Bay hungry for another conference championship
In advance of the high school football season, the Journal Sentinel will take a closer look at the top teams in the Milwaukee area.
Today the countdown continues with our sixth-ranked team, Whitefish Bay.
Whitefish Bay was one of three teams in the Milwaukee area to go undefeated last season.
This year the Blue Dukes can make history.
Since the start of the North Shore Conference in 1985, Bay has won seven conference titles. It, however, has never done it back to back.
This is the year the program checks that accomplishment off its bucket list. Here is why
Three reasons Bay will be a beast: Mr. Brunner: In case you missed it, Joe Brunner, is one of best senior prospects in the nation. He is a fourstar recruit as an offensive lineman who for Bay will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. His presence will uplift both units. In short-yardage situations, everyone knows who they’ll run behind. Try to stop it. On defense he’ll can cause so much trouble that it will create opportunities for the players behind him to make plays.
Defense wins: The strength of Bay’s team last season was its defense. The unit allowed an average of 6.1 points and 192 yards per game. It also posted three shutouts and held three other teams to seven points or less. Seven starters return. Three of those players, Brunner, senior lineman Reid Jamerson and senior linebacker Nick Jorndt, were all-conference picks last season. Jorndt led the team in tackles.
Ground game: With Brunner and two other returning starters on the offensive line, the team has the foundation of a strong running game. Senior Nigel Cheeks has what it takes to make the unit dangerous. Last season he played in the shadow of Grover Bortolotti, who went on to walk-on at Wisconsin, but he has averaged 6 and 5.7 yards per carry the past two seasons.