The regular season's last night features a clash of the unbeatens as the Green Wave of Fisher (3-0) and the Vermin of Carroll (3-0) will meet tonight at 7 on Riehle Field.
The winner will capture the regular season title in the Blue Division and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Adding to the significance of this game is the bad blood between the two teams. The Green Wave views the contest as a chance to reverse last year's 28-0 drubbing at the hands of the Vermin.
"Carroll beat us pretty badly last year," Fisher captain Tom Bupalino said. "They're a big rival for us. We've lost to them the past two years, so everyone is pretty motivated for the game."
The Vermin have impressed so far this season, outscoring their opponents 48-6 and recording two shutouts. The key to the Vermin's success tonight could rest on the shoulders of senior running back and free safety Mike Johnson.
"We need to always know where Mike Johnson is on the field," Bupalino said. "He had a big game against us last year and is a key to their success so we have to be aware of where he is."
Fisher has been equally dominant, outscoring its opponents 38-3 while recording two shutouts.
"It's imperative that we win this game," Bupalino said. "If we do, we probably wouldn't see Carroll until the championship."
Zahm vs. St. Ed's
Tonight's 8 p.m. game between the Rabid Bats of Zahm (1-2) and the Stedsmen of St. Ed's (0-3) carries different meaning for each team.
Zahm could advance to the playoffs with a win. St. Ed's doesn't have the same playoff aspirations; instead, it wants to play spoiler.
The Rabid Bats could be the best comeback story of the year. A team that won last season's championship began this year 0-2, suffering tough losses to Knott and Fisher. But a last-minute drive in the fourth quarter against Siegfried gave Zahm its first win and new hope. A victory tomorrow would propel the Rabid Bats to third place in the Blue Division while a loss would drop them to sixth.
"A win would be huge because we started 0-2, and the prospects looked pretty bleak," Zahm captain Sean Wieland said.
The Stedsmen have not fared well so far this season, getting shutout out by the Siegfried, Sorin and Carroll. While the offense has struggled, the defense has had its moments, holding both Siegfried and Sorin to one touchdown.
The key to spoiling the Rabid Bats' dreams could be the performance of St. Ed's wide receiver Corey Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is predicting a full mile of total yardage in tonight's game.
"We have to win the game with big kickoff returns," St. Ed's captain Ge Wang said. "I think as long as we hit our free throws we'll be fine."
Wieland is quite aware of the possibility that St. Ed's could stop their season short, citing last year as an example.
"Our final game last year was against Knott who was winless while we were undefeated, and it was our toughest game of the year," he said. "St. Ed's has nothing to lose tomorrow. They want a victory too. We just need to go out and put together four quarters."
