October 2016

This wasn’t about revenge.

It was about redemption.

And who better than C.J. Fermanich to play the central character in one of Middleton’s most memorable games in years.

Fermanich had a 47-yard kickoff return, then caught a 15-yard, game-winning touchdown pass with 27 seconds left to lift Middleton to a 22-17 win over Madison La Follette in the second round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs last Friday. And for Fermanich, as much as anyone, this was about atonement.

When these same teams met on Sept. 30, Fermanich sat out the game due to an athletic code violation — one of several Cardinals who missed time due to that infringement. That night, the Lancers rallied past Middleton, 13-12, in a game that cost the Cardinals a share of the Big Eight Conference title.

This time, Fermanich had a chance to alter the outcome — and he made the most if it.

OCONOMOWOC — One play. One final play.

That’s what it came down to for Middleton’s defense Friday night.

The Cardinals had kept Oconomowoc’s high-powered offense — one that was averaging 43.3 points per game — in check throughout their WIAA Division 1 Level 1 playoff match-up. Now, with the Cardinals clinging to a 20-13 lead in the closing minutes, Middleton defensive coordinator Tom Cabalka implored his sensational unit to make one last play.

Raccoons all-state quarterback Ben Nienhuis took the 4^th-and-10 snap, and everyone knew the ball was going to all-state wideout Zach Clayton, who already had 13 catches on the night. Middleton bracketed Clayton with two of its top defenders — C.J. Fermanich and Joe Ludwig — but Nienhuis fired that way anyhow.

Nienhuis’ pass was on target, but the ball was tipped away.

Middleton 20, Oconomowoc 13.

Next stop? The second round of the postseason.

One team wants to ground and pound, run the clock and impose its will.

The other travels primarily by air, will fling the ball all night and try hurting you with quick strikes.

Polar opposites.

That’s what the football teams from Middleton and Oconomowoc are.

The fourth-seeded Raccoons and fifth-seeded Cardinals meet in a WIAA Division 1 Level 1 playoff game Friday at 7 p.m. that features a complete contrast in styles. And whichever group is able to best execute its brand of football will emerge victorious.

“It will be a very interesting game,” said Middleton coach Tim Simon, whose team takes a 7-2 record into the postseason. “They’re a quick strike team and they throw it as well, or better, than anyone we’ve seen.

“Our strength this year is our running game, and we want to hammer it at you. It’s probably going to come down to who does their thing the best.”