WIAA football: Tom Dombeck picks all 5 Level 2 matchups for Manitowoc, Sheboygan teams
There are just five high school football teams left standing in Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties heading into Level 2.
I break down each of the five games and give predictions as to who will be moving on and who will be preparing for next season come Saturday.
Last week I went 10-2 picking the area's Level 1 contests.
Here are the games, broken down by division.
WIAA Division 4 Level 2 predictions
No. 4 Campbellsport (8-2) at No. 1 Two Rivers (10-0)
The Two Rivers Raiders, as referred to by quarterback Justin Klinkner last week, are a well-oiled machine. I certainly don't see that machine breaking down this week despite a very strong opponent in the Campbellsport Cougars. Campbellsport snuck by the Kohler/Lutheran/Christian Blue Bombers last week by a touchdown, the same team Two Rivers beat by 47 earlier this season. Standout Cougars running back Benjamin Timm, who was held out last week due to precautionary reasons, has over 1,600 yards and averages almost 185 per game. I don’t see him breaking 100 and might be lucky to get more than 50 against a stout Raiders defense which limits opponents to just under 47 yards a game and two yards a carry on the ground. Two Rivers wins with a running clock.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Two Rivers
No. 3 Kiel (8-2) at No. 2 Luxemburg-Casco (8-2)
This has the potential to be the game of the week between the Kiel Raiders and Luxemburg-Casco Spartans. The Raiders overcame an early two-touchdown deficit last week to advance to Level 2. Kiel’s only two losses have come against teams who have yet to lose once in 20 games so the Raiders have played quality opponents. I’m going to give the edge in this one Kiel based on the strong play of quarterback Cade Voelker and his speedy wideouts Braden Aprill and Harrison Zorn. No deficit is potentially too big for Kiel. The Spartans are led by dual-threat quarterback Max Ronsmann who has exactly 2,600 yards of total offense. Stop Ronsmann and the Raiders will likely move on to a potential rematch with Two Rivers.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Kiel
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WIAA Division 6 Level 2 predictions
No. 4 Cedar Grove-Belgium (8-2) at No. 1 Kewaunee (10-0)
Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets coach Dan Schreurs should be absolutely commended for helping guide the Rockets through a tougher season than the eight wins would indicate. The loss of running back/linebacker Billy Navis for multiple weeks truly affected the entire team and his return subsequently boosted the team. If Cedar Grove-Belgium hopes to win a sixth-straight game it’ll take a tall order against the undefeated Kewaunee Storm which has outscored opponents by 285 points. I have Kewaunee winning, but any potential upset by the Rockets will happen if Navis and company can contain Storm running back Owen Carlson who has almost 1,800 yards this year.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Kewaunee
No. 6 Howards Grove (5-5) at No. 2 St. Mary’s Springs (10-0)
The Howards Grove Tigers were riding a four-game losing streak entering the playoffs but upset No. 3 Marshall last week. Taking on the undefeated St. Mary’s Springs Ledgers are an entirely different proposition. Howards Grove has a well-diversified offense in quarterback Trent Grunewald and running back Tyler Rittenhouse. They’ll need both players to have a strong game if they want to pull off the upset although it might be too tough of a task.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: St. Mary’s Springs
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WIAA Division 7 Level 2 predictions
No. 4 Cambria-Friesland (7-3) at No. 1 Reedsville (10-0)
Without the services of standout dual-threat quarterback Parker Maney in Level 1, the undefeated Reedsville Panthers turned to backup Ben Prochnow who had a strong game to help Reedsville advance. Getting Maney back this week will go a long ways towards knocking off the Cambria-Friesland Hilltoppers. Maney was the state’s second-leading rusher in the regular season and his explosiveness is hard to contain. Whether or not Maney plays, Reedsville is likely to prevail but it would be a lot more comfortable with the dynamic playmaker on the field.
Dombeck’s predicted winner: Reedsville
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 2 football games for Manitowoc/Sheboygan
