MONROE - Two of the three second-round WIAA football playoff games involving area teams are rematches of games earlier this year; the other is a showdown between two explosive rushing attacks.
DIVISION 3
Evansville-Albany (10-0) vs. Catholic Memorial (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Carroll University's Schneider Stadium, Waukesha
This is the game that features two dynamic rushing teams.
"The records are gone," Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said. "There are no records. We are just taking this opportunity to play in the Level 2 playoffs. We will find out how prepared we are on the field. That is where you play the game."
Catholic Memorial lost to eventual state champion Wisconsin Lutheran 27-22 in the state quarterfinals last year. Catholic Memorial placed third in the Classic Eight Conference this year with its only two losses coming to conference co-champions Arrowhead 23-0 and Muskego 23-14.
The Crusaders run an offense based on the spread option that averages 35.1 points per game. Stopping the run will be key for the Blue Devils. Evansville-Albany has two shutouts this year, but this may be the Blue Devils' biggest test yet. The Crusaders average 211 rushing yards and 118 passing yards per game.
"We have to tackle," Grovesteen said. "If we don't tackle we won't win."
Catholic Memorial running back Josh Karfonta has rushed for 1,127 yards with 11 touchdowns this season. Catholic Memorial quarterback Alex Bray has passed for 1,104 yards with 14 TDs and just three interceptions. The big target for Bray is Max Cooper, who has 25 receptions for 563 yards and eight touchdowns.
"We just have to play our defense and play a complete game," Grovesteen said.
There is no secret what the Blue Devils want to do on offense.
"We have to pound the rock and run the ball," Grovesteen said.
The Blue Devils have a trio of explosive weapons in the backfield. Senior running back Nathan Redders has rushed for 1,204 yards and has 10 TDs. Redders is averaging 8.9 yards per carry this season. Senior running back Ryker Brown has rushed for 834 yards and scored 18 TDs, and junior Brennen Banks has rushed for 657 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Evansville-Albany senior quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 1,123 yards with seven touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Evansville-Albany's Kyle Rutowski is the leading receiver for the Blue Devils with 16 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns. Banks is also a dual-threat out of the backfield with 15 receptions for 395 yards with five touchdowns and is averaging 26.3 yards per catch.
DIVISION 6
Iowa-Grant (6-4) vs. Pecatonica-Argyle (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Argyle
The biggest challenge for the Vikings will be trying to slow down the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League's leading rusher in Iowa-Grant's Brayden Johnson, who has racked up 1,799 rushing yards and 27 TDs this year.
In the second week of the season, Johnson rushed for 150 yards in the Vikings' 34-12 win over the Panthers.
Pecatonica-Argyle's run defense will be tested again by Johnson. Johnson is averaging 179.9 rushing yards per game and gained more than 100 yards on Darlington in the regular-season finale, but it came on 30 carries.
"He's the guy we have to contain. No doubt," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "Any time you have a back that has gained that many yards, he's a threat. We have to eliminate the big plays. We match up size-wise with them. Our defense has been a good staple for us. We may bend, but we will try not to break."
Iowa-Grant quarterback Caleb Hill has thrown for 878 yards with 10 TDs and six interceptions. The Vikings' defense has three shutouts this year and forced four turnovers in a 44-0 win over Kickapoo-La Farge in the first-round of the playoffs last week. The Panthers rely on wide receiver Isaac Anderson, who has 21 receptions for 376 yards and six touchdowns.
Pecatonica-Argyle has a balanced offense led by senior Riley Ostby, who has rushed for 1,082 yards and 19 TDs. Ostby is averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Junior running back Cam Treuthardt has rushed for 514 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
The Vikings have displayed playmaking ability in the passing game. Junior quarterback Logan Green has passed for 958 yards with 15 TDs and just three interceptions. He is completing 62.2 percent of his passes. The main targets for the Vikings are junior wide receiver A.J. Hendrickson (17 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns) and Cory Linder (10-234 and three touchdowns).
"They are a better team, and we are a better team," Green said. "They are a better team, but they play the same style of defense. We will look at the film from that first time we played."
DIVISION 6
Mineral Point (8-2) at Darlington (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday
The two SWAL rivals will clash for the second time this season.
If Mineral Point wants to spring an upset top-ranked Darlington, the Pointers (8-2) will have to do a better job of slowing down a Redbirds' rushing attack that gashed them for 324 yards in a 57-21 thumping in the first meeting.
Darlington has owned Mineral Point the last seven years, going 8-0 against the Pointers including 2-0 last season on the way to a state runner-up finish for the second straight year. The last time the Pointers beat the Redbirds was in 2008.
Darlington junior running back Trevor Johnson rushed for 218 yards and scored three touchdowns in the first matchup this season, and junior fullback Hunter Johnson ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Hunter Johnson is having a standout season with 1,784 rushing yards and 30 TDs. He's averaging 178.4 yards per game and 13.3 yards per carry. Trevor Johnson has rushed for 923 yards and 16 TDs and is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Trevor Johnson is also the Redbirds' leading receiver (9 catches for 217 yards and five TDs).
The Redbirds' defense has two straight shutouts. The Redbirds will need to contain Mineral Point senior quarterback Scott Pittz, who has racked up about 2,000 yards this year, in the Pointers' prolific spread offense that is averaging 34.7 ppg. Pittz has 1,010 yards passing with 14 TDs and 911 rushing yards and 17 TDs. He threw three interceptions in the first meeting with Darlington but rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
"You have to get pressure on their quarterback," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "If you let them run and pass you won't be able to stop them. You have to make them one-dimensional."
DIVISION 3
Evansville-Albany (10-0) vs. Catholic Memorial (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Carroll University's Schneider Stadium, Waukesha
This is the game that features two dynamic rushing teams.
"The records are gone," Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said. "There are no records. We are just taking this opportunity to play in the Level 2 playoffs. We will find out how prepared we are on the field. That is where you play the game."
Catholic Memorial lost to eventual state champion Wisconsin Lutheran 27-22 in the state quarterfinals last year. Catholic Memorial placed third in the Classic Eight Conference this year with its only two losses coming to conference co-champions Arrowhead 23-0 and Muskego 23-14.
The Crusaders run an offense based on the spread option that averages 35.1 points per game. Stopping the run will be key for the Blue Devils. Evansville-Albany has two shutouts this year, but this may be the Blue Devils' biggest test yet. The Crusaders average 211 rushing yards and 118 passing yards per game.
"We have to tackle," Grovesteen said. "If we don't tackle we won't win."
Catholic Memorial running back Josh Karfonta has rushed for 1,127 yards with 11 touchdowns this season. Catholic Memorial quarterback Alex Bray has passed for 1,104 yards with 14 TDs and just three interceptions. The big target for Bray is Max Cooper, who has 25 receptions for 563 yards and eight touchdowns.
"We just have to play our defense and play a complete game," Grovesteen said.
There is no secret what the Blue Devils want to do on offense.
"We have to pound the rock and run the ball," Grovesteen said.
The Blue Devils have a trio of explosive weapons in the backfield. Senior running back Nathan Redders has rushed for 1,204 yards and has 10 TDs. Redders is averaging 8.9 yards per carry this season. Senior running back Ryker Brown has rushed for 834 yards and scored 18 TDs, and junior Brennen Banks has rushed for 657 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Evansville-Albany senior quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 1,123 yards with seven touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Evansville-Albany's Kyle Rutowski is the leading receiver for the Blue Devils with 16 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns. Banks is also a dual-threat out of the backfield with 15 receptions for 395 yards with five touchdowns and is averaging 26.3 yards per catch.
DIVISION 6
Iowa-Grant (6-4) vs. Pecatonica-Argyle (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Argyle
The biggest challenge for the Vikings will be trying to slow down the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League's leading rusher in Iowa-Grant's Brayden Johnson, who has racked up 1,799 rushing yards and 27 TDs this year.
In the second week of the season, Johnson rushed for 150 yards in the Vikings' 34-12 win over the Panthers.
Pecatonica-Argyle's run defense will be tested again by Johnson. Johnson is averaging 179.9 rushing yards per game and gained more than 100 yards on Darlington in the regular-season finale, but it came on 30 carries.
"He's the guy we have to contain. No doubt," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "Any time you have a back that has gained that many yards, he's a threat. We have to eliminate the big plays. We match up size-wise with them. Our defense has been a good staple for us. We may bend, but we will try not to break."
Iowa-Grant quarterback Caleb Hill has thrown for 878 yards with 10 TDs and six interceptions. The Vikings' defense has three shutouts this year and forced four turnovers in a 44-0 win over Kickapoo-La Farge in the first-round of the playoffs last week. The Panthers rely on wide receiver Isaac Anderson, who has 21 receptions for 376 yards and six touchdowns.
Pecatonica-Argyle has a balanced offense led by senior Riley Ostby, who has rushed for 1,082 yards and 19 TDs. Ostby is averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Junior running back Cam Treuthardt has rushed for 514 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
The Vikings have displayed playmaking ability in the passing game. Junior quarterback Logan Green has passed for 958 yards with 15 TDs and just three interceptions. He is completing 62.2 percent of his passes. The main targets for the Vikings are junior wide receiver A.J. Hendrickson (17 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns) and Cory Linder (10-234 and three touchdowns).
"They are a better team, and we are a better team," Green said. "They are a better team, but they play the same style of defense. We will look at the film from that first time we played."
DIVISION 6
Mineral Point (8-2) at Darlington (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday
The two SWAL rivals will clash for the second time this season.
If Mineral Point wants to spring an upset top-ranked Darlington, the Pointers (8-2) will have to do a better job of slowing down a Redbirds' rushing attack that gashed them for 324 yards in a 57-21 thumping in the first meeting.
Darlington has owned Mineral Point the last seven years, going 8-0 against the Pointers including 2-0 last season on the way to a state runner-up finish for the second straight year. The last time the Pointers beat the Redbirds was in 2008.
Darlington junior running back Trevor Johnson rushed for 218 yards and scored three touchdowns in the first matchup this season, and junior fullback Hunter Johnson ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Hunter Johnson is having a standout season with 1,784 rushing yards and 30 TDs. He's averaging 178.4 yards per game and 13.3 yards per carry. Trevor Johnson has rushed for 923 yards and 16 TDs and is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Trevor Johnson is also the Redbirds' leading receiver (9 catches for 217 yards and five TDs).
The Redbirds' defense has two straight shutouts. The Redbirds will need to contain Mineral Point senior quarterback Scott Pittz, who has racked up about 2,000 yards this year, in the Pointers' prolific spread offense that is averaging 34.7 ppg. Pittz has 1,010 yards passing with 14 TDs and 911 rushing yards and 17 TDs. He threw three interceptions in the first meeting with Darlington but rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
"You have to get pressure on their quarterback," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "If you let them run and pass you won't be able to stop them. You have to make them one-dimensional."
