Demons, Toppers, Wolverines face stiff challenges
And then there were three.
After nearly three months of grueling hits, countless hours in the weight room and film room and plenty of raucous crowds, we’ve reached Week 11 of the 2014 high school football season.
Only 112 teams are left in the state, 16 from divisions 1-7.
In terms of area teams, three stand alone, and they are all located within Racine County.
Burlington, Waterford and Catholic Central are all in the second round of the WIAA playoffs for the first time in decades, and area football fans are reaping the benefits.
The stands were packed in the city last weekend, as droves of Topper and Demon supporters flooded the scene. They witnessed two very different games: Catholic Central got up on Shullsburg early and cruised to victory, while Burlington pulled off a dramatic one-point win.
As for Waterford, which traveled to South Milwaukee, the Wolverines rallied from a 14-0 deficit to upset the 8-1
Rockets, 21-14.
Playoff games only get harder as you advance, and this weekend will be no exception.
It’s safe to say that all three teams will kick off Friday night’s action as underdogs, as all three face higher seeds on the road.
While Burlington and Waterford are staying local with games in Greendale and Waukesha, respectively, the Toppers are traveling some 20 minutes east of Iowa to little Potosi.
Though all three are underdogs, all three have a good shot at winning.
As you will see in my predictions, all three will have steep obtacles to overcome.
Last week, I correctly predicted Waterford’s 21-14 win over South Milwaukee, the first time I’ve ever done that.
Also, shouts must go out to Elkhorn, Lake Geneva Badger, Big Foot and Williams Bay, who all fell in the first round last week.
Congrats on a great season. You made the playoffs, and not that many teams can stake that claim.
Without further adieu, let’s see if we can keep this thing rolling.
PREDICTIONS
Last week: 8-4
Season: 73-33
GAME OF THE WEEK
Waterford (7-3) at Waukesha West (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
It’s the battle of the Wolverines, part three.
In each of the last two years, the West Wolverines have ended the Waterford Wolverines’ season, in Waukesha.
This year promises to be a bit different.
Though West plays in the best conference in the state (Classic 8), knocked off defending Division 1 champ Arrowhead this season, and is a perfect 5-0 at home, there’s reason to believe Waterford can finally knock off the thorn in its side.
After a 20-point loss last year and only a two-point loss in 2012, Waterford is due to beat West. How many times can a team beat the same team in the playoffs?
West’s star rusher from a year ago, Elijah Fort, has graduated, and the team has relied on a committee approach similar to Waterford.
Jair Scott (547 yards) leads the rushing attack, and Matt Schneider has added 456 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Conor Blount has thrown for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns.
While West sees good defenses on a regular basis like Arrowhead, Catholic Memorial, Muskego and Mukwonago, Waterford’s ‘D’ ranks right up there.
“They’re very good, obviously a great program,” Bakken said. “They obviously have to be because of the conference they play in and the competition they play.”
Waterford senior and defensive leader Max Fisher said the team feels good heading into Friday.
“We match up pretty well,” he said Tuesday. “They are a similar size to South Milwaukee, so we feel good about this game.
“We have to go out there and play our game. We are coming together as a team and playing off each other’s strengths.”
Expect Dylan Malecki and Johnny McCormick to keep making a few big plays through the air.
Bakken would love a defensive slug fest, and it seems that’s where this one is headed.
Waterford has all the confidence in the world after overcoming a 14-0 deficit in the second half last week on the road.
Look for the boys in green to finally figure out West.
PREDICTION: Waterford 14, Waukesha West 10.
Burlington (6-4) at Greendale (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
It’s a classic David vs. Goliath battle, at least according to records, but these teams are more similar than you think.
Both have dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks. Burlington’s Brad Burling has passed for nearly 2,000 yards and rushed for almost 1,000.
The Panthers boast Josh Ringelberg, who has thrown for 2,000 yards and ran for more than 500. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior has received offers from D2 schools and interest from D1 programs like Iowa State and Northern Illinois along with a host of others.
Keep in mind Burlington is 4-0 on the road and averages a whopping 38 points per game.
Both teams pass and run for around 200 yards per game, but Burlington (179 rushing per game) runs for a bit more yardage than Greendale (162).
The X-factor here could be Hunter Melby. The senior running back has 683 yards this season and takes some pressure off Burling. Greendale counters with Angel Ramirez, who is the team’s second-leading rusher with 588 yards.
Burlington will be ready for this game, no doubt.
“We have been studying film and preparing ourselves this whole week, and we feel that we have the heart, talent and determination to win,” said senior offensive lineman Ryan Simenson.
Fellow lineman Kyle Reinke seconded that sentiment.
“We believe we can beat anyone, and we have to play our best game,” he said. “We have beaten so many odds this year and we haven’t played our best yet. We will be excited and ready Friday.”
I anticipate the Demons to come out of the gates strong and a high-scoring affair.
It will come down to a battle of wills and who wants it more. While the Demons are confident they can beat anyone, Greendale is coming off a four-point loss in last year’s state championship game.
Most of their players are back this year, and that determination to win will eventually overcome Burlington.
Expect a shootout between Burling and Ringelberg, two of the best in the state. Get our your popcorn, fans, you won’t want to miss this one.
PREDICTION: Greendale 49, Burlington 42
Catholic Central (8-2) at Potosi (9-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.
Is it possible to get bus lag? You know, like jet lag?
That’s a risk the Toppers run because they’ll step on the field Saturday after a three-hour drive nearly to Iowa.
So much for Saturday morning cartoons.
Potosi dispatched Williams Bay by 20 points last week, and the Toppers also picked up an easy win.
Catholic Central leading rusher Cole Kresken, who has amassed 1,092 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, left last week’s game with a knee injury. However, he will play with a brace Saturday and is psyched.
“It’s going to take perfection and discipline to win Saturday,” he said. “We are both good, but it will come down to who’s playing better. I’m confident in the team to play together and leave it all on the field.”
The Toppers bent but didn’t break in a win last week over Six Rivers Conference opponent Shullsburg, a team Potosi beat by only eight points.
But the Six Rivers champs will be very difficult to beat. The team runs for nearly 300 yards per game.
Teagan Friederick, a 6-foot, 180-pound junior, has ran for 1,234 yards on the season.
Also, Potosi throws for nearly 160 yards per game compared to Catholic Central’s Ben Heiligenthal.
But while Potosi is snacking on guppies all season in the Six Rivers, the Toppers swim with sharks like Lake Country Lutheran and Racine St. Cat’s. The Toppers must play better defensively, according to Coach Tom Aldrich.
“Defensively, you have to get better every game,” he said. “Teams are plotting and figuring out how to expose your weaknesses. When you get to the playoffs, you’ve got to be able to play defense. That’s an area we need to improve on from our last game.”
Catholic Central’s line can out-physical any team in Division 7, and with weapons like Kresken, Heiligenthal, Jeff Stemper and Spencer Wilker, I like the Toppers on the road.
With tons of playoff experience, Aldrich will make the right adjustments on both sides of the ball.
PREDICTION: Catholic Central 28, Potosi 24
Other area picks
Muskego 19, Mukwonago 17
Franklin 35, Oak Creek 30
-
-
-
-
-