⭐ Big Five Games - Level 2, 2017 ⭐
1. #3 Madison West (8-2) at #2 Middleton (9-1) - Division 1, Group C
2. #3 Lake Mills (9-1) at #2 Racine St. Catherine's (10-0) - Division 4, Group C
3. #4 Platteville (9-1) at #1 Lodi (10-0) - Division 4, Group C
4. #3 Stoughton (9-1) at #2 Waukesha West (10-0) - Division 2, Group C
5. #3 Mount Horeb/Barneveld (9-1) at #2 Catholic Memorial (8-2) - Division 3, Group C
Division 1 - Group C
#5 Kettle Moraine (7-3) at #1 Sun Prairie (10-0): With Sun Prairie giving up only 4.7 points per game, scoring opportunities will be at a premium for the Lasers. If their solid ground game gets on track against the Cardinals, it could be a fun ride. Sun Prairie's defense features three seniors up for statewide football awards and an offense that has found balance and depth throughout the year. Kettle Moraine is a second-half team, having given up only one score in the fourth quarter all season long. Their three losses are by a combined 10 points to playoff teams.
#3 Madison West (8-2) at #2 Middleton (9-1): A full preview is available by clicking on the link at the top of this article, underneath the first image. It's our Madison Taxi Game of the Week.
Division 2 - Group B
#4 Slinger (7-3) at #1 Waunakee (10-0): Slinger has been out-scoring opponents this year as an aggregate about two scores per game (123 more points for than against), but Waunakee is on a different level. The Warriors have shut out half of the opponents they've played and give up only 4.8 points per game. Slinger is very similar to teams in the Badger North: establish a run game, control the line of scrimmage, physical play all around. Waunakee will see one of the best teams they've faced all year in this game, possibly the best team they've played since Mount Horeb/Barneveld in Week 3.
#3 Hartford Union (8-2) at #2 Menasha (9-1): Hartford Union is on a roll. They knocked down a D3 top seed in Whitefish Bay in Week 9, then beat West Bend East 38-10 for the second time this year (winning 26-21 in an early-season meeting). Menasha has lost once this year, 21-20 to New London. Their stifling defense has tossed three shutouts, and has given up more than one score only four times this season. They saw Watertown's prolific passing attack last week.
Division 2 - Group C
#4 Waterford (8-2) at #1 Monona Grove (10-0): The Silver Eagles are scoring 49.2 points per game, with over 2,000 passing and rushing yards on the season. Believe it or not, this is a run-first team, that has the ability to hit for big plays deep. They've also scored 32 touchdowns through the air, and 34 on the ground. Quarterback Alec Ogden is also on the short list for state player of the year. Waterford needed overtime to put away rival Burlington 28-27 to take both meetings this season. This is a rematch of a Level 1 game from a season ago, won by Monona Grove 24-14.
#3 Stoughton (9-1) at #2 Waukesha West (10-0): While Waukesha West is seething about being seeded second, the truth is that some feel the Wolverines are the team to beat, perhaps in the state. Their path to Madison will include a potential rematch with Monona Grove in Level 3, a chance for Waukesha West to avenge a controversial one-point overtime loss from a season ago on their home field, and a game against one of the Brookfield schools or Homestead in Level 4. They'll see Stoughton, fresh off of their first-ever playoff victory, in a rematch from Level 1 a season ago when the Wolverines won 35-0.
Area schools in other divisions:
Division 3 - Group C
#3 Mount Horeb/Barneveld (9-1) at #2 Catholic Memorial (8-2): The Vikings match up with the defending D3 state champions. Mount Horeb/Barneveld is on a seven-game winning streak.
Division 4 - Group C
#4 Platteville (9-1) at #1 Lodi (10-0): Lodi averted disaster, rallying for a 38-31 win over #8 Mayville in Level 1. Now, they'll face the powerful passing of the Platteville Hillmen in Level 2.
#3 Lake Mills (9-1) at #2 Racine St. Catherine's (10-0): This game pits two of the very best quarterbacks in the state against each other. Expect points aplenty in this one.
Division 5 - Group C
#4 Prairie du Chien (8-2) at #1 Clinton (10-0): Clinton is the only Rock Valley school to get a home playoff game in this year's playoffs, and the last Rock Valley team left in the playoffs. They'll test their top-ranked running game against a solid Prairie du Chien squad.