While it’s no longer a Big Rivers Conference clash, Friday night’s high school football game between Menomonie and Memorial still promises to pack quite a punch.
The Mustangs are looking to continue another winning season, while the Old Abes hope to be a spoiler and get that elusive first win of the year when the two teams take to the gridiron. Kickoff in this traditional rivalry is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carson Park.
Coming off a 42-0 shellacking of Superior last week, the Mustangs hope to continue their winning ways this year, as their only loss this season came at the hands of still-undefeated Rice Lake, 36-19, in Week Four of this high school football season. Menomonie is 4-1 overall as the gridiron season is now well into its second half. The Mustangs are 2-1 in the Big Rivers Conference to date.
As for Memorial, they are 0-3 in their new conference, the Wisconsin Valley, and 0-5 overall after falling to crosstown rival Eau Claire North 28-16 at Carson Park last Friday night. In last year’s game against the Mustangs, also at Carson Park, Menomonie easily handled the Old Abes in a 36-0 shutout win.
Knowing that Menomonie will bring its A game to Carson Park on Friday night, Memorial head football coach Tom Westcott realizes what his players are going to have to do to get the upset win over the Mustangs.
“Collectively we need to play with an attacking mindset where we are the aggressor. Waiting for our opponent to make a mistake or to catch a tackle doesn’t get the job done,” Westcott told the Leader-Telegram in an exclusive interview earlier this week.
The Old Abes first-year head coach added that “Menomonie plays very fast defensively so we will need to ensure our OL is ready for their five-man pressures. Defensively we need to be able to stop the run and that begins with us being fundamentally sound and knowing our assignments to be gap sound.”
Unfortunately, Memorial will continue to be without the services of senior star wide receiver Tay Ferguson, who Westcott confirmed to the Leader-Telegram Wednesday afternoon will remain sidelined for the Menomonie game after suffering a knee injury in Memorial’s game against SPASH a few weeks ago.
Looking back at last week’s game against North, Memorial’s players continued to fight back despite a three touchdown deficit early in the annual rivalry game.
Down 21-0 in the first quarter against Eau Claire North last Friday, the Old Abes hung tough while trying to get back into the matchup against their crosstown rivals and only allowed the Huskies to score one additional touchdown the entire game. Westcott says that the never give up mentality is a key one for his players to have as they work toward getting that first win of the season.
“I am proud of our players for continuing to grow and strive to get better each day. We have seen glimpses of who we can be when we play well — our offense had a great game against Marshfield and our defense played well in the second half of the SPASH game and quarters two-to-four last Friday. When we put everything together we will be a force in the Wisconsin Valley,” Westcott said.
As for Menomonie’s head coach, Mike Sinz, he noted that his Mustangs’ win over Superior last week was sort of a benchmark moment for his team who he noted has been evolving and improving as the season has progressed.
“Our big focus has been playing a complete game. We finally feel like we did that last Friday night,” Sinz told the Leader-Telegram, adding that “We started off the year pretty inexperienced on the offensive line. Now, after having five games under our belts, I think our kids are feeling more confident every week.’
As for the Old Abes, Sinz said that despite their record, his team will not overlook the talent they possess.
“Memorial has a number of athletes at the skill positions. We will need to tackle well in the open field to be successful,” the Menomonie head football coach said.
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