UNDATED (EVERYTHING EVERGREENS-93.9 THE GAME) – Here comes the bulletin board material: Wausau West, off to a 2-0 start, is an imposter. D.C. Everest is likely to give them their first loss on Friday night.
West has opened their season with a solid 38-14 win over a DePere team that was depleted by graduation a year ago. West played one-quarter of football against Merrill last Friday, and was leading 14-0 when the thunderstorms moved in.
West has a stud running back, Colton Guerink. He’s probably the best running back in the VFA-West. He’s the kind of back, at 225 pounds, who grinds down defenses late in the game. The Evergreens will have to contain him. A year ago Geurink was West’s featured back and managed just 55 yards on 15 carries against Everest.
But Everest’s defense had many stops for losses a week ago against a better Chippewa Falls team that had a bigger offensive line. I think even if Guerink gets his touches, West won’t have enough other contributors on offense to win. My biggest concern about his presence isn’t the stats, but that once or twice in the game he’ll be used as a decoy to set up something else. Everest’s defense will need to be prepared for a play-action pass or a trick play.
The question is whether Everest’s offense can build on last week. The O was sour at the beginning of the game, with a fumble and two three-and-outs in the first half. But after that Everest moved the ball consistently against Chi Hi. Their final four possessions ended in a failed field goal, a successful field goal, a stop, and a touchdown.
Wausau West’s theme this year is unfinished business. It is far more likely that Everest will arrive with a chip on their shoulder. They came within one play of beating an outstanding team a week ago. West will be in Everest’s crosshairs, and will find out how they stack up against one of their tougher opponents of the year.
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