SOUTH WAYNE - Several high school football teams are garnering attention as the WisSports.net Coaches Association and Associated Press released state polls this week.
Black Hawk, the defending WIAA Division 7 state champions, are ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches' poll, after a 58-0 win over Benton-Scales Mound. Black Hawk, ranked No. 5 in the AP small schools poll, will face a stiff test Friday when the Warriors host Cuba City, ranked No. 9 in Division 6. The Warriors upset the Cubans 31-28 last year en route to a 14-0 record and a state championship.
Cuba City is a team with a lot of speed and Black Hawk matched up with them well last year. It will be interesting to see how a younger Warriors' defense will handle a more experienced Cubans team this year. Cuba City will probably ride quarterback Preston Droessler, who had 198 total yards and three touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Viroqua in the season opener. Droessler rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns. He completed 5-of-11 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Black Hawk isn't the only school in the rankings. Brodhead-Juda with second-year head coach B.J. Bockhop are ranked No. 3 in Division 4 in the WisSports.net Coaches' poll and will take on Rock Valley North contender Evansville-Albany. Darlington, ranked fifth in Division 6, looks to get back on track after a season-opening loss to Platteville, ranked No. 2 in Division 4. Darlington will look to pick up its first win at New Glarus-Monticello Friday.
Brodhead-Juda is ranked 20th in the AP state poll. Other area teams that received votes in the small school poll are Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle.
Other teams that got off to good starts last week include Monroe and Pecatonica-Argyle. Monroe will look to improve to 2-0 with a non-conference game at Baraboo. Portage and Baraboo, the Cheesemakers' first two opponents were a combined 1-17 last year. It's been more than 12 years since the Cheesemakers have started the season 2-0. I'm confident the Cheesemakers will improve to 2-0.
The first challenge for the Cheesemakers will come in Week 3 when they play at Stoughton in their first Badger South Conference game. That will probably begin a three-game stretch that will be a defining point of the season. Monroe will host Milton Friday, Sept. 12 and will play at Oregon Friday, Sept. 19. Getting off to a strong start in conference could be a springboard back to the playoffs.
Pecatonica-Argyle opened the season last week with a 28-8 win over Belmont. Pecatonica-Argyle quarterback Drew Schliem was 9 of 24 passing for 183 yards with two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown to lead the Vikings. Cam Treuthardt rushed for 78 yards on eight carries and caught two touchdowns. The Vikings will host Benton-Scales Mound tonight and could be a conference championship contender this year. The Vikings went 7-0 last year before losses to Black Hawk and Potosi.
Black Hawk, the defending WIAA Division 7 state champions, are ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches' poll, after a 58-0 win over Benton-Scales Mound. Black Hawk, ranked No. 5 in the AP small schools poll, will face a stiff test Friday when the Warriors host Cuba City, ranked No. 9 in Division 6. The Warriors upset the Cubans 31-28 last year en route to a 14-0 record and a state championship.
Cuba City is a team with a lot of speed and Black Hawk matched up with them well last year. It will be interesting to see how a younger Warriors' defense will handle a more experienced Cubans team this year. Cuba City will probably ride quarterback Preston Droessler, who had 198 total yards and three touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Viroqua in the season opener. Droessler rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns. He completed 5-of-11 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Black Hawk isn't the only school in the rankings. Brodhead-Juda with second-year head coach B.J. Bockhop are ranked No. 3 in Division 4 in the WisSports.net Coaches' poll and will take on Rock Valley North contender Evansville-Albany. Darlington, ranked fifth in Division 6, looks to get back on track after a season-opening loss to Platteville, ranked No. 2 in Division 4. Darlington will look to pick up its first win at New Glarus-Monticello Friday.
Brodhead-Juda is ranked 20th in the AP state poll. Other area teams that received votes in the small school poll are Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle.
Other teams that got off to good starts last week include Monroe and Pecatonica-Argyle. Monroe will look to improve to 2-0 with a non-conference game at Baraboo. Portage and Baraboo, the Cheesemakers' first two opponents were a combined 1-17 last year. It's been more than 12 years since the Cheesemakers have started the season 2-0. I'm confident the Cheesemakers will improve to 2-0.
The first challenge for the Cheesemakers will come in Week 3 when they play at Stoughton in their first Badger South Conference game. That will probably begin a three-game stretch that will be a defining point of the season. Monroe will host Milton Friday, Sept. 12 and will play at Oregon Friday, Sept. 19. Getting off to a strong start in conference could be a springboard back to the playoffs.
Pecatonica-Argyle opened the season last week with a 28-8 win over Belmont. Pecatonica-Argyle quarterback Drew Schliem was 9 of 24 passing for 183 yards with two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown to lead the Vikings. Cam Treuthardt rushed for 78 yards on eight carries and caught two touchdowns. The Vikings will host Benton-Scales Mound tonight and could be a conference championship contender this year. The Vikings went 7-0 last year before losses to Black Hawk and Potosi.
