Menasha (5-3) at Fond du Lac (5-3)

The season has come to this – two 5-3 teams battling for playoff position. The winner will almost certainly earn third place in the FVA, as the other 5-3 team, Oshkosh North, plays Kimberly on the road.

Coming off a big victory vs. Kaukauna, the Cardinals have won three of their last four and will look to close the regular season with a ‘W’ at home. Menasha, who was riding a nearly month-long, four game winning streak, lost last week to Oshkosh West.

Fondy’s two workhorses – senior quarterback Tucker Reimer and junior running back Miles Groeschel – combined for 276 yards rushing and four TD’s last week. Through eight weeks, Groeschel is nearing 1000 rushing yards on the season.

For the Blue Jays, a bundle of solid athletes threaten the tough Fondy defense this week.  Running backs Caleb Belknap and Blake Lornson along with quarterback Luke Smith and receivers Bryson Womble and Dan Burroughs will give the Cardinals a balanced attack of both run and pass.

The defense for both teams has remained solid all year – giving up the same amount of points through eight games. Fondy’s offense, however, holds a seven point edge offensively on the Blue Jays.

I predict a seven-point victory for the Cardinals in a tight regular season finale.

Oshkosh North (5-3) at Kimberly (7-1)

Led by running back Zach Guckenberger’s three touchdowns in the first half, the Papermakers trounced Appleton East last week 47-6.  Quarterback Mitch Hintz barely had to do anything behind center, but should expect different this week against a hungry Spartan defense.

On the other hand, running back Isaiah Gray better look out for himself as well. Only accounting for 68 yards against a mediocre Neenah defense, Gray might have a hard time getting open field through the trenches this week. Kimberly boasts Iowa commit Mike Hardy on the defensive line and first-team All-FVA safety Colten Heagle.

Oshkosh North is fighting for playoff position and third place in the FVA. Kimberly is looking forward to a #1 seed in the Division 2 playoff bracket, and will need help from Appleton East in order to clinch a share of the FVA title.

Look for a low score in the first half, but for Kimberly to pick up the pace in the second half on their way to a nearly perfect, 8-1 season.

Prediction: Kimberly 34, Oshkosh North 13

 

Kaukauna (0-8) at Oshkosh West (4-4)

Both these teams are fighting for something. Oshkosh West is fighting for a playoff berth and Kaukauna is simply fighting for pride – nobody wants to go winless. The Ghosts will have a really hard time, however, as they walk into Titan Stadium facing one of the state’s best passing teams. If they’re lucky, they could get into a shootout with the Wildcats. While West’s offense is arguably the best in the conference, their defense is horrendous. However, Kaukauna’s defense is just as bad, if not worse.

Quarterback Trey Demler should be able to pick apart and control the defense, as if there were actual “ghosts” on the field. This one won’t even be close in what should be an easy, playoff-clinching victory for Oshkosh West.

Prediction: Oshkosh West 34, Kaukauna 7

 

Appleton West (1-7) at Neenah (1-7)

Two of the worst offenses in the conference will face off in another battle for pride Wednesday night. This game could turn into an exciting shootout, or a dull struggle to put points on the board. Neenah has the second worst offense and West has the second worst defense. In what has been a very frustrating and disappointing two years for Neenah has been double that at Appleton West. The terrors have only one winning season in the last eight seasons – an 8-3 campaign in 2004. Neenah, who went without a win last season, will look to gain some ground in rebuilding their program.

Both schools feature talented running backs – Willie Resop for West and Aaron Armstrong for Neenah. However, it has been impossible for these teams to build a strong team around these two stars.

Only one team will finish the season with two wins. Which one will it be?

Prediction: Appleton West 14, Neenah 6

 

Appleton North (8-0) at Appleton East (4-4) – GAME OF THE WEEK

Right now, I bet the Appleton East Patriots are wishing they would’ve won that homecoming game a couple weeks ago. After starting the season 4-2, East was just one win away from clinching a playoff berth. But after losing to the Fond du Lac Cardinals on a last second field goal, the Patriots found themselves in a very bad situation. They had two games left to get one victory. Sounds simple enough…right? Wrong. The Patriots looked at their schedule and found defending Divison 2 champion Kimberly and undefeated Appleton North left to play. Yikes!

The Pats were annihilated last week against Kimberly, 47-6, and must regroup to face the still undefeated Lightning. The Patriots could make this week a very miraculous one, or a very disappointing one. The play of senior quarterback Erik Schroeder will be key on whether or not East can upset North.

Appleton North surely will not lie down for the Patriots, either. The Lightning are fighting for a perfect regular season, sole ownership of the FVA title, and a #1 seed in the playoffs. Expect running back Steve Lichtfuss to grind out at least 200 yards on the ground and the Appleton North Lightning to finish the regular season perfect.

Prediction: Appleton North 36, Appleton East 6