GMC Football Preview Week 5: Can Chargers Lock Up Playoff Berth Friday?

Here's a look at this week's football action in the hotly contested Greater Metro Conference, where four teams are tied for the top spot at 3-1, and none of the play each other this week.

Menomonee Falls (4-2, 2-2 GMC) at Marquette (4-2, 3-1 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Hart Park.

On Air: Sports32 will broadcast the game live.

Last year: Marquette shut out Menomonee Falls 28-0.

Last week: ; Marquette handled Wauwatosa East 29-7.

Essentials: The Falls defense is in the spotlight for the next three weeks, as the Indians likely need to win twice to make the WIAA playoffs. This week, the pass defense needs a good performance after the run defense gave up 388 yards to Hamilton. Marquette’s Joe Greif is averaging 251 passing yards per game, third in the state. The Indians have been mostly solid against the pass, but in the first week of the season against another strong passing offense, they gave up 309 to Slinger’s Phillip Martola.

Tosa East (1-5, 0-4 GMC) at Hamilton (5-1, 3-1 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Hamilton High School

Last year: Sussex Hamilton took a 42-21 decision.

Last week: Tosa East fell to Marquette 29-7; .

Essentials: Hamilton’s ground attack is back at full force with Nick Patterson in the lineup again following a gruesome dislocated elbow injury against Brookfield Central. With Nick (612 yards) and his younger brother Drew (655 yards) carrying the ball, the Chargers have been impossible to stop. The Chargers need just one more victory to qualify for the playoffs, and their biggest challenge this week and next (West Allis Central) might be not looking ahead to a showdown with Brookfield East in the final week of the season. Tosa East has struggled mightily on offense, having scored more than 10 points only twice all year.

West Allis Central (3-3, 2-2 GMC) at Brookfield Central (4-2, 3-1 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at

On Air: The game will be webcast live by the Fox Sports Prepzone.

Last year: Brookfield Central won 38-20.

Last week: . West Allis Central won its intracity battle with Hale, 32-7.

Essentials: Brookfield Central’s offense has to be considered one of the very best in the area after dropping 34 points on its city rival, which had allowed just 13 points in five games prior to the meeting. Jason Meichtry is at the controls and can run (472 yards, 10 TDs) or throw (651 yards, 5 TDs), though he does have nine interceptions.  A victory puts the Lancers into the WIAA playoffs. West Allis Central, meanwhile, still has hopes for the playoffs at 2-2 in the GMC, but the remaining schedule, is, um … unpleasant: at Brookfield Central, vs. Sussex Hamilton, at Marquette.

Brookfield East (5-1, 3-1 GMC) at West Allis Hale (1-5, 0-4 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at West Allis Hale High School

Last year: Brookfield East won 30-7.

Last week: ; Hale was dominated by West Allis Central, 32-7.

Essentials: A Brookfield East stung by its first loss — in a rivalry game, no less — has the perfect foe on which to take out its frustrations. Hale has dropped five in a row since surprising Cedarburg in the opener. The Spartans, meanwhile, remain in a four-way tie for the conference lead and need only one more win to qualify for the playoffs. Zach Schober needs 140 yards to reach 1,000 for the season; he also has 12 TDs, 25 PATs and 2 field goals for 103 points.

AROUND THE WEB

The talented Justin Clough, a Menomonee Falls graduate, creates a video highlight package each week from the Falls games and posts it on YouTube. . Another version from YouTube user SuperRyan149 shows a great look at a blocked punt by Falls.

In the Greater Metro Conference, all four one-loss teams need one more victory to qualify for the playoffs. To take a look around the rest of the state, check out WisSports.net’s playoff qualifying breakdown.

Three of the eight teams in the Greater Metro Conference are part of the Journal Sentinel’s weekly area rankings. Hamilton is sixth, Brookfield Central eighth and Brookfield East ninth. Waukesha West leads the list. None of them show up in the Associated Press state rankings, which split schools into large (900 enrollment or larger), medium (350-899) and small schools. But they’re all in the state coaches poll, which is broken up into seven divisions. In Division 2, Hamilton is sixth, Brookfield East ninth and Brookfield Central 13th.

Vote for Marquette at Brookfield East to be the WISN TV Game of the Week on Oct. 7. If readers select it, it will be broadcast live on ESPN radio and featured on WISN TV’s Operation Football.

It’s been a long season for West Allis Hale, but you can see some of the Huskies’ better moments against Hamilton in this video posted by YouTube user coachbakk42.

For still shots, you can check out two galleries from the Brookfield Central/Brookfield East rivalry: , and one from the Brookfield Central football website.

All stats complied from WisSports.net