It's hard to believe that after this week the high school football regular season will be more than halfway in the books. Last week, sports reporter Mark Nesbitt went 8-1 with his picks and sports editor Adam Krebs went 7-2. Mark is now 22-7 on the season and Adam is 18-11. This is the first week that every area team will be playing conference games. There are several key conference games.
Monroe (0-4) at Stoughton (1-3)
Mark: The last time the Cheesemakers played Stoughton, they didn't even attempt a pass and Dylan Schwitz rushed for 228 yards and Jon Becker rushed for 133 yards in a 35-10 win last year. The Cheesemakers have had success against the Vikings beating them in two of the last three meetings. Monroe probably had the toughest four-game start the season. Only time will tell whether that prepared them for the rest of the Badger South Conference schedule.
Pick: Monroe
Adam: The Cheesemakers showed a mountain of improvement last week. Will it be enough to win their first game? I can easily be swayed either way, but I miss the days of winning football in Monroe.
Pick: Da Cheese
Marshall (3-1) at New Glarus-Monticello (2-2)
Mark: After two rough Capitol Conference crossover games where the Glarner Knights were shut out, the first conference game against Marshall also brings a challenge. Marshall has two shutouts this year and is giving up just 8.5 points per game.
Pick: Marshall
Adam: The Cardinals have played an impressive early season schedule and have made it out 3-1, with the lone loss (28-20) at the hands of a ranked Jefferson team. NGM win a few more games this year, but this won't be one.
Pick: "We Are(n't) Marshall!"
Black Hawk (3-1) at Belmont (2-2)
Mark: The high powered Warriors' offense is averaging 40.2 points per game. Black Hawk quarterback Merik Meythaler has 754 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Black Hawk wide receiver Hayden Schliem has been a big playmaker for the Warriors with 13 receptions for 328 yards (25.2 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.
Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: No doubt Black Hawk is the surprise team of the area this small. Belmont by itself is also a wild card, especially at home mid-season. But I like the way Merik Meythaler has been moving the offense these past few weeks. That's why I keep voting for them in the AP Poll.
Pick: Wayne Township Warriors
Pecatonica-Argyle (2-2) at Potosi (4-0)
Mark: Potosi's Six Rivers Conference winning streak is at 21 games and counting. The Vikings haven't played their best game yet in all phases. Pecatonica-Argyle does have the balanced offense that could challenge the Chieftains. Call me crazy, but I like the Vikings in an upset.
Pick: Pecatonica-Argyle
Adam: The Vikings have played four very different games and could easily be 3-1.
Potosi will be the biggest challenge yet to see if Pec-Argyle has what it takes to be a potential playoff big shot.
Pick: Chieftains
Brodhead-Juda (2-2) at Parkview (2-2)
Mark: The Cardinals gave up more than 500 total yards to Evansville in a 35-29 win last week. Brodhead-Juda will have to tighten up that defense. The Cardinals should be able to bottle up Parkview.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: Both the Cardinals and the Vikings share an overall record, but one team has beaten better opponents, and lost to better opponents. A year ago it was back-to-back wins over Evansville and Parkview that started Brodhead's run to state. Will lightning strike twice?
Pick: Cards
Darlington (2-2) at Boscobel (0-4)
Mark: The Redbirds have won 13 straight SWAL Conference games and are looking to remain unbeaten in conference this year before showdowns with Mineral Point (3-1) and Cuba City (4-0) that will likely determine the champion. The Bulldogs have lost nine straight games dating back to last year and it's been more than 10 years since they have had a winning season.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: Darlington has benefited from back-to-back home games after a tough 0-2 start to the season. Lucky for the Redbirds' Boscobel is treated like a pushover in southwestern Wisconsin. Darlington will be in a strong position to qualify for the postseason.
Pick: Da Birds
Waterloo (1-3) at Belleville-Albany (0-4)
Mark: The Wildcats have been shut out in three straight games as they are besieged by injuries. There is a learning curve when a team is playing with nine new starters. Belleville-Albany quarterback Joey Beil is getting some valuable experience that will pay off.
Pick: Waterloo
Adam: The Wildcats are pretty beat up this year. Even though Waterloo isn't having the strong seasons of the past doesn't necessarily open the door for a team clogging up the sports clinic's lobby to score it's first win.
Pick: Pirates
Wisconsin (2-0) vs. Northern Illinois (1-1) at Soldier Field
Mark: The Badgers game this week will not be broadcast on TV in the traditional sense for the first time since Oct. 7, 2006 when UW played Northwestern.
The game will be on the radio and streamed live on ESPN3, an online-only channel. The reunion between Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and former defensive coordinator Dave Doeren makes for a great storyline. There will be plenty of holes for the Badgers to attack in the Huskies' defense. The Huskies' defense is giving up 278 rushing yards per game and 193.5 passing yards per game. It's pick your poison for the Badgers.
Pick: Badgers
Adam: If anyone could seriously pick NIU to beat the Badgers, regardless if it was at Soldier Field, Candlestick Park, Yellowstone Park or a sandlot, they would need to be ordered for a mental health check. Wisconsin will not lose this game. The real question is, do they win by 50?
Pick: Badgers
Packers (1-0) at Panthers (0-1)
Mark: Cam Newton passed for an NFL debut record 422 yards last week against the Cardinals. The Packers' defense looked vulnerable in a 42-34 win over the Saints. However, Newton is no Drew Brees and the Packers secondary is not the Cardinals. It will be a long day for Newton.
Pick: Packers
Adam: The Packers played a gunslinger in Week 1 against a true Super Bowl contender in New Orleans. The Panthers have rookie QB and former Heisman winner Scam - cough, cough, I mean Cam - Newton, who threw for over 420 yards in his pro debut in a loss. If he throws for 150 against Green Bay, call me impressed. My guess is the Claymaker and/or Raji will make him cry on his way home, humming
"War Eagle" while sitting by a window sill in the rain, shaking. Yeah, I don't like Cam (or his father) very much.
Pick: Packers
Monroe (0-4) at Stoughton (1-3)
Mark: The last time the Cheesemakers played Stoughton, they didn't even attempt a pass and Dylan Schwitz rushed for 228 yards and Jon Becker rushed for 133 yards in a 35-10 win last year. The Cheesemakers have had success against the Vikings beating them in two of the last three meetings. Monroe probably had the toughest four-game start the season. Only time will tell whether that prepared them for the rest of the Badger South Conference schedule.
Pick: Monroe
Adam: The Cheesemakers showed a mountain of improvement last week. Will it be enough to win their first game? I can easily be swayed either way, but I miss the days of winning football in Monroe.
Pick: Da Cheese
Marshall (3-1) at New Glarus-Monticello (2-2)
Mark: After two rough Capitol Conference crossover games where the Glarner Knights were shut out, the first conference game against Marshall also brings a challenge. Marshall has two shutouts this year and is giving up just 8.5 points per game.
Pick: Marshall
Adam: The Cardinals have played an impressive early season schedule and have made it out 3-1, with the lone loss (28-20) at the hands of a ranked Jefferson team. NGM win a few more games this year, but this won't be one.
Pick: "We Are(n't) Marshall!"
Black Hawk (3-1) at Belmont (2-2)
Mark: The high powered Warriors' offense is averaging 40.2 points per game. Black Hawk quarterback Merik Meythaler has 754 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Black Hawk wide receiver Hayden Schliem has been a big playmaker for the Warriors with 13 receptions for 328 yards (25.2 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.
Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: No doubt Black Hawk is the surprise team of the area this small. Belmont by itself is also a wild card, especially at home mid-season. But I like the way Merik Meythaler has been moving the offense these past few weeks. That's why I keep voting for them in the AP Poll.
Pick: Wayne Township Warriors
Pecatonica-Argyle (2-2) at Potosi (4-0)
Mark: Potosi's Six Rivers Conference winning streak is at 21 games and counting. The Vikings haven't played their best game yet in all phases. Pecatonica-Argyle does have the balanced offense that could challenge the Chieftains. Call me crazy, but I like the Vikings in an upset.
Pick: Pecatonica-Argyle
Adam: The Vikings have played four very different games and could easily be 3-1.
Potosi will be the biggest challenge yet to see if Pec-Argyle has what it takes to be a potential playoff big shot.
Pick: Chieftains
Brodhead-Juda (2-2) at Parkview (2-2)
Mark: The Cardinals gave up more than 500 total yards to Evansville in a 35-29 win last week. Brodhead-Juda will have to tighten up that defense. The Cardinals should be able to bottle up Parkview.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: Both the Cardinals and the Vikings share an overall record, but one team has beaten better opponents, and lost to better opponents. A year ago it was back-to-back wins over Evansville and Parkview that started Brodhead's run to state. Will lightning strike twice?
Pick: Cards
Darlington (2-2) at Boscobel (0-4)
Mark: The Redbirds have won 13 straight SWAL Conference games and are looking to remain unbeaten in conference this year before showdowns with Mineral Point (3-1) and Cuba City (4-0) that will likely determine the champion. The Bulldogs have lost nine straight games dating back to last year and it's been more than 10 years since they have had a winning season.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: Darlington has benefited from back-to-back home games after a tough 0-2 start to the season. Lucky for the Redbirds' Boscobel is treated like a pushover in southwestern Wisconsin. Darlington will be in a strong position to qualify for the postseason.
Pick: Da Birds
Waterloo (1-3) at Belleville-Albany (0-4)
Mark: The Wildcats have been shut out in three straight games as they are besieged by injuries. There is a learning curve when a team is playing with nine new starters. Belleville-Albany quarterback Joey Beil is getting some valuable experience that will pay off.
Pick: Waterloo
Adam: The Wildcats are pretty beat up this year. Even though Waterloo isn't having the strong seasons of the past doesn't necessarily open the door for a team clogging up the sports clinic's lobby to score it's first win.
Pick: Pirates
Wisconsin (2-0) vs. Northern Illinois (1-1) at Soldier Field
Mark: The Badgers game this week will not be broadcast on TV in the traditional sense for the first time since Oct. 7, 2006 when UW played Northwestern.
The game will be on the radio and streamed live on ESPN3, an online-only channel. The reunion between Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and former defensive coordinator Dave Doeren makes for a great storyline. There will be plenty of holes for the Badgers to attack in the Huskies' defense. The Huskies' defense is giving up 278 rushing yards per game and 193.5 passing yards per game. It's pick your poison for the Badgers.
Pick: Badgers
Adam: If anyone could seriously pick NIU to beat the Badgers, regardless if it was at Soldier Field, Candlestick Park, Yellowstone Park or a sandlot, they would need to be ordered for a mental health check. Wisconsin will not lose this game. The real question is, do they win by 50?
Pick: Badgers
Packers (1-0) at Panthers (0-1)
Mark: Cam Newton passed for an NFL debut record 422 yards last week against the Cardinals. The Packers' defense looked vulnerable in a 42-34 win over the Saints. However, Newton is no Drew Brees and the Packers secondary is not the Cardinals. It will be a long day for Newton.
Pick: Packers
Adam: The Packers played a gunslinger in Week 1 against a true Super Bowl contender in New Orleans. The Panthers have rookie QB and former Heisman winner Scam - cough, cough, I mean Cam - Newton, who threw for over 420 yards in his pro debut in a loss. If he throws for 150 against Green Bay, call me impressed. My guess is the Claymaker and/or Raji will make him cry on his way home, humming
"War Eagle" while sitting by a window sill in the rain, shaking. Yeah, I don't like Cam (or his father) very much.
Pick: Packers
