Breaking down this week's big game

All eyes (well, except mine) will be on Friday's WLA-Waupun game. My co-worker, Doug Whiteley, will be at this game while I check out Nathan Lehman's North Fond du Lac squad against St. Mary's Springs.

Still, I'll be hoping that my walkman can pick up the signal of WFDL-AM 1170. I'll be interested to see how this one turns out.

WLA has exceeded almost everyone's expectations this season. I would have thought next week's Ripon-Waupun game would have decided the East Central Flyway. But with Ripon stumbling and WLA soaring, this is the game of the year in the ECFC.

WLA's defense is legit. The Vikings' linebackers are among the best I've seen this year, and they fly to the ball. Of course, the defensive line makes that all possible.

The question is if that defense can slow down Waupun. The Warriors have been scoring a lot of points lately, albeit against what some would call inferior competion. Still, Waupun spreads the ball around on offense. One night, it's Luke Marwitz. The next, Wade Williams. And then it's Matt Pollock. There's not one guy that you can key on, and even if you gear up to stop the run, Ryan Rasmussen is good enough to make plays from the quarterback position (I'd imagine Waupun is pretty good at throwing screens).

While that may be the game's biggest draw, I think the key to this game is what Waupun brings to the table on defense. There was a two-week stretch in September in which the Warriors gave up 65 points, including 42 in a loss to Denmark. Now, WLA's offense isn't anything to write home about but Spenser Hicks and Ethan Geis are more than capable at the running back position. WLA's passing game has been MIA as of late, but I'll be coach Mark McCormick is finding a way to make it viable once again. Will we see Paul Heinkel as a wide receiver again? Eric Reed had a few snaps at QB against Winneconne, and while the Vikings didn't complete a pass in that game, maybe it's a sign that he's ready to come back to the fray.

I'd still say that Waupun is the favorite in this one, but I'm very interested to see what WLA will do on offense. I think 20 points is the magic number. If WLA can get to 20 points, I think they can win this game.