EVERYTHING EVERGREENS (FOX SPORTS WAUSAU-WSAU) – The Everest football team could go either way. If they play their very best football, they could be competitive against Appleton-North at home on Senior Night at the end of the season. It's a winable game for a team with good defense, the best special teams in the conference, and cleaned-up mistakes that hold the offense back. On the other hand, the Evergreens could lose to a 1-5 Kaukauna team this week, especially if they leave points on the field, are inefficient in the red zone, and continue to commit drive-killing penalties.
Friday's Kaukauna game scares me. They're not a good team. Everest has more talent. But Kaukauna will arrive at Stiehm Stadium having played their best game of the season last week (a 41-7 win over Wausau East). And the Galloping Ghosts have weapons. Coy Coffey is the best passing-quarterback in the northern division. He's a third year starter, and he give his team the potential of putting points on the board quickly. Brand Sanderfoot ran for 200-yards last week.
What concerns me is that the Evergreens are not a high-powered quick-scoring team. They grind out enough points to win and struggle to overcome their own mistakes. Coming from behind is not part of this team's DNA. They're not built to compete in high-scoring games. Penalties against the Everest offense are almost always drive-killers.
Everest will win if their defense can generate a good pass rush and create turnovers. And they might. But they might also give up points in a game where they won't have a margin for error.
There may be a pride factor that will work in Everest's favor for players who remember last year's game. The Evergreens traveled to Kaukauna to be the Ghost's homecoming opponent. It was supposed to be Kaukauna's last game at Bayorgoen Field. Emotions were high. Kaukauna played above themselves. They pushed Everest back into the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter, rallied to win the game, and kept Everest from qualifying for the playoffs. It was a bad loss to a losing team. Any Evergreen who was part of that loss will want to make amends this year.
But just like last year, this game is not a “gimme”. I think the Evergreens will have to play much better than last week to win.
Chris Conley
10.1.15
