Matchups With Playoff Implications & the Key Players Involved
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With the regular season entering week 8, it’s time to see which teams are making final pushes to lock up a postseason berth. There are multiple ways that teams can lock up a spot in the playoffs, but today I…
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Continue ReadingWith the regular season entering week 8, it’s time to see which teams are making final pushes to lock up a postseason berth. There are multiple ways that teams can lock up a spot in the playoffs, but today I want to focus on the most common, and quickest way that teams can make it. That is by having a winning conference record. For most teams, that means winning four out of seven conference games. While going through the standings and week 8 matchups I came across five games where the winner earns a playoff berth, and the loser is faced with a must-win week 9 game. Those five matchups are what I want to dive into. We will list the key players from each team, and then take a look at the matchups that will have the most impact on the game. Let’s get it started!
Battles for Playoff Berths
Altoona (5-2, 3-2) vs Westby (4-3, 3-2) (Coulee)
Altoona Key Players | Westby Key Players |
Ben Kuenkel Ben Kuenkel 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Altoona | 2023 State WI , ’23 QB/ATH | Grant McCauley Grant McCauley 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Westby | 2022 State WI , ’22 WR/RB/OLB |
Colin Boyarski Colin Boyarski 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Altoona | 2023 State WI , ’23 RB/LB | Rhett Stenslien, ’24 RB/OLB |
Craig Ervin Craig Ervin 6'7" | 275 lbs | OL Altoona | 2022 State WI , ’22 OL/DL | Dillon Ellefson, ’22 QB |
Zavondre Cole, ’23 RB/DB | Blake Sutton, ’24 RB/DB |
Jackson Berg, ’24 RB/LB | Bo Milutnovich, ’23 WR/DB |
Thomas Tomesh, ’23 RB/LB | Dylan Nottestad, ’22 OL/DL |
Matchups to Watch:
Altoona OL vs Westby Front Seven
This matchup is going to be the biggest decider in the result of this game. Altoona relies heavily on their rushing attack to both control the game, and put the points up on the scoreboard. It’s no question as to why they go with this attack. They have a strong offensive line there ready to open up run lanes all game long led by senior Craig Ervin Craig Ervin 6'7" | 275 lbs | OL Altoona | 2022 State WI . The 6’6’’ 285 lbs OT and his teammates are going to have their work cut out for them against the Westby front seven. Especially with the talent they have coming off the edge. Senior Grant McCauley Grant McCauley 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Westby | 2022 State WI and sophomore Rhett Stenslien of Westby have put together very productive seasons as pass rushers and edge setters. Whoever sets the tone early, and can win the battle throughout the game will most likely decide who wins this game.
Westby OL vs Altoona Front Seven
Flip possession the other way and you get another key matchup. Westby is a team that is also going to look to win with the ground game led by OL Dylan Nottestad and do it all athletes Grant McCauley Grant McCauley 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Westby | 2022 State WI and Rhett Stenslien. They have been able to get the ground game going to the tune of 205 yards per week thus far into the season. It won’t be easy to hit those numbers this week as Altoona will field a very talented front seven led by LBs Thomas Tomesh, Jackson Berg, and Colin Boyarski Colin Boyarski 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Altoona | 2023 State WI . Also, add Craig Ervin Craig Ervin 6'7" | 275 lbs | OL Altoona | 2022 State WI along the DL and you get a group that will be ready to shut down running lanes. Whoever gains the upper hand between the two will put their team on the fast track to a win.
Which Run Game Can Control Time of Possession
Both of these teams are able to pile up the points on offense. In conference play alone, Altoona is putting up 27.6 PPG while Westby is posting 33.6 PPG. Due to the heavy amount of rushing I expect in this game, I don’t think the two teams will be able to get to those numbers. That’s why I believe whoever can control the time of possession battle will be able to lock up the playoff spot with a win. Big plays are always great to see, but whoever can string together long TD drives will be poised to leave this game winners.
Necedah (5-2, 3-2) vs Luther (4-3, 3-2) (Scenic Bluffs)
Necedah Key Players | Luther Key Players |
Landen Murphy, ’22 QB/DB | Dillon Yang, ’22 QB |
Mehki Baradji, ’22 RB/LB | Tanner Bass, ’23 RB/DB |
Stephen Daley, ’22 RB/LB | Josiah Larson, ’22 RB |
Josiah Hansen, ’22 TE/LB | Logan Bahr, ’24 TE |
Dominic Bohn, ’22 DL | Ethan Pralle, ’23 OL/DL |
Brandon Fuller, ’23 OL/DL | Gavin Proudfoot Gavin Proudfoot 6'7" | 230 lbs | DL Onalaska Luther | 2022 State WI , ’22 DL |
Matchups to Watch:
Necedah Balanced, Productive Offense vs Luther Run Focused, Time Control Offense
This is going to be an interesting battle of offensive styles. Necedah has one of the most productive and well balanced attacks not only in Division 6, but in the state. Through seven games they have posted over 1,000 rushing and passing yards, and double digit TDs on the ground and through the air. Luther, on the other hand, relies mostly on their rushing attack that has put up nearly 1,500 yards and 15 TDs led by dual threat QB Dillon Yang, and RBs Tanner Bass and Josiah Larson. Whichever team can establish their style of play from start to finish will be able to lock up the playoff berth. Necedah is going to look to pile up the points, while it seems like Luther will look to control the game and slow it down with that rushing attack.
Landen Murphy vs Luther Pass Defense
Landen has carved up defenses with his arm all season long. He has posted 153.3 passing yards per game for a total of 1,073 yards and 13 TDs while completing 63.6% of his passes! Landen will have his work cut out for him as he and his team look to lock up a playoff spot with a victory. Luther has a talented pass rusher in Gavin Proudfoot Gavin Proudfoot 6'7" | 230 lbs | DL Onalaska Luther | 2022 State WI who will be looking to pin his ears back and get after the Necedah QB. Luther also has defenders at the LB and DB positions that have been able to force turnovers with their coverage skills. Murphy’s ability to buy time, and get the ball out quick and accurately will have a huge impact on this game.
Luther OL vs Necedah Front Seven
The Luther OL is going to have a big task on their hands as they look to open up running lanes for their rushing attack. Junior Ethan Pralle leads the way for the Luther OL that has helped produce 205+ rushing yards per game this season. The line’s ability to not only win in the trenches, but get to the second level will have a major impact on the results of this game. Necedah will be fielding a deep front seven led by LBs Josiah Hansen, and Mehki Baradji and DL Brandon Fuller and Dominic Bohn. If Luther can get a hat on a hat and maintain their blocks then they should have the upper hand, but if these four can make themselves difficult to block then Necedah will be well on their way to a victory and the playoffs.
Monona Grove (5-2, 3-2) vs Portage (5-2, 3-2) (Badger- Small)
Monona Grove Key Players | Portage Key Players |
Tyler Dahlhauser Tyler Dahlhauser 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Monona Grove | 2022 State WI , ’22 DB/WR | Gavin Thompson, ’23 QB |
Grant Dahlhauser Grant Dahlhauser 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Monona Grove | 2022 State WI , ’22 DB/WR | Erik Brouette, ’22 RB |
Ty Hoier, ’22 WR/DB | Jordan Starr, ’22 RB |
Kody Cummings, ’22 QB/DB | Jaden Kikkert, ’22 WR |
Fabian Jackson, ’22 RB | Sam Horn, ’22 WR |
Cody Marron, ’22 DL | |
Kyle Rosemeyer, ’22 OL | |
Hayden Echols, ’22 OL |
Matchups To Watch:
Kody Cummings vs Portage Defense
It looks like Kody has taken over at QB over the last handful of games. In just those 4 games, Kody has produced 437 passing yards, and 4 TDs while completing 46.9 % of his passes. Cummings has done a great job of stepping up when his team needed him. Kody is also a threat on the ground as he currently sits as the team’s second leading rusher on the season with 202 yards and a score. He is going to be facing his toughest matchup yet as he takes on a Portage defense that only allows 93.1 passing yards per game, and has only given up 3 passing TDs on the season. This is going to be a matchup of strength vs strength. So, whoever can with this matchup will be well on their way to the postseason berth they are all after.
Portage Run Game vs Monona Grove Run Defense
On the other sideline, Portage is going to look to ground and pound their way to a victory. Senior RBs Erik Brouette and Jordan Starr are going to be the engines that make the Portage offense go. The two have combined for nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground through the first seven games of the season. They are going to have to be very quick and decisive with their decision making because the Monona Grove defense is going to be flying around. The Dahlhauser duo fly around every level of the defense, so you know they will be down around the line of scrimmage when they read run, and DL Cody Marron has wrecked havoc all season on the DL collecting 45 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 3 sacks. You can bet he will be in the Portage backfield. Keep an eye on this battle. Seems to be another strength vs strength matchup.
Monona Grove Aggressive Defense vs Portage Run Game
I mentioned this a bit in the above matchup, but it will be very interesting to watch how well Monona Grove does against the Portage run game because Monona Grove isn’t just a stout, hold the line defense. They have athletes that are going to be flying around trying to win with speed. The MG defensive unit has combined for 10 sacks and 34 TFLs. So, I’ll be interested to see if Portage attacks that aggressive, pin your ears back defense with misdirection and traps that allow MG to take themselves out of the play. I can’t wait to find out!
Winneconne (4-3, 3-2) vs Waupaca (3-3, 3-2) (Bay)
Winneconne Key Players | Waupaca Key Players |
Tyler Youngbauer, ’22 QB/DB | Dimitri Karabelas, ’22 LB/OL |
Ethan Mathe Ethan Mathe 5'7" | 185 lbs | RB Winneconne | 2024 State WI , ’24 RB | Evan Bogard, ’22 WR/DL |
Wyatt Thorpe, ’22 RB/DB | Luke Schwenn, ’22 QB |
Dawson Vanhandel, ’22 WR | Parker Krcmar, ’23 WR/DB |
Jimmy Keller Jimmy Keller 5'11" | 185 lbs | DL Winneconne | 2022 State WI , ’22 RB/LB | |
Ayden Hart, ’23 LB | |
Hampton Henderson Hampton Henderson 6'3" | 240 lbs | OL Valley Christian | 2024 WI , ’24 OL |
Matchups to Watch:
Ethan Mathe Ethan Mathe 5'7" | 185 lbs | RB Winneconne | 2024 State WI vs Waupaca Front Seven
The sophomore RB out of Winneconne has been a major factor in the success of the offense this season. The playmaker leads the team in rushing yards, receiving yards, and second on the team in TDs responsible for. That three down ability paired with 4.6 speed makes the 5’7″ 165 lbs back very difficult to contain. On the ground, Ethan has shown a good burst in short areas, and the natural instincts to always feel and find the running lanes. Through the air, Mathe is difficult for LBs to run with and in the open space he is very hard to corral and bring down. On the other side of the ball, Dimitri Karabelas and Evan Bogard will lead the way in the attempt to slow down the key contributor for Winneconne. It is going to be a tough battle as Waupaca has only allowed 89.2 rushing yards per game this season.
Tyler Youngbauer vs Waupaca Pass Defense
The other key player vs unit matchup is the Winneconne QB vs the Waupaca pass defense. I watched through Tyler’s highlights from this season, so far, and I was impressed with how quickly he gets the ball out of his hands and how decisive he is as a passer. The 6’1″ 200 lbs senior is also very good at buying time in the backfield. Not only does he move around and make defenders miss, but he can also play with physicality and break tackles before getting rid of the ball downfield. That athleticism and strength has allowed Tyler to be a dual threat and become the second leading rusher on the team. Tyler will have to be at his best on Friday because Waupaca has the tough run defense I mentioned above and they also only allow 70 yards passing a game.
Waupaca High Scoring Offense vs Winneconne’s Time Control Offense
Waupaca is going to look to get out early and then pour the points on quickly after that. Through 5 weeks of conference play, Waupaca has put up nearly 24 points per game. Winneconne, on the other hand, has posted just under 18 points per game in conference play. Both type of production has clearly had about the same success as both sit at 3-2 in the conference. So, whoever can play to their style the best throughout this game should leave with the win. If Waupaca can move the ball how they want to they should be able to win this matchup, but if Winneconne can come in and use their balanced attack to control the time of possession then I would tip the scales in their favor.
Boyceville (5-2, 3-2) vs Glenwood City (4-3, 3-2) (Dunn- St. Croix)
Boyceville Key Players | Glenwood City Key Players |
Sebastian Nielson, ’23 RB/LB | Max Janson, ’23 RB/LB |
Tyler Dormanen, ’22 RB/LB | Gabe Knops, ’23 RB/QB/LB |
Braden Roemhild, ’24 RB/DB | Brady McCarthy, ’22 WR/DB |
Caden Wold, ’24 WR/DB | Bryce Wickman, ’22 QB/DB |
Ira Bialzik, ’22 QB/DB | Brady Klatt, ’23 WR/LB |
Nick Olson, ’24 LB/RB |
Matchups To Watch:
Boyceville High Powered Rush Attack vs Glenwood City Front Seven
Boyceville is going to take to the ground early and often, and when you think they have ran as much as they could they will run it some more. It’s no surprise as to why they do this. They have the backs to get it done no matter who is on the field. Nielson, Dormanen, Roemhild, and Olson are all two- way impact players that tote the rock on the offensive side of the ball. Don’t let the depth fool you. Sebastian Nielson is the main key to the success on the ground. His 700+ yards, 8.5 average, and 12 TDs lead the way for rush attack that has nearly cracked 2,000 yards in the first seven games of the season. On the defense, junior LBs Max Janson and Brady Klatt are going to be flying around and filling gaps looking to shut down the powerful Boyceville run game. This is going to be the matchup of the night. Whoever wins here probably wins the game.
Can Boyceville Young Playmakers Continue to Step Up?
This is going to be the biggest game of the season for both teams. It will be very interesting to see how the young playmakers performance for Boyceville on the biggest stage. Boyceville relies on several juniors and sophomores to lead them to success. Their leading rusher and tackler is junior Sebastian Nielson. Their third leading rusher is sophomore Braden Roemhild. The team’s leading receiver is sophomore Caden Wold. The second leading tackler is sophomore Nick Olson. You love to see a team with this much young talent already fighting for playoff berths, but we are going to find out how well these kids can play in clutch situations and under the brightest lights on Friday night. It will be key for them to all play up to their potential.
Glenwood City Pass Offense vs Boyceville Pass Rush
Glenwood City has their own successful run game, but where they are different from Boyceville is they go to the air far more. Having that extra facet to the offensive attack could be the little extra bump that GC needs to come away with the win and playoff berth. QB Bryce Wickman leads the way with his 813 yards and 6 TDs in 7 games through the air. The senior signal caller also makes an impact as a DB, so you know he has the athleticism to hurt defenses with his legs just as much as his arm. Those legs are going to be key because the Boyceville pass rush is led by dominant edge rusher Tyler Dormanen. The senior has piled up 9 sacks, 9 TFLs, 1 FF, and 2 FRs in seven games. You can bet he is going to be coming in hot when GC drops back to pass. Dormanen will also be teaming up with Mason Bowell who has 3 sacks of his own to go along with 6 TFLs. Wickman will need to get rid of it quickly on Friday to avoid these two.