With just three weeks left in the high school football regular season, things are heating up! Time is running out for teams to solidify their spot at the top of the conference, and for some teams it’s now or never. There are some HUGE match ups this week that have massive conference implications.
Capitol Conference: Colombus vs. Lodi
Colombus is facing a gauntlet these next two weeks. They’re a perfect 6-0 on the season, but many would argue their two toughest matches have yet to come. Lodi is also a perfect 6-0, but they have handed Lakeside Lutheran their only conference loss. Both Colombus and Lodi come in at 4-0 in the Captiol with Lakeside Lutheran sitting close behind at 3-1. A win for Lodi gives them the best chance to win the conference, but that’s easier said than done.
Last season, Lodi was blown out by this Colombus squad, 40-7. Mason Lane (Lodi) and Colton Brunnell (Colombus) will need to be on their A-Game in the running battle, but watch out for Colombus’s quarterback, Nathan Cotter. Cotter enters game seven with an astonishing 80.3% completion percentage (53/66) with 13TD’s and just one interception.
Cloverbelt Conference: Mondovi vs. Regis
The Cloverbelt conference is in the same situation as the Capitol. Both Mondovi and Regis come in with 4-0 conference records with Durand-Arkansaw close behind at 3-1. Regis handed Durand-Arkansaw their lone conference loss, and will face Mondovi on October 14th. If Mondovi hands Regis a loss and Durand-Arkansaw wins out, they would be able to clinch the conference.
Mondovi is an absolute powerhouse as they have yet to allow more than 14 points in a game. From August 26th to September 16th, Mondovi only allowed 14 points. You think that’s impressive? Look at Regis. Regis has scored 40+ points in all but one of their six wins, and they have yet to allow double digit points. The most Regis has allowed this season is seven, which was put up by the aforementioned Durand. Regis did win the head to head battle against Mondovi last season, 28-20, where they made it all the way to Level 4 of the playoffs before losing to Coleman 28-22.
Dairland Conference: Blair-Taylor vs. Pepin/Alma
The Dairyland conference is still heavily up in the air. Blair-Taylor, Cochrane-Fountain City, and Pepin/Alma are all cruising with 4-0 conference records. This Friday will see one of those zero’s disappear. All eyes are on the Blair-Taylor vs. Pepin/Alma matchup, one that without a doubt will deliver. Pepin/Alma blew out Blair-Taylor last season, 37-8. A lot can happen in this conference as the top three teams have yet to play one another. Next week, Blair-Taylor will be heading to Cochrane-Fountain City.
Blair-Taylor has the unbelievable task of playing both Pepin/Alma and Cochrane-Fountain City on the road. If they are able to defeat both of them, there’s no debate that they deserve to win the conference. Cochrane-Fountain City has a winnable matchup against Augusta this week, but finishes their season hosting Blair-Taylor and then Pepin/Alma.
FRCC-South Conference: Menasha vs. Notre Dame
This is a revenge game for Notre Dame. Notre Dame lost 43-21 last season to a Menasha team that made it all the way to level 4 of the playoffs. Notre Dame was just a game above five hundred that year, and a loss to Menasha would put them at 4-3 overall this season. Sheboygan North is just one game below Menasha and Notre Dame in the standings, however, Notre Dame didn’t break a sweat when they crushed them 35-7. Menasha’s only loss on the season comes to Division 1 Neenah, a top ranked team that is two divisions above Menasha.
Menasha doesn’t clinch with a win over Notre Dame as they still have to face Sheboygan North next week. That said, seeing what Notre Dame did to Sheboygan North, a win for Menasha over Notre Dame nearly guarantees the FRCC South once again is in the hands of Menasha.
Heart O’North Conference: Cumberland vs. Northwestern
Northwestern has only allowed 31 points in their four conference battles. 28 of those 31 points came against Saint Croix Falls, a team sitting at 3-1, just one game behind both Cumberland and Northwestern. Cumberland’s only loss of the season is a non-conference, low scoring affair (14-8) to Ladysmith.
The schedule is against Cumberland these next two weeks, but it’s their conference to lose. Cumberland gets to host Northwestern this Friday before they head to Saint Croix Falls next week. If you want to use last season to compare, Cumberland smoked Saint Croix Falls 42-6 but was blown out by Northwestern in the final week of the season, 56-30.
Metro Classic Conference: Martin Luther vs. University School
Similar to the Dairyland conference, the Metro Classic could lie in the hands of three teams. Martin Luther, Racine St. Catherine’s, and University School all remain 4-0. Looking at the schedule, it seems to favor Martin Luther. Martin Luther gets to host both University School and Racine St. Catherine’s. That said, they play them in back to back weeks. After University School this Friday, Martin Luther must prepare for the other undefeated team, Racine St. Catherine’s.
On paper, next week’s matchup will be the best of the best. Both Martin Luther and Racine St. Catherine’s have allowed only 26 points in their four conference matchups. Combined, those 52 points allowed are less than what University School has given up (70). Racine St. Catherine’s draws Lake Country Lutheran this Friday, then finishes their season on the road at Martin Luther and at home against University School.
North Eastern Conference: Freedom vs. Little Chute
Finally, more than one team is 3-1 with two 4-0 juggernauts at the top. The North Eastern Conference has Wrightstown and Fox Valley Lutheran at 3-1 with Freedom and Little Chute at 4-0. Fox Valley Lutheran’s lone loss of the season came last week at the hands of Little Chute, 33-7. Two weeks ago, Wrightstown was handed their only loss of the season, 42-7 at Freedom. This Friday will eliminate one of those two teams as the two 3-1 squads will battle it out.
Fox Valley Lutheran gets the advantage of hosting Wrightstown, however, all eyes are on the two top dogs in the conference. Both Little Chute and Freedom are a perfect 6-0 overall, and it’s time for one to face defeat. Even though Little Chute gets to host Freedom, they still have to travel to Wrightstown next Friday. A Fox Valley Lutheran victory over Wrightstown this Friday will make Little Chute’s matchup next Friday less scary. Freedom gets to host Fox Valley Lutheran in the final week of the season, a game that could possibly decide the conference.
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