On a brisk homecoming night, the Highlanders had the chance to do something special against conference rival Whitefish Bay.
“Oh, when we finally scored it was kind of a huge sense of relief,” recounted senior linebacker Michael Fehrenbach. “It was kind of like, we can do this.”
Homestead beat the Blue Dukes 29-12 to clinch their 16th straight North Shore crown.
“I think the important thing is that we got one this year and that's our goal, get one this year,” described Highlanders Head Coach Dave Keel. “Our seniors are going to be graduating and they'll be able to graduate and go off and say hey, we got the title last year and that will be their memory for a lifetime.”
“I think the biggest thing is that we just close out the season strong,” said senior tackle Jack Henrichs. “We don't want to have a let up this week, the last game of the regular season.”
Friday night, Homestead has a chance to finish off conference play undefeated.
“The team confidence is at an all time high and we're working well together so feels a lot like last year,” Henrichs said.
So teams better watch out, because last year Homestead won the Division II state championship. This year if they take home the gold ball again, it would be the first time in school history they repeat as state champs.
“That's the goal every year," explained senior quarterback Eric Zoeller. “Get back to Camp Randall and win a state championship but you can't do that if you look past anyone. You have to take it one week at a time and focus on the team ahead of you. Right now that's Cedarburg and after that, we'll look past that.”
But is that something they've thought about at all, winning two state championships in a row?
“Only in my dreams, kind of,” Fehrenbach said. “It could be possible if we work hard enough."
And dreams can come true. Congratulations, Homestead Highlanders, on being named TMJ4’s Football Frenzy Team of the Week.
