Which area high school football teams will advance in the WIAA playoffs? Ricardo Arguello makes his picks
We're at the state quarterfinal level for the Wisconsin high school football playoffs. Here are my predictions for this week's games involving Post-Crescent area teams. All games are 7 p.m. Friday.
DIVISION 1
Neenah (9-2) at Kimberly (9-1)
This is a rematch of the teams' Sept. 29 meeting, won by Kimberly 21-0 at home. Kimberly's defense has been solid, allowing just 25 points in the playoffs, and will have its hands full trying to corral Neenah junior standout running back Grant Dean (213 carries, 1,661 yards, 25 touchdowns). The Papermakers held Dean to 56 yards rushing on 15 carries in the September matchup. Neenah's defense has allowed 35 points over its last four games (8.75 average) and is coming off a 21-0 shutout of Chippewa Falls in last week's second-round game.
Ricardo's pick: Kimberly.
More: Watch live as Kimberly takes on Neenah in a WIAA state quarterfinal
DIVISION 2
Cedarburg (9-2) at Kaukauna (10-1)
I really like how the Ghosts' defense has turned things around after a 34-24 loss to Fond du Lac on Sept. 15 and a 42-35 win over Oshkosh West on Sept. 22. Kaukauna has allowed 48 points in the five wins since and held West De Pere to one touchdown in its 13-7 victory last Friday. The Ghosts' run game has stepped up of late, but Finnley Doriot is who makes this offense go. I'm not sure what to make of Cedarburg. The Bulldogs' two losses came to Slinger and Homestead, with Cedarburg getting a 17-16 victory over the latter in last week's second-round game. The Bulldogs' strength of schedule isn't on the level of Kaukauna. I expect a battle-tested Ghosts team to gut out another win.
Ricardo's pick: Kaukauna.
DIVISION 3
Menasha (9-2) at Grafton (9-2)
It's time to do away with the Cinderella talk with the Bluejays. Let's call their seventh seed designation what it is, a colossal blunder by the computer that calculates seeding placement. Menasha's defense has been championship caliber and held New Berlin West to 56 total yards in last week's 32-6 victory. Menasha's offense has a nice 1-2 punch with quarterback Logan Liegl and running back Elijah Gigl. Menasha's opponent this week is Grafton, which scored a touchdown and game-winning two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter in a 22-21 upset of Port Washington last Friday. Brady Hilgart is a good quarterback for Grafton, but can the team's run game offer support? I'll stick with Menasha in this one.
Ricardo's pick: Menasha.
DIVISION 4
Xavier (10-1) at Lodi (11-0)
The Hawks' 14-3 victory over Winneconne last Friday surprised me a bit considering how much Xavier had won by in their first matchup. Chalk that up to Winneconne knowing its opponent. This week Xavier takes on a loaded Lodi team that ran wild on what I consider a very good West Salem team in its 49-0 victory. Quarterback Mason Lane powers Lodi's offense through the air (1,487 yards passing, 20 touchdowns) and on the ground (811 yards, 18 touchdowns). I predicted Xavier to reach the Division 4 final before the playoffs started and I'm sticking with that even though this matchup makes me nervous.
Ricardo's pick: Xavier.
DIVISION 5
Wrightstown (9-2) vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood (10-1) at D.C. Everest
Wrightstown continues its solid play and is coming off a 21-6 victory over Southern Door last week. I love the Tigers' power run game, which translates well to the postseason. Wittenberg-Birnamwood is a big step up in competition and got past Amherst 16-14 last Friday. This is going to be a close one, but I believe a late touchdown from the Tigers' leading rusher Aiden Humphreys will be the difference.
Ricardo's pick: Wrightstown.
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This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: High school football third-round playoff predictions
