Muskego avenges regular-season loss in determined fashion
Muskego is right on schedule. The big headline for the two-time defending state champion after Level 1 of the WIAA football playoffs doesn't scream at you. It's more of a tap on the shoulder, a reminder that everything is OK in Warriors Country.
Muskego, a No. 2 seed in Division 1, scored an impressive first round win Friday, knocking off Oconomowoc, 35-0, at home to avenge a 21-14 loss to the Raccoons in Week 5. The teams' first meeting created a state-wide buzz because the loss snapped Muskego's 41game winning streak. The rematch, for Muskego, represented an opportunity to show how far it has come.
“We have a lot of respect for Oconomowoc, but to get a second opportunity, you don't always get that so we were really thankful to get the situation the way it came out,” Muskego coach Ken Krause said.
The Warriors (9-1) scored on each of their three first half possessions, opened the second half with a 98-yard kickoff return by senior Carson Holman and held Oconomowoc to 223 yards to score its second shutout of the season.
Holman rushed for 119 yards in 15 carries and scored two more touchdowns. Senior Dylan Krause hit five of seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
The win sets up a Level 2 matchup with Greater Metro Conference champion Sussex Hamilton on Friday at Muskego.
Balistrieri leads Homestead
Every No. 1 seed in the field advanced. Homestead, however, trailed, 7-6, at the half before posting a 28-7 win over Brookfield Central at home.
The Highlanders moved on with the help of quarterback Sal Balistrieri's slight of hand. The junior had three second-half touchdowns, going over the top of the defense for a 56-yard score to Joseph Rossman and running for scores of 6 and 37 yards.
He finished with 17 runs for 89 yards in addition to completing five of nine passes for 109 yards.
Big addition for Mukwonago
Greyton Gannon
finally made his season debut for Mukwonago. The senior quarterback who has been sidelined due to injury went 6 for 6 for 82 yards and a touchdown in his team's 48-7 victory over Janesville Craig. He also ran the ball twice for 13 yards.
It will be interesting to see how Mukwonago uses Gannon, who has been practicing for the past few weeks. Junior Evan Herbig, who was 12 for 14 for 157 yards Friday, has played at an allconference level, though he was Gannon's backup before the injury.
Union Grove looks strong
Union Grove got the final word to those who looked at the Broncos as the possible victim of a first-round upset in its 1-8 matchup with Waukesha West. The team won its first playoff game since 2015 and snapped a run of nine straight postseason wins for West over Southern Lakes teams over the past 10 years.
Eisenhower is hitting its stride
There were no top seeded teams upset in the first round. A handful of No. 2s, however, bit the dust. Only one of those teams will face a No. 6 seed in the next round: New Berlin Eisenhower.
The Lions defeated Fort Atkinson, 10-0, with the help of Max Ringwall's fifth 100-yard game of the season. Up next will be No. 6 seed Jefferson, which edged Martin Luther, 21-20. The Eagles took third in the Rock Valley.