WEEK 5
FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS
Last week: 3-2
Season: 13-8
GAME OF THE WEEK
Lake Geneva Badger (4-0, 2-0) at Delavan-Darien (3-1, 2-0 SLC), Friday, 7 p.m.
Normally, you don’t want to fall victim to the moment, but oh what a moment last Friday was for the Delavan-Darien offense.
Quarterback Jake Benzing passed for six touchdowns and accounted for 375 rushing and passing yards (252 pass, 126 rush).
The Comets put up a stunning 493 yards and 51 points.
Ryan Gengler added 80 yards on the ground, and Ethan Cesarz, Seth Kirsch and Mike Alder added touchdowns in the air.
Badger got back to its smashmouth ways with a convincing win over Westosha Central.
Mason Dumez leads an offense that runs for 324 yards per game, and Ryan Sproul has emerged in the passing game.
But I watched offensive brilliance, maybe even nirvana, from the Comets, and something tells me the fact Delavan has scored 71 points in the last 60 minutes isn’t a fluke.
The conventional pick is Badger, a team consistently shares the SLC conference championship, but predictions are supposed to be risky.
PREDICTION: Delavan-Darien 31, Lake Geneva Badger 28
Greendale Martin Luther (3-1) at Burlington Catholic Central (1-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
I can’t imagine the Hilltoppers starting a season 0-3 at the Topper Bowl, no matter how much the offense seems out of sync due to inexperience and tough opponents.
The Toppers defense brings its lunch pail every Friday.
Look for Chad Zirbel to look for big-play receiver Cole Pankau downfield to open things up. Aaron Rueber has been running hard and leading the Topper offense.
Catholic Central scored six points in a loss at Dominican last week, and I see them coming out with fire from the opening kickoff.
PREDICTION: Catholic Central 24, Martin Luther 17
Union Grove (3-1) at Wilmot (4-0), Friday, 7
What looks like an even matchup on paper doesn’t tell the whole story.
The Broncos are reeling after Delavan provided a 51-20 beatdown last week, as the Grove was exposed on defense and on offense.
All-world Grove signal-caller Matt Nelson will need some help at Frank Bucci Field, one of the most loud, hostile environments in the state.
The Panthers are the most complete, dynamic team in the Southern Lakes Conference right now.
They racked up 283 yards and only allowed 155 in a 30-6 win over Elkhorn last week.
Robert Brent, A.J. Frisby and Jake Raiman provide a three-headed monster out of the backfield, and athletes are flying to the football all over the defense.
PREDICTION: Wilmot 38, Union Grove 28
Burlington (1-3, 0-2) at Westosha Central (1-3, 0-2)
Both teams suffered blowout losses last week.
Both are hungry to remain alive in the playoff race.
Last year, the Demons came into Paddock Lake and dominated in the pouring rain.
This year won’t be exactly the same, but quarterback Nick Klug is due to break out.
A game Falcons squad will step up for a hotly-contested battle, but Burlington has too many weapons on both sides of the ball.
PREDICTION: Burlington 24, Westosha Central 22
Elkhorn (1-3) at Waterford (3-1)
Last week, the run-happy Panthers moved the ball up and down the field on the Elks.
This week, I expect more of the same from Waterford, which saw something click in last week’s televised shellacking of Burlington.
Ben Michalowski and Jared Krattiger are set for big days, and Elkhorn keeps searching for answers.
PREDICTION: Waterford 29, Elkhorn 8
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