Football chaos incoming

I’ve been a Debbie Downer about Wisconsin sports so far this year with the Brewers dropping off after the trade deadline and the Packers seemingly taking a step back from last year. But something in Wisconsin sports and particularly central Wisconsin that has me excited is the plethora of talent we have right here in our hometowns. Our local football teams are undefeated on the season after Colby has waxed Neillsville, Spencer/ Columbus, Iola-Scandinavia and Loyal so far this year and Abbotsford has dismantled Loyal, Iola-Scandinavia and Melrose-Mindoro by a combined score of 137 - 35.

Both teams look strong as they head into the meat and potatoes of their schedules. Colby has Edgar coming up Friday night while Abby will play a conference game at Marathon.

The exciting thing about these two teams playing so well this early in the season is that they are part of a loaded conference that will seemingly be trading blows back and forth for the rest of the season.

Three out of Colby’s next five games are against Edgar, Abbotsford and Auburndale. Those teams have a combined record of 11-0 this season. Likewise, Abbotsford will face undefeated teams in Colby, Edgar and Auburndale to battle it out for the conference title.

The new conference alignment has had its ups and downs but a main positive is the fact that we get to see Colby and Abbotsford face off every year. Nathaniel and I were brainstorming ideas on how to incorporate schools like Loyal, Stratford and Spencer/Columbus into the conference to make it a true central Wisconsin powerhouse but it seems like someone is always left out.

It’s no doubt that a Friday night football game can be exciting no matter who is playing but these rivalries are something that adds a new element. It helps when teams are good and have postseason aspirations but wouldn’t the casual fan want to see Colby take on Stratford or the Abbotsford and Loyal crossover game turn into a full-on conference battle? Maybe it’s just me but I think having teams like Loyal and Spencer/Columbus head to Shiocton, Manawa or Rosholt to play conference games when there are teams in their own backyard they can play is weird.

I don’t know the ins and outs of conference alignment and what kind of dominos changing the Marawood and CWC large and small conferences would do to the rest of the landscape but this seems like a no-brainer to me but I’m just an out of touch alumnus who is shouting at the clouds.

Anywho, I’ll be sure to enjoy the upcoming slate of games for both teams as they make their playoff pushes and look to stamp their names in history as Marawood Conference champions.

Speeding

Through

L

ife