Here are the top 5 Week 6 high school football games in the Manitowoc/Sheboygan area
The 2023 high school football season is rounding the final corner for the stretch run as Week 6 kicks off on Thursday and Friday.
As many as three teams in Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties could see their playoff tickets punched before the week is over.
Here are the top five games to watch, including a clash between the last two undefeated teams in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference.
Thursday
Howards Grove (4-1) at Oostburg (3-2)
Both the Howards Grove Tigers and Oostburg Flying Dutchmen are coming off impressive victories in Week 5. Howards Grove rolled past Hilbert 42-14 while Oostburg routed Random Lake 39-0. When then these two rivals face off expect a potential offensive show as the Tigers have multiple weapons capable of taking over a game. Quarterback Trent Grunewald threw for almost 300 yards and four touchdowns last week while running back Tyler Rittenhouse ran the ball 13 times for 159 yards and two scores. Oostburg is more ground oriented and will look to get a host of backs, headlined by Joey Bruggink, involved. Howards Grove will be playoff eligible with a win.
Random Lake (3-2) at Reedsville (5-0)
The Reedsville Panthers might not be winning games by running clock margins but they have so far always found a way to do what it takes to get the victory. Last week was no exception, scoring twice in the second half while keeping Ozaukee out of the end zone to turn a 14-14 halftime tie into a 26-14 win. Dual-threat quarterback Parker Maney had over 200 yards of total offense and three touchdowns for the Panthers. A Reedsville victory over the Random Lake Rams, themselves coming off a 39-0 setback against the Oostburg Flying Dutchmen, would clinch a playoff berth. The Rams have their own dual-threat quarterback in Natron Daggett who could make an impact.
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Friday
Two Rivers (5-0) at Kohler/Lutheran/Christian (4-1)
The Two Rivers Raiders are looking to make it back-to-back EWC titles before leaving next season for the North Eastern Conference and a win over the Kohler/Lutheran/Christian Blue Bombers would go a long way towards accomplishing that. Both teams are undefeated in the conference as Two Rivers pulled away late against Kiel last week 41-20 while KLC bested the Valders Vikings 28-12. Blue Bombers quarterback Max Breitenbach could give the Raiders problems as the team, at times, has had lapses in coverage. The Raiders have more weapons on offense than Ben and Jerry’s has ice cream flavors, headlined by quarterback Justin Klinkner and running back Chase Matthias. If an offensive track meet breaks out, both sides have the pieces to keep up. Whoever wins will become playoff eligible.
Plymouth (5-0) at Waupun (0-5)
A matchup between an undefeated and winless team might seem silly to include in a list of top five games, but if you look up the definition of trap game this would be it. The Plymouth Panthers will need to not look past the Waupun Warriors in Week 6 in anticipation for a matchup against fellow undefeated and East Central Conference foe Port Washington in Week 7. In all likelihood this game will be decided by halftime as Plymouth routed Kewaskum 35-7 last week while Waupun fell to Sheboygan Falls 23-14. Keep an eye on Panthers running back Brett Shutter, who almost ran for 200 yards in Week 5 while Warriors linebacker Kyler Sanders, 12 tackles last week, will be a key to containing him. A win by Plymouth makes them playoff eligible.
Streak continues: Week 5 high school football: Two Rivers tops Kiel, keeps regular-season win streak alive
Valders (0-5) at Roncalli (0-5)
Sure neither the Valders Vikings or Roncalli Jets have a win this season but the rivalry between the two schools makes any contest worth watching. Up until recently Valders had a clock in its high school counting down until the next time the Vikings and Jets met on the football field. Roncalli fell to the Brillion Lions 28-7 last week while Valders was upended by the Kohler/Lutheran/Christian Blue Bombers 28-12. Dual-threat quarterback Trey Schneider is a key player to watch for the Vikings while the Jets have their own multi-faceted quarterback in Landon Chalupny.
Complete Manitowoc/Sheboygan Week 6 football schedule
*All game times 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Thursday
Sheboygan Falls at Port Washington
Random Lake at Reedsville
Manitowoc Lutheran at Ozaukee
Cedar Grove-Belgium at Hilbert
Howards Grove at Oostburg
Friday
Kewaunee at Mishicot
Manitowoc Lincoln at Green Bay West
Sheboygan North at Green Bay East
Menasha at Sheboygan South
Plymouth at Waupun
Brillion at New Holstein
Kiel at Chilton
Two Rivers at Kohler/Lutheran/Christian
Valders at Roncalli
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: High school football Week 6: Top 5 games in Manitowoc/Sheboygan area
