Austin Sikorski had an opening half for the ages during a WIAA Division 1 Level 1 football game on Tuesday.

Whether the standout Stevens Point Area Senior High senior running back has a chance to build on that postseason performance, however, is in jeopardy.

Sikorski was on crutches with a foot injury after the game, leaving a dark cloud hanging over an otherwise impressive performance by SPASH in a 52-27 blowout win over Oshkosh West at Community Stadium at Goerke Park.

SPASH will host Hudson, a 21-6 winner over Wisconsin Rapids, in a Level 2 matchup on Saturday.

"After he returned the kickoff (in the second half), he told me his foot was really hurting him," Panthers coach Pete McAdams said. "We'll find out a little more tomorrow (Wednesday), but it doesn't look really good."

That was about the only bad news SPASH had to endure against the Wildcats -- even though it was more than enough.

With a combined 24-3 record, the Stevens Point Area Senior High, Pacelli and Iola-Scandinavia football teams are in more of a hunter's role than the hunted heading into the first week of the postseason, but any veteran follower of playoff football knows that surprises pop up anytime at this time of year so nothing can be taken for granted.

Here is a capsule look of the area Level 1 football games. All contests are Tuesday evening and the cost of admission is $4. Most schools will be selling tickets Monday. Contact your school for more information.

Division 1

•Who: Oshkosh West at SPASH

•When: 7 p.m.

•Where: Community Stadium at Goerke Park

•Records: West 5-4; SPASH 9-0.

•About the Wildcats: West brings a wide-open offense and the state's second best quarterback yardage-wise in Trey Demler, a solid Division 1 college recruit. Demler has thrown for 2,226 yards and 22 touchdowns this season but he can also give it up to the other side, having been intercepted 10 times. The West receiving corps includes three receivers with at least 31 receptions on the year, most of the yards and touchdowns have gone to senior Dillon Sennott, who had three receptions for 151 yards in the Wildcats win over Kaukauna Wednesday which clinched the team a playoff spot. That Kaukauna win marked the fifth time West has scored at least 30 points in a game this year, but they've also allowed at least 28 points in seven games this season.

•About the Panthers: Coach Pete McAdams is looking for more consistent play out of his offense and special teams, including stopping plays in which the team gives up the ball and good field positioning to the detriment of the defense. SPASH fell in a 9-0 hole against Wausau East on Thursday but scored the game's final 50 points and wound up with the team's biggest win of the season. SPASH hasn't lost a Level 1 game since 2005 and in its three first round wins since they have shown no mercy against opponents, winning the games by a combined score of 111-29.

The outcome, however, was anything but a surprise as the fourth-ranked Panthers rallied from an early deficit to hammer the Lumberjacks 50-9, at Thom Field.

The victory gave SPASH the outright Wisconsin Valley Conference title at 5-0 in league play and 8-1 overall. East finished at the opposite end of the standings at 0-5 in the Valley and 1-8 overall.

"This was big," SPASH coach Pete McAdams said. "The kids knew that in order to win the conference outright, they had to take care of business tonight.

"They put four goals together in a preseason meeting and this was the No. 1 goal right here, and I congratulated them on one big goal attained. This is a very good football conference, and every week, the 'W' doesn't come easy."

It certainly wasn't easy early for the Panthers as East took advantage of a botched snap on a punt for an eventual touchdown and a bad snap on SPASH's next possession for a safety and an early 9-0 lead.

A diving one-handed grab by SPASH running back Austin Sikorski in the end zone gave the Panthers a touchdown on their next possession, but the Lumberjacks still held a 9-7 lead at the end of the quarter.

"Give them credit," McAdams said. "I thought East did a good job with some offensive sets and looks we weren't used to. We weren't pleased early on, but our defense was tough."