Wins Would Help Greenfield, Whitnall Football Teams Make Playoffs

With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Greenfield and Whitnall football teams both find themselves on the verge of qualifying for the WIAA playoffs.

For the Hustlin’ Hawks, that means they are treading on unchartered territory.

The Hawks have not been to the playoffs since 2002, the fourth longest streak among the 22 teams in the Milwaukee Patch area. Only Shorewood (1981), Nicolet (1989) and Waukesha South (1999) have experienced longer dry spells.

To qualify, a team must finish .500 or better in conference play, so for Woodland Conference teams like the Hawks and Falcons, a 4-4 mark would make them eligible.

Both teams enter their games tonight with 3-2 league marks, needing one win to ensure a .500 or better record.

Greenfield (3-3 overall) hosts Wauwatosa West tonight at 7 p.m., the Hawks’ homecoming contest. The Trojans are just 1-5 overall and 1-4 in league play, but beat the Hawks, 13-12, last season, a loss that ultimately kept Greenfield from postseason qualification.

After that, the Hawks visit New Berlin Eisenhower (4-2, 3-2) on Oct. 7 before wrapping up the regular season at home against New Berlin West (1-5, 1-4).

Whitnall’s road to a fourth victory and possibly a fourth consecutive playoff berth is much more difficult. The Falcons (3-3 overall) play at league-leading Greendale (5-1, 5-0) for the Panthers’ homecoming tonight at 7 p.m. before closing out the regular season with home games against South Milwaukee (4-2, 3-2) on Oct. 7 (Whitnall’s homecoming) and Pewaukee (4-2, 4-1) on Oct. 14.

Greenfield Patch will have photographers at both games, so check back for a photo gallery of your favorite team.