The Monroe football team looks to build a winning streak this week and several area teams have critical conference games - including Darlington, which looks to stay unbeaten in SWAL play. Sports editor Adam Krebs went 9-0 with his picks last week and sports reporter Mark Nesbitt was 8-1. Mark is now 30-8 on the season and Adam is 27-11.
Monroe (1-4) at Milton (2-3)
Mark: The Cheesemakers picked up a thrilling 27-20 win over Stoughton on Jon Becker's 75-yard punt return. If Monroe beats Milton this week, they will become a playoff eligible team this year. However, it will be a challenge. The Red Hawks will test the Cheesemakers' pass defense. Milton quarterback Evan Phillips has passed for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. His favorite target is Riley Kovars who has 14 receptions for 282 yards and six touchdowns.
Pick: Milton
Adam: Monroe is coming off its first win of the season - and boy, was it exciting. The Red Hawks have a solid amount of talent that can give the Cheesemakers fits, but don't be surprised to see Monroe coming out swinging. Milton's only two wins are against Oregon and Sauk Prairie, both of which only have "W's" against poor caliber Badger North teams. A win could be a big boost for a Monroe team in need of every possible win.
Pick: My Cheesemakers
Benton-Scales Mound (2-3) at Black Hawk (4-1)
Mark: It's amazing that Black Hawk's Hayden Schliem can keep torching defenses. He caught seven passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns to help the Warriors survive a scare with a 34-28 double overtime win over Belmont. The Warriors keep finding ways to win.
Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: Black Hawk has gone down to the wire a few times, but as the old saying goes: "That which don't kill me, can only make me stronger." The Warriors have an offense that has both dominated and struggled in separate games, and the defense can have the same said about them. But I believe in this team from South Wayne.
And that's why I have been voting them into the AP Polls for the last several weeks.
Pick: Wayne Township Warriors
New Glarus-Monticello (2-3) at Belleville-Albany (0-5)
Mark: The Glarner Knights will snap their three-game losing streak against rival Belleville-Albany. It's a must win game for the Knights if they want to be a playoff team. The Knights should find success running the ball with Spencer Jones and Lukas Kolasch.
Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Adam: This is one of two local rivalries that never skips a beat. Both the Knights and Wildcats dominate the north portion of our coverage area, and this game tends to always go down to the final quarter. With all the injuries and low depth Belleville-Albany has had this year, it is somewhat of a surprise to see them continue playing games. Plus, NGM can score when the offense finds itself, which may or may not ever be on consecutive possessions.
Pick: NGM
Clinton (0-5) at Brodhead-Juda (3-2)
Mark: Brodhead-Juda's Jesse DeLorme broke out and rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-6 win over Parkview. The Cougars won't slow down the Cardinals' running game. DeLorme and Trenton Jordan could each have big games. The Cougars are giving up 55.2 points per game and gave up about 300 total rushing yards to Big Foot last week.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: Like last year, the Cardinals are finding their groove in the middle of the season. You know that 1-2 record? An afterthought. David Earleywine is a premier QB in the stateline region, and Jesse DeLorme is running like a bat out of hell. Throw Trenton Jordan and that offensive line into the rushing mix, and you have yourself a team that can gain some yards and score some points. Sorry Clinton, you don't have a shot.
Pick: Da Cards
Darlington (3-2) at Mineral Point (3-2)
Mark: The Redbirds have won 14 straight conference games. If Darlington can beat Mineral Point, that would set up an unbeaten SWAL showdown with Cuba City. The Redbirds can't look past the Pointers. The Pointers are led by power running back Brady Tibbits, who has rushed for 599 yards and six touchdowns.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: A true mid-season test for the Redbirds comes this week. The Pointers have only lost to ranked Marshall and Iowa-Grant, both schools that are in the hunt of their respective conference race. Darlington (3-0 SWAL) just knocked off Iowa-Grant by two points. Can they do it again on the road? It's a matter of how the pigskin bounces.
Pick: MP
Belmont (2-3) at Pecatonica-Argyle (2-3)
Mark: This is a big game as both teams try to make a playoff push. Belmont gave Black Hawk a scare before losing 34-28 in double overtime. With the Warriors' success throwing the ball against the Braves, Pecatonica-Argyle may rely on Jon Hendrickson to make plays. Belmont had two players rush for more than 100 yards last week against Black Hawk including Lucas Stoney (182 yards) and Brandon Wedig (110 yards and three touchdowns). The Braves will be sure to test the Vikings' run defense.
Pick: Belmont
Adam: Overtime last week. Pec-Argyle still has yet to play a game where they can feel satisfied both offensively and defensively. However, Vikings RB Jared Johnson assured me that his team would win. Being down in the standings to Mark, I need every win I can get, regardless if it gains any ground. JJ - I'm going with you on this one.
Pick: Argyle Orioles of Blanchardville
South Dakota (2-1) at Wisconsin (3-0)
Mark: This is the final tune-up for the Badgers before Big Ten play begins and the highly anticipated showdown with Nebraska. The sixth-ranked Badgers should have no problems running through South Dakota. The Coyotes have already knocked off Minnesota 41-38. If they line up to stop the Badgers' running game, Russell Wilson will have a field day throwing the ball.
Pick: Wisconsin
Adam: South Dakota is a nice story and all - for South Dakota. But c'mon, really? This isn't like the basketball team randomly being stunned at home to ND State a few years back. This is football, where the big boys play, and 95 percent of the time the better team wins. And 99.9 percent of the time, a national title contender kicks the snot out of a puny school named along the likes of Nowhere State. Be prepared for more TDs from Montee Ball, James White, Toon, Pederson, Abbrederis and the best of them all - QB Russell Wilson. Saturday should be a fun day, and a reminder of that 70-3 win over Austin Peay in Week 4.
Pick: Bucky without a blink
Packers (2-0) at Bears (1-1)
Mark: The last time these two teams played the Pack beat Da Bears 21-14 and knocked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler out of the game en route to winning the Super Bowl. Cutler was sacked six times and knocked down about 20 times against the Saints last week. Cutler was sacked 52 times last year and he has already been sacked 11 times this season. The Packers are vulnerable in the secondary with Nick Collins out for the year. The key will be whether a banged up Bears line without Gabe Carimi can give Cutler time to hit on some long passes. Everything says Packers, but as a Bears fan, I'm optimistic.
Pick: Bears
Adam: Ah, the rivalry returns. Did you enjoy that NFC North title, Bears fans? You can keep it. I know at least a handful of Packer fans who are enjoying their Super Bowl win a little more. I have news for you Chee-kah-goh fans: Your precious Bears will not win either title this year. Green Bay is healthy (well, healthier than last year anyway) and the offense has rarely skipped a beat. Play your best, Bears, and you could always win. For the NFL is an "Any-Given-Sunday" league.
Pick: Curly's Meat Packers
Monroe (1-4) at Milton (2-3)
Mark: The Cheesemakers picked up a thrilling 27-20 win over Stoughton on Jon Becker's 75-yard punt return. If Monroe beats Milton this week, they will become a playoff eligible team this year. However, it will be a challenge. The Red Hawks will test the Cheesemakers' pass defense. Milton quarterback Evan Phillips has passed for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. His favorite target is Riley Kovars who has 14 receptions for 282 yards and six touchdowns.
Pick: Milton
Adam: Monroe is coming off its first win of the season - and boy, was it exciting. The Red Hawks have a solid amount of talent that can give the Cheesemakers fits, but don't be surprised to see Monroe coming out swinging. Milton's only two wins are against Oregon and Sauk Prairie, both of which only have "W's" against poor caliber Badger North teams. A win could be a big boost for a Monroe team in need of every possible win.
Pick: My Cheesemakers
Benton-Scales Mound (2-3) at Black Hawk (4-1)
Mark: It's amazing that Black Hawk's Hayden Schliem can keep torching defenses. He caught seven passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns to help the Warriors survive a scare with a 34-28 double overtime win over Belmont. The Warriors keep finding ways to win.
Pick: Black Hawk
Adam: Black Hawk has gone down to the wire a few times, but as the old saying goes: "That which don't kill me, can only make me stronger." The Warriors have an offense that has both dominated and struggled in separate games, and the defense can have the same said about them. But I believe in this team from South Wayne.
And that's why I have been voting them into the AP Polls for the last several weeks.
Pick: Wayne Township Warriors
New Glarus-Monticello (2-3) at Belleville-Albany (0-5)
Mark: The Glarner Knights will snap their three-game losing streak against rival Belleville-Albany. It's a must win game for the Knights if they want to be a playoff team. The Knights should find success running the ball with Spencer Jones and Lukas Kolasch.
Pick: New Glarus-Monticello
Adam: This is one of two local rivalries that never skips a beat. Both the Knights and Wildcats dominate the north portion of our coverage area, and this game tends to always go down to the final quarter. With all the injuries and low depth Belleville-Albany has had this year, it is somewhat of a surprise to see them continue playing games. Plus, NGM can score when the offense finds itself, which may or may not ever be on consecutive possessions.
Pick: NGM
Clinton (0-5) at Brodhead-Juda (3-2)
Mark: Brodhead-Juda's Jesse DeLorme broke out and rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-6 win over Parkview. The Cougars won't slow down the Cardinals' running game. DeLorme and Trenton Jordan could each have big games. The Cougars are giving up 55.2 points per game and gave up about 300 total rushing yards to Big Foot last week.
Pick: Brodhead-Juda
Adam: Like last year, the Cardinals are finding their groove in the middle of the season. You know that 1-2 record? An afterthought. David Earleywine is a premier QB in the stateline region, and Jesse DeLorme is running like a bat out of hell. Throw Trenton Jordan and that offensive line into the rushing mix, and you have yourself a team that can gain some yards and score some points. Sorry Clinton, you don't have a shot.
Pick: Da Cards
Darlington (3-2) at Mineral Point (3-2)
Mark: The Redbirds have won 14 straight conference games. If Darlington can beat Mineral Point, that would set up an unbeaten SWAL showdown with Cuba City. The Redbirds can't look past the Pointers. The Pointers are led by power running back Brady Tibbits, who has rushed for 599 yards and six touchdowns.
Pick: Darlington
Adam: A true mid-season test for the Redbirds comes this week. The Pointers have only lost to ranked Marshall and Iowa-Grant, both schools that are in the hunt of their respective conference race. Darlington (3-0 SWAL) just knocked off Iowa-Grant by two points. Can they do it again on the road? It's a matter of how the pigskin bounces.
Pick: MP
Belmont (2-3) at Pecatonica-Argyle (2-3)
Mark: This is a big game as both teams try to make a playoff push. Belmont gave Black Hawk a scare before losing 34-28 in double overtime. With the Warriors' success throwing the ball against the Braves, Pecatonica-Argyle may rely on Jon Hendrickson to make plays. Belmont had two players rush for more than 100 yards last week against Black Hawk including Lucas Stoney (182 yards) and Brandon Wedig (110 yards and three touchdowns). The Braves will be sure to test the Vikings' run defense.
Pick: Belmont
Adam: Overtime last week. Pec-Argyle still has yet to play a game where they can feel satisfied both offensively and defensively. However, Vikings RB Jared Johnson assured me that his team would win. Being down in the standings to Mark, I need every win I can get, regardless if it gains any ground. JJ - I'm going with you on this one.
Pick: Argyle Orioles of Blanchardville
South Dakota (2-1) at Wisconsin (3-0)
Mark: This is the final tune-up for the Badgers before Big Ten play begins and the highly anticipated showdown with Nebraska. The sixth-ranked Badgers should have no problems running through South Dakota. The Coyotes have already knocked off Minnesota 41-38. If they line up to stop the Badgers' running game, Russell Wilson will have a field day throwing the ball.
Pick: Wisconsin
Adam: South Dakota is a nice story and all - for South Dakota. But c'mon, really? This isn't like the basketball team randomly being stunned at home to ND State a few years back. This is football, where the big boys play, and 95 percent of the time the better team wins. And 99.9 percent of the time, a national title contender kicks the snot out of a puny school named along the likes of Nowhere State. Be prepared for more TDs from Montee Ball, James White, Toon, Pederson, Abbrederis and the best of them all - QB Russell Wilson. Saturday should be a fun day, and a reminder of that 70-3 win over Austin Peay in Week 4.
Pick: Bucky without a blink
Packers (2-0) at Bears (1-1)
Mark: The last time these two teams played the Pack beat Da Bears 21-14 and knocked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler out of the game en route to winning the Super Bowl. Cutler was sacked six times and knocked down about 20 times against the Saints last week. Cutler was sacked 52 times last year and he has already been sacked 11 times this season. The Packers are vulnerable in the secondary with Nick Collins out for the year. The key will be whether a banged up Bears line without Gabe Carimi can give Cutler time to hit on some long passes. Everything says Packers, but as a Bears fan, I'm optimistic.
Pick: Bears
Adam: Ah, the rivalry returns. Did you enjoy that NFC North title, Bears fans? You can keep it. I know at least a handful of Packer fans who are enjoying their Super Bowl win a little more. I have news for you Chee-kah-goh fans: Your precious Bears will not win either title this year. Green Bay is healthy (well, healthier than last year anyway) and the offense has rarely skipped a beat. Play your best, Bears, and you could always win. For the NFL is an "Any-Given-Sunday" league.
Pick: Curly's Meat Packers
