Badger (8-0, 6-0 SLC), the Wolverines will share the conference title with the Badgers and possibly Wilmot, which would need a win and a Waterford win to share the crown.
Waterford lost to Wilmot (7-1, 5-1 SLC) 10-7 Sept. 2 in a SLC game at Wilmot. Badger beat Wilmot 27-21 Sept. 23 at Badger.
Waterford is ranked ninth in Division 2 in the most recent WisSports.net Coaches Poll. Badger is ranked fifth in Division 1 in the same poll.
The Wolverines put away the Comets (5-3, 4-2 SLC) with a 21-point second quarter.
Waterford led 7-0 at the start of the second quarter after a one-yard touchdown run by Ben Michalowski in the first quarter.
Michalowski rushed for another one-yard score in the second quarter. Jared Krattiger and Anthony Miller also scored on one-yard runs in the second quarter and Waterford led 28-6 at halftime.
Dan Noll scored for the Wolverines’ defense when he returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Michalowski scored on a three-yard run later in the third quarter for the final margin of 41-6.
The Comets scored their only touchdown on a 75-yard kickoff return by Ethan Cesarz in the second quarter. The two-point conversion failed.
Bakken said the Wolverines played the Comets and Union Grove in consecutive weeks and did not allow big plays to either pass-happy team.
“I think secondary-wise, we’re playing very well,” Bakken said. “To go against Union Grove and Delavan, both pass-first teams, and we haven’t given up the big play – it’s starting with pressure up front.”
The wrinkle to come from the game against the Comets is Waterford’s ability to throw the ball. Matt Korman completed 8 of 11 passes for 174 yards. Aaron Chapman caught six balls for 144 yards and Michalowski caught two for 30 yards.
Bakken said Waterford worked to isolate Chapman outside, and the wide receiver caught whatever came his way.
“Matt put the ball where it needed to be,” Bakken said. “I think it kind of caught them off-guard a little bit. We haven’t shown that, or been successful doing that, this year.”
Football purists will likely relish this evening’s matchup between the Badgers and Wolverines. Running and defense will be the order of the day.
“You’re going to have to put on your big boy pants,” Bakken said. “It’s going to be a good game – a good, physical game.”
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