Woodland divisional title within Brown Deer's grasp

Brown Deer - Opportunity is now squarely in front of the Brown Deer football team.

Beat host Greendale at 7 p.m. Friday and earn no worse than a share of the Woodland Conference East Division title.

"Even though they've been a little off lately (three losses in their last four games), they're still a formidable foe," Falcons coach Rob Green said of the Panthers (4-3). "We always have to bring our 'A' game when we're playing them. It's also the game right before the (state) playoffs.

"There are two big goals on the line here. Share a division title and earn an opportunity to go into the playoffs on a high note."

The Falcons (5-2) enter the game tied with Whitnall (5-2) for the division lead. Whitnall has a dangerous closer against a surging New Berlin West (3-4) team.

Brown Deer earned this opportunity with a stifling defensive effort on Friday, as the Falcons overpowered Greenfield, 33-0, for their third win in a row.

"Our defense played extremely well," Green said. "Since the Pewaukee game (a 30-6 loss more than a month ago) we've been pretty close to all being on the same page. The guys are playing very well together."

That was very clear against the Hustlin' Hawks as the Falcons held the triple option offense to 88 yards rushing on 46 carries and zero of six passing with a pair of interceptions by Tray Palmer.

Greenfield (2-5) only had once chance inside the Brown Deer 35 and Green said that came after a turnover.

"Again, it was a different style of offense," Green said, "and in that triple option everyone has to be disciplined, everyone has to know their role. We worked very hard on not giving up the big play on the outside and we were able to do that and then our inside guys (defensive linemen Austin Schwark, Javar Tucker, Keontay Jordan and Cal Howard) were able to hold them up pretty well."

Green said that Howard has been a real find after being shifted from outside linebacker to defensive end. He's only about 5-foot 6-inches and 170 pounds but Green says he really gets after it.

"He's been a real terror lately," Green said.

As was the offense this night.

Quarterback Drew Worth had one of his best passing games of the season, hitting 18-of-27 attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Palmer continues his unstoppable season as he had 10 catches for 92 yards a 15-yard scoring strike from Worth in the second quarter.

A 20-yard pass from Worth to Jack Wallisch opened the scoring in the first quarter and before Palmer's score, fullback/linebacker Zack Rhodes rumbled in from eight yards. It was 20-0 at the break.

Rhodes would finish with just 45 yards on five rushing attempts, but three tries would go for scores, including second half efforts of 22 and 12 yards, respectively.

Overall, Green was pleased with the effort.

"We continued moving forward," he said. "We had come off homecoming the week before (a win over Whitnall), which is always a big emotional note for us and then we came back and had a good time here."