Highlander football prepares for big conference game

Molly Ryan

The Highlanders show great sportsmanship and shake the hands of Nicolet’s team after their victory last Friday.

Coming off its 35-0 victory over the Nicolet Knights last Friday, Homestead’s football team looks to take down Whitefish Bay in possibly the biggest game of the year for the team on Friday, Oct. 9.

Since this game will decide if the Highlanders share a conference championship, the boys have been preparing extra hard this week.

As always, we treat football a lot like a classroom. We start by providing the students with information about our opponent, such as what type of offense and defense they use and favorite plays,” Coach Matt Wolf, defensive coordinator, said. “Then, we study it in different ways: film of the opponent, powerpoints and notes. In practice, we provide hands-on experience, drills and simulations, then afterwards, we provide an assessment of the game, followed by review and feedback after watching Saturday morning film of the previous night’s game.”

“We’re putting in our hardest and most intense week of practice of the season, and everyone from top to bottom is adding extra effort,” Joe Wasserman, senior defensive back, said.

Senior running back Patrick Minkin agreed with Wasserman. “For this game, we have been having high intensity practices, as well as making sure that our focus and mental side of the game have been excellent,” Minkin said.

The Highlanders have only one conference loss this season to Germantown. However, Whitefish Bay defeated Germantown 42-21 on Friday, Sept. 25, and are still undefeated in conference. If the Highlanders were to win against Whitefish Bay, Homestead would share the conference championship title with Germantown and Whitefish Bay.

All of the players have agreed that this is the biggest game of the year, and that it would give the team a lot of confidence if they won.

“A win against Whitefish Bay puts us in the running for a conference title, which means a lot to the team since we would be continuing what has been tradition for 15 years,” Minkin said.

“A win would keep us alive for a conference championship, which is on all of our minds,” Jack Popp, senior wide receiver and safety, said.

Coach Wolf felt the same way as the players. “It would mean that we could continue to control our own destiny towards one of our team’s goals of a conference championship,” Coach Wolf said.

The boys feel like their strengths this season have been athleticism, dedication and ability to work together. However, “our team weaknesses have been capitalizing on key opportunities and momentum shifts, as well as being mentally sound,” Minkin said.

In the words of Wasserman, “We have had breakdowns as a team in the past, but if everyone does their job, we can’t lose.”

The team is very excited for this conference game and will do anything and everything they can to come out with a victory.

“We are absolutely hyped to take on probably our biggest rival and beat them at their homecoming,” Wasserman said.

“Everybody is really hyped for the game and it should be a really good time,” Popp said.

“The players and coaches are extremely excited for this game. It will be an exciting atmosphere on Friday,” Coach Wolf said.

“This game is very exciting. I have had the opportunity to play in some big games in the past, and they are the ones to remember for sure. Games with a lot on the line against very worthy opponents are the ones to treasure,” Minkin ended.