FIRST AND SHORT

The Playbook: a look at tonight's Level 2 games

JR Radcliffe
jr.radcliffe@jrn.com

Check out the games to know (and the people to follow) for tonight's Level 2 schedule:

D1: (4) Oak Creek (7-3, 4-3 in Southeast) at (1) Franklin (9-1, 7-0 in Southeast). The 33-21 win for Franklin in the regular season between these two was a huge day for quarterback Max Alba, who threw for 275 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Sabers. Franklin benefited from three turnovers in the game, including two forced fumbles from Alek Riestra (who also had 13 tackles). Oak Creek already defeated another squad that beat it during the regular season (Kenosha Bradford) in the playoffs, and the Knights appear to be hitting their stride. Follow Steven Tietz on Twitter for updates.

D3: (5) Wisconsin Lutheran (7-3, 6-1 in Wisconsin Little Ten) at (1) Catholic Memorial (10-0, 7-0 in Classic 8). It wouldn’t be the first time these two have met in a playoff classic if it comes down to the wire, as both have been staples of the Division 3 postseason for some time. Wisco is coming off a nail-biting win over Eisenhower, while Memorial looks like a state-title favorite. Follow JR Radcliffe for updates.

D2: (7) Menomonee Falls (5-5, 4-3 in Greater Metro) at (3) Brookfield East (8-2, 5-2 in Greater Metro). Menomonee Falls pulled one of the biggest upsets of Level 1 in stunning state-title contender Menasha, the second straight week Falls has defeated an unbeaten foe to keep its season alive. The upstart can’t be taken lightly anymore, though East should remain favored given its recent play. Sam Santiago-Lloyd has been seemingly healthy and delivering some eye-popping numbers again for the Spartans. Follow Andrew Gruman for updates.

D2: (4) Germantown (5-5, 4-3 in North Shore) at (1) Homestead (9-1, 7-0 in North Shore). With realignment sending Germantown to the Greater Metro next year, the final chapter of this great rivalry appeared to be written in the regular season. But Germantown found a way into the playoffs, then got bumped down to Division 2, and now here we are one last time. Can former Homestead player Jake Davis coach Germantown to an upset of his mentor?

D3: (7) Delavan-Darien (6-4, 4-3 in Southern Lakes) at (3) Pewaukee (9-1, 6-1 in Woodland West). The Pirates, who handled Jefferson in Level 1, were afforded a second home game when Delavan-Darien surprised Mount Horeb/Barneveld in an overtime battle in the first round. The Comets are led by big-time playmaker Jake Benzing, the leading passer (2,195 yards) and rusher (614), so it will be a considerable test for the Pirates’ talented defense. Follow Chuck Delsman for updates.

D2: (3) Greenfield (7-3, 5-2 in Woodland West) at (2) Whitefish Bay (7-3, 5-2 in North Shore). This is a genuinely intriguing clash between two teams that scuffled late in the season, though both won big as expected in Level 1 of the playoffs. Greenfield is led by the dynamic 1-2 punch of Rayvon Bartlett, Jr. and Ezekiel Banks, and Bay is led by the ground game of Van Bassindale and the air attack of quarterback Cade Garcia and receiver Alex Anthony. This could be a high-scoring battle.

D6: (4) Lake Country Lutheran (10-0, 7-0 in Midwest Classic) at (1) St. Mary’s Springs (10-0, 6-0 in Flyway). The Lightning travel to Fond du Lac to face off with one of the gold-standard program sin all of Wisconsin, and a win would represent an upset that would reverberate throughout the state. But don’t count out the undefeated Lightning, who have one of their best teams. Follow Evan Frank for updates.

D2: (7) Watertown (6-4 overall, 5-2 in Wisconsin Little Ten) at (3) Waukesha West (7-3, 5-2 in Classic 8). Watertown, with the high-powered quarterback-receiver combo of Dylan Fagerland and Ryan Hayden putting up numbers at the very top of the state leaderboard, pulled an upset over second-seeded Wilmot in Level 1, and now they must face the run-heavy attack of Waukesha West, which will once again be looking to make a stealthy deep run into the playoffs. Follow Dan Zielinski for updates.

D2: (4) Hartford (7-3, 5-2 in Wisconsin Little Ten) at (1) Brookfield Central (9-1, 6-1 in Greater Metro). Central’s loss to Menomonee Falls at the end of the year was a distant memory when the Lancers powered their way past Tosa West in Level 1 – and a win by Falls over undefeated Menasha elsewhere in the draw further strengthens Central’s already considerable resume. Hartford won a zany game over Oshkosh North in Level 1, 45-42, on a field goal in the final seconds. The Orioles have an interesting profile, with a win over Wisconsin Lutheran and close loss to Oconomowoc on the ledger, but Brookfield Central won big over the Orioles in the nonconference season. Follow Sky Skibosh for updates.