What we learned in Week 6 on prep football scene

Scott A. Williams

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

CENTRAL WISCONSIN - We're six weeks into the 2017 high school football season and already a handful of area teams have clinched WIAA playoff berths.

Coaches at defending Division 5 state champion Amherst, Abbotsford, Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Loyal and Pittsville can breathe a little easier Saturday knowing they have a spot in the postseason guaranteed.

Several more are on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs including defending Division 7 state champion and unbeaten Edgar, which is ranked No. 1 in the Small Division of the latest Associated Press poll.

"Making the playoffs is always our first goal," said Amherst coach Mark Lusic, whose team will vie for a third straight state title. "Now we can chase conference. We're starting to come together as a team and are getting better every week."

Amherst quarterback Marcus Glodowski threw four touchdown passes in a 62-0 win over Manawa on Friday night as the two-time defending Division 5 state champion Falcons clinched a playoff berth.

Among the teams that became playoff eligible with wins Friday night, but not a lock yet, are Marathon, Mosinee and Stratford.

The formula for postseason inclusion can be a little confusing so let's attempt to clear it up the best we can.

Teams with a conference winning percentage better than .500 are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.Those teams which finish exactly .500 in conference play are playoff eligible, but not guaranteed a spot.

Past history suggests only a few teams to finish .500 have not made the playoffs.Teams falling into that category can be encouraged knowing every team to finish with a .500 record in conference qualified for the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood continues to open eyes around central Wisconsin after improving to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the CWC-Large with a 36-0 win over Weyauwega-Fremont on Friday night.

Time to be taken seriously

Wittenberg-Birnamwood was a nice little story after it picked up a couple early-season wins following several years of futility.

With a combined five wins to their credit over the previous three seasons, the Chargers have already matched that total in a breakout 2017 campaign.

A 36-0 whitewashing of Weyauwega-Fremont left W-B 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division under the direction of coach Bernard Holsey. The lone loss came to Iola-Scandinavia in the conference opener.

Perhaps the most promising sign overall has been the stingy nature of the Chargers defense. In wins over Shiocton and W-F the past two weeks, the Chargers have surrendered a paltry three points.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood will be put to the test Friday when it hosts Bonduel (5-1) whose only loss came at the hands of two-time defending Division 5 state champion Amherst.

Happy returns

The importance of special teams was once again reinforced Friday night. No one is proving that more than Abbotsford.

The Falcons seem to find a way to score in the return game just about every week. That was the case again in a 56-20 drubbing of Greenwood in Week 6.

Adam Seefluth found the end zone on an 86-yard kickoff return to open the second half. But Abbotsford wasn't done. Cody Friedenfels added a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Running back Ean Rau is one of several threats capable of scoring at any time on special teams for the Abbotsford football team this season.

Pittsville's Bailey Herkert also excelled on special teams by taking a punt to the house in the unbeaten Panthers' 78-0 demolition of Marion/Tigerton.

Turning defense into points

A number of teams around central Wisconsin showed defense is not all about preventing the other team from scoring.

That side of the ball can also put points on the scoreboard at times and in Week 6, the interception turned out to be the best way for defenses to find the end zone.

No one did it better than Stevens Point Area Senior High which returned three of its five interception for touchdowns in a 54-20 thrashing of Wausau West.

“You can’t say enough about our defense … to get three pick-sixes tonight was pretty impressive,” SPASH coach Pete McAdams told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's Tim Johnson.

“Turnovers have been evading us the past few games and we know how important that is and that was evident tonight.”

Sam Simmons took an interception 83 yards for a score, while Lee Goman, who accounted for two of the five picks, returned one 17 yards for a TD. Trent Hamerski also scored on a 33-yard interception return.

SPASH's Lee Goman intercepts a pass during the Panthers win over Wausau West on Friday at Thom Field.

Using the interception as an offensive weapon wasn't reserved by the Panthers either.

Pittsville's Tyler Dammann doubled his pleasure as a defensive back with a pair of picks for touchdowns, while Nate Karau of Spencer/Columbus Catholic added a pick-six in a win over Cadott.

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill