Semi-pro football returns off the Memorial Day Holiday as both the Manitowoc County Mariners and Sheboygan County SaberCats hit the road for games tonight.
The Mariners travel to Winneconne High School to battle the Fox River Raiders in a Northern Lights League contest.
Coach Marcos Alfaro Sr’s team, with a record of 2 and 1 tries for a third consecutive victory, as they pitched back-to-back shutouts prior to Memorial Day, defeating the Central Wisconsin Eagles 28 to 0 and the Eau Claire Eagles by a score of 53 to 0.
Defense has certainly been their calling card as coach Rico’s unit has forced 10 turnovers (7 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries) to go along with 11 sacks. In addition, six different players have recorded double-digit total tackles in just three games.
After a slow start, the offense under quarterback R.J.Jeffrey is starting to come together.
He’s completed 27 of 47 passes for 407 yards with five touchdowns and only two interceptions.
13-year veteran Don Woods has been his favorite target, catching 10 passes for a team-leading 196 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Dylon (DYE’LON) Williams has carried the ball 9 times for 110 yards and 2 scores.
The Fox River Raiders are off to a 2-0 start, tied with the Rock River Rampage, a half-game clear of the Mariners in the league standings.
They’ve posted shoutout wins over the Middleton Panthers and the Eau Claire Eagles.
The kickoff is set for 6 p.m. this evening.
Meanwhile, the Sheboygan County SaberCats look for their fourth win in five games as the defending Midwest League champions head to Dubuque, Iowa, to battle the Dubuque Miners.
After a hiccup against The Midwest Renegades on May 9th, they bounced back with a 44 to 16 rout of The Burlington Blue Devils at Tony Romo Field in Burlington.
Quarterback Justin Billiot is slowly rounding back into form, having completed 22 of 44 passes for 352 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions while adding a team-leading 79 rushing yards.
Wide Receiver Kaden Summerville has been his “go to” target, having caught nine passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
The SaberCats also sport an athletic, swarming defense that has racked up a whopping 215 tackles through four games, with defensive linemen Malcolm Love leading the way with 22 and six others also having record double-digit total tackles as well.
The Miners are off to a 3-0 start and feature a potent offense that’s scored a season high 84 points earlier this season.
The kickoff at University of Dubuque Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.
