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The Team of the Week is back again for 2012. The voting this year is upgraded and is featured at the bottom of the article. Voting is open until Thursday at 4 p.m., so be sure to vote for who you feel is most deserving and spread the word. Users may vote once per day.

 

 

Appleton North -- North and Kimberly have ruled whatever league they've been in recently, as one or both of the teams have claimed at least a share of the league title every since 2007. The Lightning claimed a fourth straight win in the rivalry with a hard-fought 22-19 victory. Despite the loss of All-Conference caliber players Isaac Barthelmess and Logan Neitzke to season-ending leg injuries two weeks ago, North rallied to show they will not feel sorry for themselves. Running back Sawyer Schultz returned from injury to rush for 122 yards and 3 touchdowns while quarterback Tanner Schuh was very efficient passing the ball as well. The win leaves Appleton North in sole possession of first place in the VFA-North and a perfect 6-0 on the season.

 

Marshfield -- The Tigers appeared to be in control of their VFA-South matchup with Wisconsin Rapids on Friday, leading by scores of 10-0 and 24-7 in the first half. Rapids scored a touchdown late in the second quarter though and would go on to reel off 21 straight points to go up 28-24 with just 4:29 left in the game. The Tigers got one last shot after taking over with 2:15 left on its own 12-yard line. The team engineered a drive into Rapids territory, and Bo Howard hooked up with Jeff Allison for a 43-yard touchdown with 36 seconds remaining to preserve the team's unbeaten record and hold on the league race.

 

New Lisbon -- The Rockets have missed out on the playoffs the last two years but are in good shape to make the postseason in 2012 thanks to a come-from-behind 18-13 win over Necedah. The defense held Cardinals standout running back Kris Manning in check and the offense made plays when they had to, led by quarterback Cullen Pedersen, who completed 17 of 24 passes for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns. The win moves New Lisbon to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. They can clinch a playoff spot with a win in either of the final regular season games against Brookwood and Wonewoc-Center.

 

Pecatonica/Argyle -- The Pec-Argyle co-op kept its faint conference title hopes alive with a 21-14 win over previously unbeaten Highland on Friday. Things were looking a little bleak as Highland went up 14-7 in the fourth quarter, but the team remained positive and scored a pair of touchdowns to close out the game. Pec-Argyle threw three touchdowns on the day, with all three scores coming from different players:  Alec Treuthardt, Jon Hendrickson, and Drew Schliem. The team went down to still-unbeaten Potosi earlier in the year, meaning they'll need help to get a share of the conference title. Potosi and Highland meet in the final week of the regular season, with a Highland win likely creating a three-way tie for the Six Rivers crown.

 

Sun Prairie -- The Cardinals have shown they can win games in a number of ways this season:  blowouts, close games, relying on the passing game, leaning on the running attack, etc. In what was likely their last significant challenge on the schedule, Sun Prairie kept their unbeaten season going with a 17-0 win over Middleton in Week 6. It was the special teams that stepped up big in this one, as Dustin Wunderlin nailed a 29-yard field goal to open the scoring in the second quarter and Jeremiah Bradley scooped up a short punt and returned it 30 yards for a score in the third quarter. Running back Donte Starlin-Merriam kept plugging away as well, rushing 28 times for 101 yards against a tough Middleton defense.