Stateline Preps: Football Power Rankings (Week 6)
It’s finally here and I’m not talking about Christmas!
But, I guess you could say for any prep football fan seeking a good, challenging game (me), then it might be the closest thing to Christmas.
The battle between state-ranked teams will happen on Friday night when Brodhead-Juda travels to Walworth to take on Big Foot.
To quote Hank Williams Jr., “Are you ready for some football?!?”
This is without a doubt the biggest game of the year in the Stateline as not only will one team likely move up in the WIAA Medium Division rankings but will likely win the Rock Valley South conference.
Big Foot won a 7-6 thriller last year with defense — surprise — being the deciding factor. Neither Mike Walker or Ethan Douglas could get going much last year and I would expect the same on Friday night.
It could come down to quarterbacks Steve Dowden (Big Foot) and David Earleywine that decide the game. Who knows?
All I do know is that it is the biggest game of the year and if you have a chance to go to Walworth, then I wouldn’t miss it, if I were you.
Now, on to the power rankings!
(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)
1. BIG FOOT (6-0): The Chiefs netted an easy 42-0 tuneup victory over Beloit Turner last week. Big Foot’s defense looked up to its usual best, limiting the Trojans to 32 yards of offense including 1 yard per carry. Turner didn’t complete a pass and running back A.J. Bernstein was held to 28 yards on 21 attempts. Pretty darn dominating. Jordan Gottman spelled Mike Walker with 69 yards on 7 carries and Alec McGreevy hauled in another TD pass to lead the Chiefs’ ‘O.’ NEXT: Friday vs. Brodhead-Juda, 7 p.m. Last week’s ranking: No. 1.
2. BRODHEAD-JUDA (6-0): If there is a better rushing game in Wisconsin, I’d like to know. Brodhead-Juda makes 400-yard rushing games seem ordinary. The Cardinals racked up 474 more on the ground in their 61-18 romp over Clinton. Ethan Douglas scored four touchdowns — three on the Cardinals’ first three drives. Brodhead-Juda had three players rush for 100 yards or more including Douglas (11 for 150), Brayden Fritsch (10 for 125) and Devin Seitz (3 for 105). NEXT: Friday at Big Foot, 7 p.m. Last week’s ranking: No. 2.
3. HONONEGAH (5-1): A week after an embarrassing 26-7 loss to Harlem, Hononegah’s defense showed up in a big way in Friday night’s 34-7 triumph over Rockford Guilford. The Indians held speedy Tim Hill to zero yards on 9 carries and were constantly in Guilford’s backfield. When they weren’t stuffing the run, the Indians’ pass defense stepped up including a 58-yard interception return for a TD by Kyle Freeman that turned the game around in the third quarter. NEXT: Friday at Freeport, 7:15 p.m. Last week’s ranking: No. 3.
4. PARKVIEW (4-2): Parkview’s playoff hopes took a bit of a blow in the Vikings’ 28-14 loss to Palmyra-Eagle. It figured to be a close battle with each team neck-and-neck in the RV South, but it was the Panthers who dominated. Palmyra-Eagle led 13-0 going into the fourth quarter before tacking on two more TDs. Parkview didn’t have an answer for Palmyra-Eagle RB Luke Berglund (10 carries for 125 yards). Parkview’s Caleb Fakes was shut down (38 yards on 14 rushes) and Nick Melton struggled some (7-for-20, 125 yards INT). NEXT: Friday vs. Clinton, 7 p.m. Last week’s ranking: No. 4.
5. NORTH BOONE (4-2): As long as the Vikings have the Albrechts, they’ll always have a chance. The proof was in Friday’s 27-22 win over Marengo. No TD might have been bigger than when QB Alex Albrecht hooked up with Jon Albrecht for a 92-yard pass in the third quarter, extending North Boone’s lead to 27-15. The Vikings evened their record in the Big Northern East and look playoff bound. NEXT: Friday vs. Hampshire, 7:15 p.m. Last week’s ranking: unranked.
STAR SYSTEM
(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 6).
1. THE BRODHEAD-JUDA GROUND GAME — Any time when you have three players rush for 105 yards or more, you’re doing something special on the ground. While some of the credit goes to Ethan Douglas, Brayden Fritch and Devin Seitz, the offensive line probably deserves most of the accolades. They have made running the ball a success with such ease.
2. ALEX ALBRECHT (NORTH BOONE) — It had been rough sledding as of late for the North Boone QB, but he apparently found his mojo on Friday. Albrecht had a hand in all four of the Vikings’ TDs, rushing for 142 yards on 15 carries, while throwing for 274 more.
3. JON ALBRECHT (NORTH BOONE) — See No. 2 Alex Albrecht. Oh yeah, he had 12 catches for 260 yards and three TDs. Gotta love your brother!
4. KYLE FREEMAN (HONONEGAH) — Freeman has turned in to the Mike Brown of defensive backs at Hononegah. When he makes an interception, you can bet it’ll be a touchdown. A lot of the credit on Freeman’s INT goes to defensive lineman Rick Armstrong for getting in Cody Bell’s grill, but it was Freeman who did the rest, taking it 58 yards for his second TD off an INT this season. It was also the biggest play in Friday’s game — by far.
5. AARON ROTH (CLINTON) — This is the first
The Brodhead-Juda defense has stymied everyone this season. Will the Cardinals keep it up on Friday against Big Foot?
time a Cougar has been honored in Stateline Preps and for good reason. The Clinton QB had a solid night against Brodhead-Juda, passing for 251 yards, including 2 TD passes.
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