WAUSAU, Wis. (WXCO) – Chad Holmes takes a look and dives into details for some of the biggest match ups in football ahead this weekend.
We are down to the final two weeks of the high school football regular season and area teams are fighting for conference championships and berths in the postseason playoffs.
Wisconsin Valley/BRC-East:
Stevens Point (5-2 overall, 4-0 in conference)@D.C. Everest (5-2, 4-0)
The conference championship is likely on the line as the Panthers face the Evergreens. SPASH looks for a second straight league title behind QB Grant Chandonais, who ran for 100 yards and threw for 119 yards in last week’s win at Eau Claire North. Everest has had the top offense in the league this season and will bank on big night’s from QB Logan George (389 yards passing last week at Chippewa Falls) and RB Blake Bangston, who cracked the 1,000 yard mark on the season last week.
Wausau West (3-4, 2-3) @ Eau Claire Memorial (1-6, 1-3)
In a game that will air live on 98.9 WXCO, bullfallsradio.com and the Civic Media app, Wausau West will look to get back on the winning track and help their playoff hopes at Memorial. The Warriors have struggled the last two weeks in losses to SPASH and Marshfield with the offense only scoring 24 total points in the two games. Memorial comes into the game after earning their first win of the season last week, 30-22 at Wisconsin Rapids. The Old Abes have moved the ball fairly well on offense all season long but have struggled stopping opposing offenses.
Other games in the WVC/BRC-East:
Eau Claire North (2-5, 1-3) @ Marshfield (3-4, 3-1)
Wisconsin Rapids (0-7, 0-5) @ New Richmond (7-0, 5-0 BRC)
Great Northern Conference:
Wausau East (4-3, 3-2) @ Lakeland (4-3, 2-3)
After a last minute 16-14 win over Merrill last week, the Lumberjacks have a chance to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2012 with a win at Lakeland. The Lumberjacks have moved the ball through the air with QB Davis Winter (1107 yards passing w/ 13 TD’s this season) and on the ground with running back Iain Stahel (575 yards rushing this season). Defensively the Lumberjacks are led by Elmer Heard, who had a monster game last week with 17 tackles and 3.5 sacks. They face a Lakeland team that badly needs a win in their playoff push and comes off a big 36-33 win over Antigo last week.
Antigo (4-3, 2-3) @ Mosinee (5-2, 4-1)
Mosinee is one game back of Medford for first place in the GNC standings and will look for a win to keep their league title hopes alive before next week’s showdown vs. Medford. Mosinee used solid defense to beat Rhinelander 26-6 on the road last week. Treve Stoffel threw for 273 yards and 3 TD’s in the win. Brody Lokken was huge with 6 catches for 144 yards. Antigo needs a win to help their playoff hopes after seeing a late comeback come up short last week. QB Colton Thomae is the offensive spark for the Red Robins with 558 yards passing and 443 yards rushing on the season.
Tomahawk (2-5, 1-4) @ Merrill (4-3, 2-3)
On Saturday afternoon the Bluejays will try to bounce back from their last minute loss at Wausau East last week and move closer to the playoffs with a win. Merrill will welcome back QB Aiden Lonsdorf, who missed last week’s game. E.J. Weix ably stepped in at QB last week and continues to lead the Merrill defense and had 7 tackles and an interception last week.
Other GNC game this week:
Rhinelander (3-4, 1-4) @ Medford (6-1, 5-0)
CWC-Large:
Amherst (7-0, 5-0) @ Stratford (7-0, 5-0)
A battle of unbeatens for, likely, the CWC-Large title. Stratford has been dominant all season long, including a 49-0 win at Marathon last week. Jack Tubbs has put up big numbers recently at QB with more than 700 yards passing in the last three weeks and hitting on more than 75 percent of his passes in those games. Amherst comes in after a miracle win last week. The Falcons were set up to try a 38 yard game-winning field goal with 3 seconds left but saw the snap mishandled. Holder Michael Glodowski then threw a “Hail Mary” that was deflected and caught by Cannen Hodges to shock Weyauwega-Fremont 25-21.
Marathon (2-5, 1-4) @ Wittenberg-Birnamwood (5-2, 4-1)
In a game that will air live on the “Sports 2 Stream” of bullfallsradio.com and Civic Media app and on delay following the Wausau West game on 98.9 WXCO the Witt-Birn Chargers try to keep their slim conference title hopes alive vs. Marathon. The Red Raiders have battled injury and illness in losing their last four games. It won’t get any easier at Witt-Birn as the Chargers come off an impressive 42-20 win over Colby. QB Bryson Schmid was outstanding with 231 yards and 3 TD’s on the ground.
Other CWC-Large games:
Spencer/Columbus (2-5, 1-4) @ Colby (2-5, 2-3)
Weyauwega-Fremont (3-4, 2-3) @ Loyal/Greenwood (1-6, 0-5)
Marawood/CWC-Small:
Pacelli (2-4, 2-3) @ Edgar (6-1, 5-0)
Pacelli needs a win in their hopes of earning a playoff spot but face an Edgar team that has dominated the conference this season. Edgar had their toughest league battle last week in a 26-6 win over Iola-Scandinavia. Maverick Butt ran for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns and added a 50 yard punt return TD as well. Pacelli’s Bryce Flaker has been the engine for the Cardinals’ offense this season and comes off a 149 yard rushing effort last week in a 20-14 win over Rosholt.
Abbotsford (6-1, 4-1) @ Rosholt (1-6, 0-5)
Abbotsford lost for the first time this season last week 28-7 to Auburndale. The Falcons potent running game was slowed down in the loss and will look to bounce back vs. the Hornets. Christian Fuentes has run for nearly 800 yards this season to pace Abbotsford. Rosholt nearly ended a long conference losing streak last week but fell at Pacelli 20-14.
Other Marawood/CWC-Small games:
Pittsville (2-5, 2-3) @ Iola-Scandinavia (5-2, 3-2)
Auburndale (6-1, 4-1) @ Assumption (0-7, 0-5)
8-Player Football:
Tri County (5-1, 4-1) @ Newman Catholic (5-1, 4-1)
In a game that will air live on 98.9 WXCO, bullfallsradio.com and on the Civic Media app it’s a massive game for both teams in their battle for the playoffs. The winner keeps on track for a playoff spot while the loser is likely out. Newman comes off a big road win, 20-16 over Port Edwards last week. The Cardinals keep winning despite being forced to use four quarterbacks this season. Carson Rice threw for 172 yards and ran for 86 more last week.
Other 8-Player games:
Athens @ Rib Lake (Thursday)
Thorp @ McDonell
Lake Holcombe @ Gilman
Clayton @ Owen-Withee
