Posted: Nov. 9, 2009 |(0) Comments

Menomonee Falls — It'll be like playing mirror images of one another.

That's the easy assessment a person can make about the WIAA Division I state semifinal football game between Menomonee Falls (11-1) and Appleton North (12-0) Saturday in Oshkosh after talking to Indians coach John Baker and Lightning coach Rob Salm.

Both have something of an I-formation, run-first philosophies, with special backs leading the way (Cole Myhra for Falls and Steve Lichtfuss for North, both all-state candidates).

Salm calls Lichtfuss, who has had four 200-plus yard games this season, "A warrior who separates himself from the others with his competitiveness; his need for the ball when the game is on the line."

Myhra on the other hand, is a relentless ball carrier, who can cut back and see the hole where others can't. He's not afraid of contact and also came up big last week, rushing for 219 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Sun Prairie despite committing his first fumble of the season.

"I had to look up the stats to make sure that was true," said an amazed Baker of the fumble statistic.

Both teams also have speedy, ball-hungry linebackers who are fond of big plays (Joe Henningsen and Tony and Bobby Nelessen for the Indians and All-Fox Valley Association selections Kolby Knuth and Tremayne Williams for the Lightning).

Teams are hungry for title

They are also programs hungry for success. North is in its 15th year of existence and is looking for a first-ever state finals slot. They were bumped off in level three play in each of the last two seasons before knocking off playoff nemesis and Wisconsin Valley champ Stevens Point, 14-0, Saturday.

The Indians, meanwhile, are looking for their first trip to the Camp Randall carpet since 1985 after unsuccessful semifinal efforts in 1988, 1994 and 2004. They downed host and Big 8 quad champ Sun Prairie, 34-17, in a tense, exciting affair Saturday.

But maybe the most important similarity between the two adversaries, is that they are both built around character-driven, high-achieving senior classes who want to see this thing through all the way to the Division I championship game at Camp Randall in Madison on Nov. 20.

"It's come down to leadership for us this season," said Baker. "Kids bending but not breaking and responding to adversity in a positive way. We don't tear at each other. We have kids who really look out for each other."

Salm says good people make good players.

"More so that anything else, it's the character of the kids that has driven us this year," Salm said. "They just won't stop playing football. We have a lot of talent but they are better people off the field than they are players."

And there are other similarities, too. Baker is in his second-year as head coach, after having worked for head coach Bob Vitale for many years as an assistant, while Salm is in his 19th year of coaching but in his first year of being head coach after taking over for the legendary Paul Engen.

Teams are both balanced

Both like what they see in the opposition.

"They're a very good, very disciplined team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes," Baker said, "and defensively, they're fast and really rely on their speed. Field position and turnovers will be huge."

"That's a very capable team we'll be playing," Salm said. "They're very balanced. A good passing attack, a good running attack and a sound, disciplined defense that flows well to the ball. They also have that special kicker (Kyle French) who's really something else.

"It's interesting. You can't say they win with their offense, defense or special teams. It's really a combination of all three," Salm said.

Baker is anxious for the opportunity.

"Getting to the title game has been goal one for us since the start of the season," he said. "The conference (the Greater Metro) is very tough. It's so tough to win conference (the Indians finished second to Marquette, which is in the other division I semifinal against Arrowhead), so you make sure you're in the best position possible for the second season (the playoffs).

"I'm very happy for the players, coaches and community right now. They've all done a great job."

WIAA football semifinals

WHAT: WIAA Division I state semifinal Appleton North (12-0) vs. Menomonee Falls (11-1)

WHEN AND WHERE: UW-Oshkosh's Titan Stadium, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

AT STAKE: berth in WIAA Division I State championship game Nov. 20 at Camp Randall in Madison against the winner of Marquette (12-0) and returning state runner-up Arrowhead (10-1)

HOW NORTH GOT HERE: defeated Wausau West (35-7), Oshkosh North (19-12) and Stevens Point (14-0).

KEY WIN: defeating two-time state Division 2 champ Kimberly, 12-6, in second game of the season

HOW FALLS GOT HERE: defeated Manitowoc (17-14), Homestead (27-7) and Sun Prairie (34-17)

KEY WIN: beating defending champion and three-time state titlist Homestead, 27-7, in the second-round of the playoffs

LAST WORD

"We really don't mind where we play. We had our summer session there at the Oshkosh Camp and it was a very good team bonding experience. A lot of our leadership was built there and coach Pat Cerroni (of UW-Oshkosh) always does a nice job (Cerroni was Falls coach from 1997-99)."

-Falls coach John Baker