WIAA Football Level 3 Predictions Tom Dombeck Manitowoc, Sheboygan

by Junna Base November 9, 2024

And then there were two.

The Kiel Raiders and Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets football teams are the final two headed to Level 3 in Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties.

As I have done for the last four weeks, I will break down each game and give my predictions on who will advance.

I was 5-0 last week and have picked 26-8 games since starting Week 8.

No. 2 Kiel Raiders (11-0) vs. No. 1 Wrightstown Tigers (10-1)

Let’s start by saying that in this Division 5 match, this game should be played in Kiel and not Wrightstown.

The Raiders were undefeated conference champions and the Tigers weren’t, that’s about as simple as it gets.

Apart from that, for the first time since Kiel played against Berlin in week 2, I can’t imagine a defeat.

Wrightstown will be the best team the Raiders have faced all season, and with all due respect to the undefeated Freedom, I think the same can be said the other way around.

The Tigers have never competed against such a dynamic offensive team like Kiel.

Bryce Gullixon is the Raiders’ primary offensive weapon as he rushed for a school-record 1,791 yards and 34 touchdowns. He holds the school record for rushing yards and points scored.

He averages over 11 yards per reception, so he averages a first down every time he carries the ball, which is crazy.

Furthermore, he could have put up even more if Kiel hadn’t been destroying teams all season and barely seeing any action in the second half.

Quarterback Cade Voelker also proved he is more than capable of taking over a game, throwing for 1,300 yards with 22 touchdowns with just one interception.

Voelker tends to take advantage of opportunities, which could be a problem in a game potentially as close as this one. However, he is supported by some notable receivers: Braden Aprill and Harrison Zorn.

They’re so good that he trusts them to make throws he might want to avoid, but so far they’ve proven they’re up to the task.

If there’s one area of concern for the Raiders, it’s defense. It’s not bad by any means, but I would rate it as good rather than great.

All too often, it is too easy for the opponent to make big plays, which can lead to problems.

Wrightstown is a run-oriented team led by Aiden Humphreys, who has over 1,200 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns this season.

Working in Kiel’s favor is the play of standout defensive lineman Brady Bortz, who will play a big role in neutralizing the Humpreys and the Tigers’ rushing attacks.

Bortz has 21 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks this year, so he’s a tough opponent.

If Kiel can force Wrightstown to become one-dimensional in the passing game, as it did in last week’s 42-7 win over Kewaunee, the Raiders should win, and by double digits.

The prerequisite for this is that the defense does its part, because I am confident that the offense will continue to score more than enough points to win.

Predicted winner: Kiel

No. 2 Lomira Lions (9-2) vs. No. 1 Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets (9-3)

This will be an interesting matchup between two teams that look pretty evenly matched on paper.

Both teams played and lost close games against Mayville, with the Rockets dropping five points and the Lions dropping seven.

They also picked up wins against Manitowoc Lutheran, with Cedar Grove-Belgium’s 28-point win a far more comfortable win than Lomira’s 14-point win last week.

All three of Cedar Grove-Belgium’s losses came against Division 4 teams, leaving them undefeated against teams their size.

The Rockets’ offense is capable of doing whatever it takes to win, depending on what the best matchup is.

Quarterback Carter Schmitz has thrown for over 1,500 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while running back Ira Hilbelink has added 17 scores for over 1,400 yards.

Dan Schreurs, the coach and offensive coordinator at Cedar Grove-Belgium, is one of the best coaches in the state because of his creativity and his willingness to put his ego aside and do what his players do best as opposed to a specific plan .

There’s a reason the Rockets are one of the best teams in the region year after year.

Schmitz has found a great connection with receiver Griffin Knight, who leads the team with over 700 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Knight also forms an excellent defensive backfield tandem with Brody Halleman.

To beat Lomira, Cedar Grove-Belgium will have to contain running back Taylor Schaumberg and dual-threat quarterback Jackson Goebel.

Schaumberg leads the Lions with just under 1,600 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns, while Goebel has gained over 600 yards on the ground and over 900 yards through the air with 18 total touchdowns.

The Rockets will rely on standout defensive lineman Jackson Foster and Vadim Misera to keep the running game under control.

Looking at their common opponents and knowing what I’m doing against Cedar Grove-Belgium, I give the Rockets the edge in this game, especially at home.

I believe that Hilbelink will play a strong game and the defense will do everything it can to reach the state semifinals.

Predicted winner: Cedar Grove-Belgium

Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.

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