MONROE - The journey for a chance to play for a state championship at Camp Randall Stadium begins Friday with Level 1 playoff games kicking off.
Five area teams have high expectations for raising a gold ball in November. Both Darlington and Black Hawk look to make return trips to state.
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said the Redbirds aren't using last year's state championship 35-0 loss to Shiocton as more motivation for this year's postseason run.
"It's in your mind a little bit," Zywicki said. "This is a new group of players and seniors. You want to do it this year for yourself, classmates and community. The seniors want to write their own legacy."
Division 3
Evansville-Albany (6-3) will face the unenviable task of playing a first-round playoff game at Monona Grove (7-2), ranked No. 8 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll. The Silver Eagles, the Badger South Conference co-champions along with Milton, are led by running back Toren Young who has 1,112 yards rushing and 13 TDs. Evansville-Albany, the Rock Valley North co-champions along with Jefferson, are led by running back Nathan Redders, who has rushed for 901 yards and 10 TDs. Ryker Brown (555 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) has given the Blue Devils another weapon to attack defenses. Freshman quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 587 yards and has a 59.7 completion percentage with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Division 4
Brodhead-Juda (8-1) will look to make a run to state with a senior-dominated team that lost to Platteville 31-21 in the Level 2 playoffs last year. The Cardinals, the Rock Valley South Conference co-champions, received a No. 2 seed and will host Kettle Moraine Lutheran in a first-round playoff game Friday. Brodhead-Juda beat Walworth Big-Foot 27-21 last week to snap the Chiefs' 53-conference game winning streak and clinch a share of the conference title for the first time since 2003. It's the 24th straight year the Cardinals have made the playoffs.
"They know after last year, come playoff time in the state of Wisconsin, you have to earn that shot at the playoffs," Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop said. "If you don't stick to your assignments this could be our last game. Everyone is going to bring it and play 110 percent. We are focusing on one game and play at a time."
Brodhead-Juda senior Griffin Day has rushed for 874 yards and 12 TDs, while Mitchell Johnson has added 630 rushing yards with 11 TDs. Senior quarterback Brennan Bescup has passed for 615 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He is completing 58.7 percent of his passes and has proven that he can beat teams that stack the box. Ned Slocum is the leading receiver with 15 catches for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
The biggest stumbling blocks for the Cardinals in making a state run could be No. 5 ranked Wautoma (8-1), No. 6 ranked Marshall (8-1) or No. 7 ranked Lodi (8-1).
Division 6
Darlington (8-1), the Division 6 state runner-up last year and SWAL Conference champion, will host Racine Lutheran in a first-round playoff game at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Redbirds received the No. 1 seed in their eight-team grouping despite the fact that Lake Country Lutheran (9-0) is unbeaten. Black Hawk beat Lake Country Lutheran 60-33 in the Division 7 state semifinals last year. If the Redbirds are going to make a second straight trip to state, they may have to contend with Lake Country Lutheran, SWAL rivals Mineral Point, Cuba City and Edgar (9-0), ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll.
The first chapter for the Redbirds, ranked No. 5, will come against Racine Lutheran (6-3), which uses an I-formation with an extra tackle at tight end and a spread offense when they want to pass.
"The formations dictate whether they will run or pass," Zywicki said.
Darlington senior Jason Singer has rushed for 875 yards and 14 TDs. He is also the Redbirds' leading wide receiver with 12 receptions for 294 yards and five touchdowns. Darlington senior quarterback Cole McDonald has passed for 914 yards with 12 TD and three interceptions. McDonald is completing 60 percent of his passes and is averaging 22.3 yards per completion in a big-play offense.
"We have a lot of teams that crowd the line of scrimmage against us," Zywicki said. "If they abandon one area of our team, we want to make them pay. I think that is the key."
Darlington senior fullback Myles Leahy has rushed for 667 yards and 13 TDs in the five games he has played. Sophomore Hunter Johnson gives the Redbirds another threat (619 rushing yards and eight touchdowns).
Pecatonica-Argyle (6-3) will play Lake Country Lutheran Friday at Kettle Moraine High School. Lake Country Lutheran quarterback Ben Wilkins leads a powerful passing attack with 1,540 yards passing with 27 TDs and just three interceptions. Grant Johnson leads the team in receptions (32), yards (793) and touchdowns (15). The Vikings will need to get pressure and look to force turnovers.
Pecatonica-Argyle defensive lineman Brodie Gross has 53 tackles including 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks this season. He along with junior Riley Ostby (90 tackles, two sacks), sophomore Cam Treuthardt (67 tackles, five sacks) and Mitch Dammen (75 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two sacks) will be key in pressuring Wilkins.
The Vikings will look to use a balanced offense to attack the Lightning. Ostby has rushed for 680 yards and seven touchdowns, and Treuthardt is a threat as a runner and wide receiver with four rushing touchdowns and 17 receptions for 381 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore A.J. Hendrickson leads the Vikings with 26 receptions for 494 yards and six touchdowns.
Division 7
If Black Hawk (6-3) gets back to the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium, the Warriors will likely have to beat No. 1 ranked Ithaca. Ithaca (9-0), the Ridge and Valley Conference champion, has an explosive offense that averages 61.6 points per game. Teams from the Ridge and Valley Conference are 7-9 in the playoffs the past three years. Teams from the Six Rivers Conference have played in the state title game the past two years. Despite the history, Black Hawk coach Cory Milz isn't overlooking any team, including Ithaca, from making a run to state. Other teams that could make a state run include Catholic Central (7-2) and Potosi (8-1).
"They are averaging like 65 points per game," Milz said. "To put up the kind of numbers they do you don't do that unless you are a quality team. They are deserving of the No. 1 ranking."
Black Hawk opens the Level 1 playoffs Friday in a rematch game against conference rival Belmont. Two weeks ago, Black Hawk senior Shawn Woodruff rushed for 379 yards and scored four touchdowns to propel the Warriors to a 48-20 win over Belmont. The rematch with the Braves in the first round of the playoffs offers some intrigue of what adjustments the Braves will make.
"It's kind of a chess match and guessing game of what adjustments they will make," Milz said.
The Braves use an I-formation offense that relies on its fullback and quarterback to run power isolation plays.
"They have a quarterback capable of throwing the ball, and they like to spread it out with four wide receivers and a tight end," Milz said. "For us to be successful we have to run the ball and we can't give up the big pass play. We have given up some big pass plays sometimes because we are inexperienced, and some of it is missed keys and not moving our feet. We will have to be able to cover and stop the run. It's kind of pick your poison."
Woodruff is sixth in the state with 1,624 rushing yards this season and has 18 TDs. He averages 179 rushing yards per game and 9.2 yards per carry. Black Hawk senior quarterback Heath Butler is a dual threat with 505 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and 648 passing yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. Milz said running back and defensive back Chase Stietz returned to practice this week but probably won't play against Belmont as he recovers from a torn tendon injury.
"We proved last year we could run the ball on anyone," Milz said. "In the playoffs you have to be balanced. When you get to the playoffs you are playing against a lot more physical teams, and you have to be able to do both - run and pass."
Five area teams have high expectations for raising a gold ball in November. Both Darlington and Black Hawk look to make return trips to state.
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said the Redbirds aren't using last year's state championship 35-0 loss to Shiocton as more motivation for this year's postseason run.
"It's in your mind a little bit," Zywicki said. "This is a new group of players and seniors. You want to do it this year for yourself, classmates and community. The seniors want to write their own legacy."
Division 3
Evansville-Albany (6-3) will face the unenviable task of playing a first-round playoff game at Monona Grove (7-2), ranked No. 8 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll. The Silver Eagles, the Badger South Conference co-champions along with Milton, are led by running back Toren Young who has 1,112 yards rushing and 13 TDs. Evansville-Albany, the Rock Valley North co-champions along with Jefferson, are led by running back Nathan Redders, who has rushed for 901 yards and 10 TDs. Ryker Brown (555 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) has given the Blue Devils another weapon to attack defenses. Freshman quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 587 yards and has a 59.7 completion percentage with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Division 4
Brodhead-Juda (8-1) will look to make a run to state with a senior-dominated team that lost to Platteville 31-21 in the Level 2 playoffs last year. The Cardinals, the Rock Valley South Conference co-champions, received a No. 2 seed and will host Kettle Moraine Lutheran in a first-round playoff game Friday. Brodhead-Juda beat Walworth Big-Foot 27-21 last week to snap the Chiefs' 53-conference game winning streak and clinch a share of the conference title for the first time since 2003. It's the 24th straight year the Cardinals have made the playoffs.
"They know after last year, come playoff time in the state of Wisconsin, you have to earn that shot at the playoffs," Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop said. "If you don't stick to your assignments this could be our last game. Everyone is going to bring it and play 110 percent. We are focusing on one game and play at a time."
Brodhead-Juda senior Griffin Day has rushed for 874 yards and 12 TDs, while Mitchell Johnson has added 630 rushing yards with 11 TDs. Senior quarterback Brennan Bescup has passed for 615 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He is completing 58.7 percent of his passes and has proven that he can beat teams that stack the box. Ned Slocum is the leading receiver with 15 catches for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
The biggest stumbling blocks for the Cardinals in making a state run could be No. 5 ranked Wautoma (8-1), No. 6 ranked Marshall (8-1) or No. 7 ranked Lodi (8-1).
Division 6
Darlington (8-1), the Division 6 state runner-up last year and SWAL Conference champion, will host Racine Lutheran in a first-round playoff game at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Redbirds received the No. 1 seed in their eight-team grouping despite the fact that Lake Country Lutheran (9-0) is unbeaten. Black Hawk beat Lake Country Lutheran 60-33 in the Division 7 state semifinals last year. If the Redbirds are going to make a second straight trip to state, they may have to contend with Lake Country Lutheran, SWAL rivals Mineral Point, Cuba City and Edgar (9-0), ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll.
The first chapter for the Redbirds, ranked No. 5, will come against Racine Lutheran (6-3), which uses an I-formation with an extra tackle at tight end and a spread offense when they want to pass.
"The formations dictate whether they will run or pass," Zywicki said.
Darlington senior Jason Singer has rushed for 875 yards and 14 TDs. He is also the Redbirds' leading wide receiver with 12 receptions for 294 yards and five touchdowns. Darlington senior quarterback Cole McDonald has passed for 914 yards with 12 TD and three interceptions. McDonald is completing 60 percent of his passes and is averaging 22.3 yards per completion in a big-play offense.
"We have a lot of teams that crowd the line of scrimmage against us," Zywicki said. "If they abandon one area of our team, we want to make them pay. I think that is the key."
Darlington senior fullback Myles Leahy has rushed for 667 yards and 13 TDs in the five games he has played. Sophomore Hunter Johnson gives the Redbirds another threat (619 rushing yards and eight touchdowns).
Pecatonica-Argyle (6-3) will play Lake Country Lutheran Friday at Kettle Moraine High School. Lake Country Lutheran quarterback Ben Wilkins leads a powerful passing attack with 1,540 yards passing with 27 TDs and just three interceptions. Grant Johnson leads the team in receptions (32), yards (793) and touchdowns (15). The Vikings will need to get pressure and look to force turnovers.
Pecatonica-Argyle defensive lineman Brodie Gross has 53 tackles including 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks this season. He along with junior Riley Ostby (90 tackles, two sacks), sophomore Cam Treuthardt (67 tackles, five sacks) and Mitch Dammen (75 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two sacks) will be key in pressuring Wilkins.
The Vikings will look to use a balanced offense to attack the Lightning. Ostby has rushed for 680 yards and seven touchdowns, and Treuthardt is a threat as a runner and wide receiver with four rushing touchdowns and 17 receptions for 381 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore A.J. Hendrickson leads the Vikings with 26 receptions for 494 yards and six touchdowns.
Division 7
If Black Hawk (6-3) gets back to the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium, the Warriors will likely have to beat No. 1 ranked Ithaca. Ithaca (9-0), the Ridge and Valley Conference champion, has an explosive offense that averages 61.6 points per game. Teams from the Ridge and Valley Conference are 7-9 in the playoffs the past three years. Teams from the Six Rivers Conference have played in the state title game the past two years. Despite the history, Black Hawk coach Cory Milz isn't overlooking any team, including Ithaca, from making a run to state. Other teams that could make a state run include Catholic Central (7-2) and Potosi (8-1).
"They are averaging like 65 points per game," Milz said. "To put up the kind of numbers they do you don't do that unless you are a quality team. They are deserving of the No. 1 ranking."
Black Hawk opens the Level 1 playoffs Friday in a rematch game against conference rival Belmont. Two weeks ago, Black Hawk senior Shawn Woodruff rushed for 379 yards and scored four touchdowns to propel the Warriors to a 48-20 win over Belmont. The rematch with the Braves in the first round of the playoffs offers some intrigue of what adjustments the Braves will make.
"It's kind of a chess match and guessing game of what adjustments they will make," Milz said.
The Braves use an I-formation offense that relies on its fullback and quarterback to run power isolation plays.
"They have a quarterback capable of throwing the ball, and they like to spread it out with four wide receivers and a tight end," Milz said. "For us to be successful we have to run the ball and we can't give up the big pass play. We have given up some big pass plays sometimes because we are inexperienced, and some of it is missed keys and not moving our feet. We will have to be able to cover and stop the run. It's kind of pick your poison."
Woodruff is sixth in the state with 1,624 rushing yards this season and has 18 TDs. He averages 179 rushing yards per game and 9.2 yards per carry. Black Hawk senior quarterback Heath Butler is a dual threat with 505 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and 648 passing yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. Milz said running back and defensive back Chase Stietz returned to practice this week but probably won't play against Belmont as he recovers from a torn tendon injury.
"We proved last year we could run the ball on anyone," Milz said. "In the playoffs you have to be balanced. When you get to the playoffs you are playing against a lot more physical teams, and you have to be able to do both - run and pass."
