The cream has risen to the top, with only eight teams remaining in each division of the WIAA football playoffs. Two more wins are all that separate a team from the state title game at this point, and every game is guaranteed to have intrigue.
Two outcomes catch my attention from the Level 2, and both have Lake Country ties. The top-ranked team in the state nearly got ousted in a major upset against Oshkosh West, but a late drive kept Arrowhead's quest to repeat as state champions alive. But perhaps the most eye-opening outcome was Sussex Hamilton, shocking GMC champs Brookfield Central in a 21-13 outcome at HHS.
- Advancing in the Division 2 bracket, Hamilton picked up a tremendous game from quarterback Justin Rupnow -- who converted first downs on a pair of fake punts in addition to a perfect touchdown pass -- and notched a valuable touchdown when Tyler Janus returned an interception 55 yards with 8:49 to go. Central, which defeated Hamilton during the regular season, 31-6, had emerged as a darkhorse with D2 title game hopes. Instead, the Chargers staged a dramatic upset. They get unbeaten Waunakee in the next round, but they just proved they can beat anyone. Central had one loss on the year -- a 10-6 loss to Division 1 stalwart Milwaukee Marquette. Hamilton blocked a field goal in the big win, battled back from a pair of deficits and played without running back Ken Zarske. Taylor Hillmann ran for 111 yards.
- Arrowhead was dead in the water. Oshkosh West, scrambling back thanks to an AHS fumble and an onside kick recovery, took a one-point lead with 1:30 to go. The Warhawks drove the length of the field and scored when Tom Parish threw a perfect toss to Collin Schreck for a 34-yard game winner. There were 13 seconds on the clock, and AHS scored a 30-25 victory to advance and face Hartford. It almost trumps last year's Level 3 overtime win over Marquette -- I guess AHS just needs a dramatic win in the playoffs. Last year, their other four playoff games were easy wins. Will the same happen this time around?
- It was Homestead's turn to battle with Marquette this year, but they managed a 14-8 lead to advance. They face Racine Park next, and an HHS-AHS state title rematch remains a possibility for the third straight year.
- It just wasn't meant to be for Division 3 entrant Pewaukee, which played well and tied Greendale in the fourth quarter Saturday but could not pull ahead of the Panthers in the 42-28 loss. The Pirates came into the matchup undefeated and held tightly with their Woodland foes, thanks to a tremendous receiving day for Ben Landry (8 catches, 157 yards) and over 350 yards in the air. But GD was more comfortable in the shootout and managed the big plays when it needed them. Wisconsin Lutheran awaits the Panthers, and the Vikings still haven't shown a *** in their armor following a 28-10 win over Catholic Memorial.
- Kettle Moraine pushed Hartford but ran into a similar scenario -- just not enough to last the whole game. The Orioles perservered against the Lasers, 35-21.
- I had a hunch heading into the playoffs that Chippewa Falls or D.C. Everest -- both undefeated in one quadrant of the playoff bracket -- would give AHS a run for its money in the state semifinal. But it's not going to happen. Falls was a surprise ouster in the first round at the hands of Bay Port, and Everest just went down at the hands of Point. That means a three or four seed would battle Arrowhead -- assuming they get past a talented Hartford team that has just one loss all year, and that against a powerhouse like Wisconsin Lutheran.
- Franklin? Really? Two years ago, they were state champions. Last year, they needed a run of wins to just reach the playoffs, and they needed a win on the final day of the season to get there again. Now that they're here, they want to stay a while. A late victory over Oregon sprung the Sabers into Level 2, and a victory over top-seeded Milton reminded everyone that FHS did, after all, play in the amazing Southeast Conference. They next get Verona, which defeated Waterford by a single point in Level 2.
- Kaukauna and Kimberly will battle in an age-old rivalry in one quadrant of the Division 2 bracket. The Papermakers hammered Kaukauna earlier this year, but as we saw with Hamilton and Brookfield Central, the playoffs can be a different scenario.