D.C. Everest football helmet
SCHOFIELD, WI (EVERYTHING EVERGREENS-93.9FM THE GAME) – First, the winning streak is 9 games. Not 70. Kimberly played spring football earlier this year and lost their last game of the season.
Still, Kimberly is the best high school football program in Wisconsin. They deserve the number one seed in the state playoffs. And the Evergreens are seated correctly at number 8… the last-place team in the bracket. Because there was a three-way tie in this year’s VFA-West standings, Everest had to be placed behind the three teams that finished in front of them. Chippewa Falls, which Everest lost to by a single point on a failed two-point try in the fourth quarter, didn’t flatter the Evergreens; they lost twice more during the season. And getting a 2-0 forfeit from the canceled Wausau East game didn’t help as much as playing and winning.
That said, this season feels different than the four times Kimberly beat Everest during the long winning streak. I think this year’s Everest team has more talent, especially on defense. Everest may be the toughest number-8 team in the postseason. I could see Everest being competitive in a grind-em-out game. Kimberly is favored; Everest is not hopelessly overmatched.
The winning streak was an incredible run that spanned five seasons. Four of those 70 wins came against Everest. But it’s merely a talking point, not a factor in Friday’s name. It’s no different than going to Notre Dame and saying Knute Rockne coached here. He did — but it’s lore, not football.
When Luke Cuenan coached Everest, he used to look forward to playing Kimberly. He’d say, “someone’s going to end their winning streak. Why not us?” Someone might upset Kimberly in the playoffs. Why not the Evergreens?
I was 10-0 with my football picks last week. My playoff picks this week:
#5 Chippewa Falls to upset #4 SPASH
Wisconsin Rapids over Oshkosh West
Wausau West, properly seeded as a #2, over Neenah
Congratulations to D.C. Everest’s Ty Strehlow, who is a three-position all-conference player this year: receiver, defensive back and punter.
Everest had two other first-team all conference honorees: offensive lineman Cole Stevens, defensive lineman Mitch Danielski, linebacker Max Bucholtz, and kick returner Triton Schmidt. Stevens, at 206 pounds, will be back next year and will contend for player of the year in 2022.
The offensive player of the year was SPASH quarterback Riley Warzynski. I think the coaches made a mistake. The best player I saw last season was West’s running back Colton Guerink. He may have split the votes with the league’s other outstanding running back, Leo Brostowicz from Wisconsin Rapids.
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