Community Corner

WIAA Playoffs: Muskego on the Fence as They Head to South

While most high school football teams learned their playoff fates Friday, Muskego's exciting Friday night win brings them closer, but still fighting for a postseason berth

With just one week remaining in the regular season, almost every high school football team in the Milwaukee Patch area knows its postseason fate.

Almost every team.

Muskego is among a handful of teams whose destiny rests in their contest this coming Friday. They join Racine Horlick, Greendale, Martin Luther and Brookfield Academy, all of which can lock up playoff berths with victories Friday, but losses would either eliminate them from contention or significantly hurt their chances.

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A win for Muskego against Waukesha South would clinch a playoff berth in their first season in the Classic 8 conference.

In the third edition of Patch’s Postseason Possibilities, we take another look at each high school team in the Milwaukee Patch area and break down its playoff chances.

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Records and scenarios are updated as of Oct. 7. Look for an update to include next weekend’s games by noon Oct. 15.

Classic 8

(To get in, a team needs four or more league wins.)

In for sure

Waukesha West (3-4, 3-3): Even after losing consecutive games to Catholic Memorial and Arrowhead the last two Fridays, we won’t move the Wolverines out of this category, only because they finish against Waukesha North on Oct. 12.

Catholic Memorial (5-2, 4-2): The Crusaders are riding a three-game winning streak and are headed to the postseason for the sixth-straight season. They’ll be looking to make it four straight wins at Kettle Moraine on Oct. 12

Still a chance

Muskego (4-3, 3-3): A heck of a comeback for the Warriors, who lost three of their first four league games but have since beaten Waukesha North and Kettle Moraine in consecutive weeks. Last Friday night's win against Kettle Moraine in the final seconds of the game kept the Warriors alive in the hunt for late October. If they can avoid the upset at Waukesha South on Oct. 12, the Warriors will make it to the postseason in their first campaign in the Classic Eight.

Not this year

Waukesha North (1-6, 0-6): The Northstars have not been to the playoffs since 2006.

Waukesha South (1-5, 1-5): South’s playoff drought, which extends back to 1999, continues.

Greater Metro

(To get in, a team needs four or more league wins.)

In for sure

Brookfield East (7-0, 6-0): The undefeated Spartans, led by quarterback Zach Damico (850 passing yards) have been spectacular all season and are eyeing a conference title. They need to beat Sussex Hamilton on Friday to win the title outright.

Sussex Hamilton (6-1, 5-1): The Chargers are the only team standing in the way of Brookfield East and a perfect regular season. The two teams meet in the regular season finale Oct. 12, with a share of the GMC title on the line. … Drew Patterson has bolted past the 1,000-yard rushing mark and is up to 1,379.

Menomonee Falls (5-2, 5-1): Don’t look now, but the Indians could sneak in the back door and claim a share of the league title. With a win over Brookfield Central at home on Friday, and a Hamilton victory over Brookfield East, there would be a three-way tie, with the Indians among the co-champs.

Brookfield Central (5-2, 4-2): The Lancers locked up their third-straight playoff appearance with a win over Wauwatosa East on Friday, and now could build some momentum with a win over Menomonee Falls in the finale.

Not this year

Wauwatosa East (2-5, 1-5): The Red Raiders will miss the playoffs for the fifth-straight season.

Midwest Classic

(A team needs three league wins to qualify or four or more to get in for sure.)

In for sure

Shorewood/Messmer (6-1, 4-1): The co-op is back in the playoffs for the second straight season and finished the regular season with a home win against Living Word Lutheran on Friday.

Looking good

Brookfield Academy (4-3, 3-2): Brookfield Academy has qualified for the playoffs, but needs to beat St. John’s Norwest Military Academy on Thursday to lock up a berth. St. John’s, however, needs a win to get in, too.

Not this year

University School (1-6, 0-5): A playoff team a year ago, USM will be on the outside looking in this fall.

North Shore

(To get in, a team needs four or more league wins.)

In for sure

Whitefish Bay (6-1, 5-1): After upsetting Homestead, 14-7, Friday — their first over the Highlanders since 2000 — the Blue Dukes are now poised to win at least a share of the North Shore Conference title for the first time since 1993. They just need to avoid an upset against Nicolet on Friday. Nice way to build momentum as Bay heads to the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

Not this year

Port Washington (2-5, 2-4): The Pirates haven’t been to the postseason since 2008 and needed to beat Cedarburg on Friday to keep their hopes alive. But a 35-6 loss will keep Port on the outside looking in again.

Nicolet (2-5, 1-5): The Knights have made the playoffs just once in their history, back in 1989.

Southeast

(To get in, a team needs four or more league wins.)

In for sure

Oak Creek: (7-0, 6-0): Virgil Hammond (925 yards) is closing in on a 1,000-yard season for the undefeated Knights, who are on the verge of their first unblemished regular season in years. They’ll make their first playoff appearance since 2009 and could be in line for a No. 1 seed.

Still a chance

Racine Horlick (3-4, 3-3): Horlick is one of the few teams that will decide their own fate Friday. They need a win over visiting Kenosha Tremper to get in for the first time since 2008. And Rickey Neal Jr., is just 15 yards shy of 1,000 rushing for the season.

Not this year

Racine Case (2-5, 1-5): The Eagles have not been to the playoffs since 1997.

Racine Park (1-6, 1-5): The Panthers lost to Racine Case on Friday and are now tied for last with the Eagles in the SEC standings.

Woodland Conference East

(A team needs four wins to qualify, or five or more wins to get in for sure.)

In for sure

Whitnall (5-2, 4-1): The Falcons took care of business Friday by holding off Cudahy during homecoming week. They are back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus and have a share of their first league title for the first time since 2000. Senior quarterback Zach Sutton (1,647 passing yards) and company take on upstart New Berlin West on the road in the finale Friday.

Not this year

Greenfield (2-5, 2-3): The Hustlin’ Hawks’ dreams of the playoffs were dashed by Brown Deer on Friday. With impressive Wauwatosa West last on the schedule, Greenfield is staring at a two-win season.

Woodland Conference West

(A team needs four wins to qualify, or five or more wins to get in for sure.)

In for sure

Wauwatosa West (6-1, 4-1): The Trojans haven’t been to the postseason since 2006, but that’s going to change this fall. The Trojans just keep winning, beating Greendale on Friday as they continue to build momentum for the playoffs.

Looking good

Greendale (4-2, 2-2): If Greendale wants to lock up their eighth-straight playoff appearance, they’ll need to finish with a win over Woodland East co-champ Brown Deer at home on Friday. A loss would put the Panthers at 4-4, which does not guarantee them a postseason berth.

More Patch-Area Teams

Racine St. Catherine’s (6-1, 5-0) has enough wins to get in out of the Metro Classic, where teams need to go 3-3 in league play. ... Also in the Metro Classic, Martin Luther (4-2, 3-2) is on the verge, but Racine Lutheran (1-6, 1-5) has been eliminated.

Attention fans! Add your thoughts on your favorite teams in the comments below, or upload photos or videos of your favorite players! On Friday nights, follow #wisfb on Twitter to keep up with live scores.

Add your thoughts on your favorite teams in the comments below, or upload photos or videos of your favorite players! Tell us in the comments.


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