GMC Football Preview Week 7: East Tries to Play Spoiler at Hamilton

A look at the final week of the Greater Metro Conference season, led off by the big Brookfield East-Hamilton matchup.

Brookfield East (6-2, 4-2 GMC) at Hamilton (7-1, 5-1 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at

Last year: A fourth-quarter safety gave the Spartans a 19-18 win.

Last week: The Spartans lost 22-16 to Marquette; Hamilton steamrolled West Allis Central 52-35.

Essentials: East’s six-point loss to Marquette last week took a little shine off this matchup. But not much. Hamilton averages 36 points per conference game; East allows just over 12. The last time East’s formidable defense faced a truly first-rate offense, Brookfield Central scored 34 points on the Spartans. East’s Alec James, a top prospect at defensive end, is credited with nine offensive touches this year, according to WisSports.net. He has five touchdowns on eight rushes and his only reception also went for a score. Hamilton wingbacks Drew and Nick Patterson have combined for 1,685 rushing yards (8.9 per carry) and 22 rushing touchdowns. The Chargers — ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll — also have returned a kickoff for a score each of the past two weeks in outscoring opponents in the first half 87-0.

Menomonee Falls (5-3, 3-3 GMC) at Brookfield Central (6-2, 5-1 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at

Last year: Jason Meichtry’s touchdown run in the final minute, followed by Thomas Showers’ 2-point conversion, gave Central a 15-14 victory.

Last week: Falls took care of West Allis Hale 34-13; Brookfield Central handled Wauwatosa East 48-13.

Essentials: Despite a pair of losses, Brookfield Central — ranked No. 12 in the state coaches poll — might have the most impressive resume in the league, with wins over Hamilton and East, and a double-overtime loss to Marquette. That’s not good news for Falls, which needs to win to qualify for the playoffs. The Indians have the exact opposite history; all their defeats are to the league’s other one-loss teams.  It’s been an up-and-down year for Falls since losing senior running back Otis White in the second game of the season. Sometimes the defense shines, sometimes it struggles; ditto for the offense, which has averaged almost 35 points in five wins and about 9 in three losses.

Wauwatosa East (1-7, 0-6 GMC) at West Allis Hale (1-7, 0-6 GMC)

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

Last year: Hale controlled the action in a 43-7 win.

Last week: Tosa East lost 48-13 to Brookfield Central; Hale suffered a 34-13 loss to Menomonee Falls.

Essentials: The winner of this game avoids last place. Tosa East has lost 22 consecutive conference games and is last in both points scored and points allowed. Hale was in last week’s game with Menomonee Falls until the end, tied at 13 in the fourth quarter.

West Allis Central (3-5, 2-4 GMC) at Marquette (6-2, 5-1 GMC)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Hart Park

Last year: Marquette took a 28-6 decision.

Last week: West Allis Central got down big early and lost 52-35 to Hamilton; Marquette edged Brookfield East 22-16.

Essentials: With a victory, Marquette clinches no worse than a tie for the league title. The Hilltoppers win outright with losses by Brookfield Central and Hamilton. This game should be no problem for Marquette; Central has lost its top two quarterbacks to injury and now star receiver Brian Hoppe.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

The WIAA plans to announce the list of qualifying playoff teams late Friday night, then reveal the full playoff brackets sometime late Saturday morning or early in the afternoon.

Among GMC teams, it’s pretty simple — Marquette is into the Division 1 field, while Brookfield East, Brookfield Central and Hamilton are also in, most likely in Division 2.

Menomonee Falls qualifies with a victory over Brookfield Central by virtue of having a conference record above .500. If they Indians lose, they aren’t out of the field based only on that result, but it won’t be easy. The field is 224 teams; so far 159 have clinched, according to WisSports.net.

If you care to read the WIAA’s fine print, you may, but if there are not 224 teams above .500 in conference play, additional teams qualify based on criteria such as overall record and the record of conference teams they’ve beaten.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

Do you have some great pictures from this Greater Metro Conference season? Whether its game action or fans in the stands, we’d love to share them with Patch readers to close out the season. Please email Matt Schroeder with the best shots you have.