Inner-city schools seeing increased success in 2006; Janesville Parker's Edwards leading the state in rushing.
By Kevin Patrowsky
MaxPreps.com
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Turning the Tide
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As many coaches at inner-city schools around the country know, getting players interested in football can be a tough task.ÿ
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For the coaches of the Milwaukee City Conference, that has been a long-term problem.ÿ With schools trying to get students to be students, and not just bodies, dealing with frequent lockdowns and general apathy from the masses, some things are beginning to change in Milwaukee.ÿIt seems that success, even if it is just in the regular season, breeds success.ÿ
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This season Milwaukee South has fought through key players being ruled ineligibleÿfor various reasons and has survived with a 4-3 record and a second-place standing in the conference, and a shot at a playoff berth.ÿ
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Milwaukee Custer has battled all season and is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference play. ÿThey should make the playoffs despite having similar problems.ÿ
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When Gary Griffin took over at Milwaukee Bay View three years ago he had less than 20 players suit up for his first game.ÿBay View is only 4-4 overall, but its one non-conference win was against a 5-3, playoff-bound Wilmot.ÿThis seasonÿGriffin regularly has 60 plus players on his roster.ÿ
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The numbers are rising at several other schools for a variety of reasons, simply walking the halls and encouraging more participation from the general student body. In the Milwaukee area, where open enrollment has meant that some players have transferred to suburban schools, many of the city schools are taking broad steps to keep the talent home.ÿ
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The shining star of the City Conference is Milwaukee Riverside. With the conference split into two divisions, Riverside (In the Richardson Division) is the strongest of all the city teams this year.ÿWednesday, they battle Blackbourn Division leader Milwaukee King, and it should be a good one.ÿ
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Riverside is 7-1 overall, 6-0 in conference play, while King is 6-2 overall, 6-0 in conference.ÿWhat makes Riverside different is the fact they play defense like no other school in the metro-Milwaukee area. In non-conference play they crushed Wauwatosa East, 31-7, in the season opener, giving up only 84 yards.ÿThe next week they played state ranked Brookfield Central (8-0 on the season) and lost 6-3.ÿThey gave up only 171 yards and had chances to pull out a win.ÿ The Tigers play opportunistic defense, giving constant pressure to the quarterback,ÿforcing running attacks to shut down, and draping opponents' receivers with outstanding pass coverage. After eight games they have given up only 915 yards - an average of 114.4 yards per game.
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Despite the improvement, there is still a major hurdle to clear for Milwaukee City Conference schools in their effort to regain statewide respectability. MCC teams are 0-39 in playoff games since 1999, and Bradley Tech was the last to reach the state finals in 1986 - a 20-year drought. Tech nearly beat Manitowoc that year, losing 28-20.ÿManitowoc became the first and only school to win the championship in Division Iÿthree years in a row.ÿ
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With the turn around this year in the conference, no one is predicting a city team will become a state champion, but they are willing to take small steps.ÿJust getting to the next round with a win over a non-conference team would be just what the doctor ordered to revive the pride that once was in Milwaukee football.ÿÿ
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Edwards Pacing Parker
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In the preseason statewide prep preview, he isn't mentioned as one of the top players in the state.ÿ
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Yes, he is a returning honorable mention all-conference running back, gaining more than 800 yards in 2005 despite only starting five games.ÿHis team was only 5-5 last season, so it has come as a surprise to some that Taylor Edwards and his Janesville Parker teammates are 8-0 and were ranked No. 4 in Division 1 last week.ÿ
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While he is the main man, Edwards takes a lot on his shoulders and that is why you will see him at the top of the state leaderlist with 1,856 yards and 28 touchdowns.ÿ
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A few weeks ago I mentioned his blowout game against Madison West where Edwards carried only 16 times for a season-high 326 yards and scored six touchdowns in the 65-28 win. He was "held" to 164 yards the week before in a 41-7 win over Duluth East (Minn.) when he sat out much of the second half.ÿ
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In the other six games he has gained at least 206 yards in all of them.ÿHe is also durable, having games where he has carried the ball 38 and 35 times when needed.ÿWith a 9.2 yards per carry average though, he hasn't had to do so very often.ÿ
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This Wednesday, Parker faces a tough opponent, Middleton, in the season finale.ÿ Middleton was undefeated and ranked last week No. 5 Division 1 until they were upset by Janesville Craig this past weekend.ÿThis will be a great game pitting two very powerful teams.ÿIf you are in the area, go and see this game as it is sure to be one to remember.
