WIAA football: Tom Dombeck picks all 12 Level 1 matchups for Manitowoc, Sheboygan teams
The postseason is upon us and 12 teams from the Manitowoc and Sheboygan area will be in action in Level 1.
I’ll break down all 12 games and predict who I feel will advance in each one.
Here are the 12 games, broken down by division.
WIAA Level 1 Division 1 predictions
No. 7 Sheboygan North (4-5) at No. 2 Marquette (7-2)
The Sheboygan North Golden Raiders made the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in school history and for a second-straight year will likely be one-and-done. North has made incredible strides in the program under Joe O’Brien but have not beaten a team with a winning record all season, and face a Marquette Hilltoppers team which hasn’t given up a point in its seven wins.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Marquette
WIAA Level 1 Division 3 predictions
No. 7 Menasha (7-2) at No. 2 Plymouth (8-1)
The Plymouth Panthers have eight very strong victories on their resume and one lop-sided defeat at the hands of the Port Washington Pirates, the top ranked team in D3. The Menasha Bluejays have seven wins but haven’t beaten a team with a winning record, likely a reasoning for their lower seeding. Luckily for Plymouth, Menasha is not remotely close to the quality of Port Washington so I see the Panthers winning comfortably.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Plymouth
Cannon for a leg: This Plymouth kicker can make a 60-yard FG and has interest from Wisconsin and Notre Dame
WIAA Level 1 Division 4 predictions
No. 8 Saint Francis (4-5) at No. 1 Two Rivers (9-0)
My thoughts on the quality of the Two Rivers Raiders is well known. Somebody has to face Two Rivers and get blown out by halftime in Level 1, it just happened to be the Saint Francis Mariners. Be prepared to see the Raiders backups for a good chunk of this one.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Two Rivers
No. 6 Kettle Moraine Lutheran (5-4) at No. 3 Kiel (7-2)
The only two teams to knock off the Kiel Raiders this season have been a pair of undefeated, state-ranked teams in Two Rivers and the Kewaunee Storm. Simply put, Kiel is a very good team and should move on very comfortably against the Kettle Moraine Lutheran Chargers. Look for Raiders quarterback Cade Voelker to have a big night.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Kiel
No. 5 Kohler/Lutheran/Christian (6-3) at No. 4 Campbellsport (7-2)
The Kohler/Lutheran/Christian Blue Bombers have a strong passing game headlined by Max Breitenbach but have struggled against two teams in D3 ranked higher than the Campbellsport Cougars. KLC lost by at least three touchdowns to both Kiel and Two Rivers, so going off those similar opponents I see Campbellsport advancing.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Campbellsport
WIAA Level 1 Division 5 predictions
No. 5 New Holstein (6-3) at No. 4 Amherst (6-3)
Having seen both the New Holstein Huskies and Amherst Falcons in person this year, I’m going to give the edge to Amherst based mostly on a strong offense led by dual-threat quarterback Michael Benjamin. New Holstein is a very strong team and senior linebacker Owen Abler has a chance to take over the game, and if he does that would be the Huskies best chance to prevail.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Amherst
Gridiron good guy: This New Holstein LB will put you on your back then help you up with a smile
No. 6 Oostburg (5-4) at No. 3 Horicon/Hustisford (7-2)
This is the only game of the 12 I have an upset predicted. I think the Oostburg Flying Dutchmen play very sound defense and if they can minimize the big plays by the Horicon/Hustisford Marshmen they will pull off the upset. Another reason is the stellar play of running backs Kedan Laganowski and Braeden Veldboom. Laganowski in particular has been a revelation with multiple 200-yard games since taking over the lead role following Joey Bruggink’s season coming to a close due to injury in Week 6. A strong defense and run game is a great recipe for success in the playoffs.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Oostburg
WIAA Level 1 Division 6 predictions
No. 5 Waterloo (7-2) at No. 4 Cedar Grove-Belgium (7-2)
The Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets are an interesting team. Before running back/linebacker Billy Navis was injured in Week 3, the Rockets were state-ranked and looked like a state contender. Dropping two-straight games lost that state-ranked luster but with Navis back the past few weeks Cedar Grove-Belgium is looking like state contenders again. I’m not sold on the Waterloo Pirates being as good as their record indicates based on a weaker schedule so I have the Rockets advancing.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Cedar Grove-Belgium
No. 6 Howards Grove (4-5) at No. 3 Marshall (8-1)
The Howards Grove Tigers began the season 4-1 but have since dropped four straight. That isn’t a great way to enter the postseason against a Marshall Cardinals team which has scored at least 40 points six this season. Quarterback Trent Grunewald and running back Tyler Rittenhouse give Howards Grove a chance for the upset but Marshall’s offense might be too much to keep up with.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Howards Grove
No. 7 Random Lake (4-5) at No. 2 St. Mary’s Springs (9-0)
A win in Week 9 got the Random Lake Rams into the postseason, and for their efforts face off with the powerhouse St. Mary’s Springs Ledgers. Springs is undefeated and likely to advance although anything can happen.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: St. Mary’s Springs
WIAA Level 1 Division 7 predictions
No. 8 Loyal (4-5) at No. 1 Reedsville (9-0)
Before dual-threat quarterback Parker Maney was knocked out of the end of Friday’s win by the Reedsville Panthers, I would have expected this game to be over by halftime. If Maney returns this week, that is likely the outcome. It still might be as the Loyal Greyhounds have just three wins in games which were competed, as their fourth was a forfeit victory. Maney or not, Reedsville should move on.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Reedsville
No. 6 Ozaukee (5-4) at No. 3 Lourdes Academy (6-3)
Ozaukee faces a stiff test this week against a Lourdes Academy Knights team which has lost three games to team which have at least seven wins. After alternating wins and losses each week since Week 2 and coming off a loss to Cedar Grove-Belgium in Week 9 the pattern would indicate an Ozaukee win, but that is about the strongest season to think an upset could occur.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Lourdes Academy
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: Tom Dombeck picks WIAA Level 1 football games for Manitowoc/Sheboygan
