Iron Bowl XI preview

Back on August 19th, 2006, the Franklin Outlaws battled the Muskego Hitmen in one of the most memorable and exciting games in league history. The Outlaws won that game
36-35 when they successfully went for the 2pt conversion with no time left in regulation. IFL fans still regard that day as the best game that they have seen in a long time.

That is just one of the many reasons why Iron Bowl XI is being hyped as potentially becoming the greatest Iron Bowl ever.

‘Comback’ season

The Muskego Hitmen’s journey to Iron Bowl XI started right after their disappointing 2006 season when team veterans Jason Huckstorf and Jason Henneberry started to recruit new talent for the 2007 season.

The Hitmen decided it was time to go back to playing Hitmen style of football, something that made them Iron Bowl VIII Champions. Talent was only part of the equation. It was about recruiting a group of guys that bought into the Muskego philosophy of football.

A family, a smaller and closer group of guys that loved to play the game and don’t care who has better stats. The roster was stripped down and players were evaluated on their integrity rather than their stat book. The year was dubbed ‘The Comeback.’

A comeback is almost an understatement. In the 2007 season, the Hitmen have played better than they had in their championship year, and multiple times better than their previous undefeated regular season.

Currently the Hitmen hold a very explosive offense with weapons like Fred Derocher, Mike “The Thrill” Hill, Markell Thompson, and Mike “Sticky Fingers”; Hicks, scoring 29 points per game. But the most impressive thing about the Hitmen is their defense, which hosts the league’s best front seven allowing only 4 points per game.

The Hitmen Defense, lead by IFL household names like Huckstorf, Blawat, Satterwhite, and the ever present #99 Mike Raetz, has not allowed a touchdown in five games during the regular season. The Hitmen are poised to win their second Iron Bowl championship, but they have one more obstacle to climb before they can once again hoist that Iron Bowl trophy.

Rough start

The Outlaw’s road to Iron Bowl XI was a rocky one. Losing their season opener to the Roscoe Rush and All-IFL running back Jo Jo Moore for the season due to injury had fans thinking that the Outlaws were experiencing the dreaded sophomore jinx and that they would be lucky to make the playoffs.

Most teams would have never recovered in time to save the season, but the Outlaws did. The Outlaws, who currently have 13 very talented ex-UW Whitewater players on their roster showed a lot of heart and veteran leadership on their way to a 6-2 regular season and the franchise’s first American Conference Championship.

The turn-around began in week two of the regular season with 35 seconds left in the 4th quarter against the Milwaukee Venom. With the Outlaws protecting a slim six point lead, the Venom offense went for it on 4th down from the Franklin four yard line with no timeouts left. The Outlaw’s defense stuffed the Venom ball carrier in the backfield preserving the 14-8 victory and possibly changed the outcome of their season on that single goal line play.

Tom Karthausser, head coach of the Outlaws has done an excellent job keeping his players focused throughout the playoffs, but the Outlaws are not satisfied with just the American Conference crown. Right now they are as determined as ever to be Ironman Football League Champions.

Iron Bowl XI will be played at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex in Franklin, Sunday, August 26, at 7pm.