NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights have achieved a first in the school’s history playing football: three wins in a postseason. Since New Glarus first made the playoffs 40 years ago, combining with prior co-ops with Monticello and Belleville, America’s Little Switzerland had just a 6-26 postseason record. This fall, the Glarner Knights are 3-0 in the Big Dance, sectional champs for the first time, and one win away from its first-ever berth to play in a state championship at Camp Randall Stadium.
“We’re playing well right now,” said DJ Schuett, New Glarus head coach following his team’s 38-20 victory over Saint Croix Falls (10-2) in Level 3 on Nov. 6.
With seasonably chilly weather finally kicking in, the top-seeded Knights (11-1) wasted little time letting the Saints know this year’s team is different. New Glarus marched down the field 85 yards in 11 plays following the opening kickoff to score the go-ahead touchdown. NG never trailed after that.
“We run the ball really well, so then you have to bring people into the box. When when you do that, we have an opening to take a shot down the field. It’s really hard for people to man up on our receivers and try to do that with no safety help,” Schuett said.
Keying the opening drive was a deep ball from QB Quinn Marty to Carson Prechel that went for 39 yards, with Brady Baer thundering another 17 yards two snaps later. Marty hit wideout Tucker Sysko for the score at the 5:22 mark.
The Knights then stepped up on defense, forcing a Saints fumble three snaps in and taking over with short field position. Freshman Brock Weeden smoothly knocked down a 49-yard field goal four plays later to put NG up by 10.
“He’s a good kicker. He’s one of the best in the state, even as a freshman. That’s huge to have a great weapon like that,” Schuett said.
The Knights ended the first quarter with a 47-yard pass to Sysko, and Prechel opened the second with a score on the next play, making it 17-0.
The Saints scored their first TD thanks to short field position midway through the second, but the Knights responded again, eating up all but the final minute on the clock with another scoring drive, capped again by Prechel. NG led 24-6 at halftime.
In the second half, Saint Croix Falls could only get back to within 10 points one time. The Knights sealed the game with TDs by Brent Weeden (19 yard catch) and another Prechel run (32 yards).
“We lost our cool for a little bit in the third quarter, and that’s something we can’t do going down the road,” Schuett admitted. “But, you know, we are really tough when we put up that many points (38).”
In all, the Knights put up 337 yards of total offense (128 passing, 209 rushing). Prechel had 105 yards on 16 carries, while Brent Weeden had 74 on nine attempts and Baer chipping in the final 30 yards. Sysko had 70 yards receiving on three catches. Brayden Schmitt had an interception on defense, and Noah Garcia finished with a sack and five tackles. Brent Weeden led NG with seven tackles.
The Saints finished the night with a hearty 343 yards of offense, but costly penalties — and turnovers — kept them from keeping up blow-for-blow with the Knights. New Glarus didn’t turn the ball over in the win.
Up next in the state semifinal, New Glarus will travel to Westosha Central to play Lake Country Lutheran (10-2), the only non-No. 1 seed to make the final four in Division 5.
In 2025, the LCL Lightning ended the season for New Glarus 34-21 in Level 3, before eventually falling themselves a week later to eventual state champion Mayville.
“It’s kind of great for us — it’s our revenge game. We’ve been looking forward to this,” Schuett said.
This year, the Lightning went 4-2 in the Metro Classic, finishing behind Watertown Luther Prep and Racine St. Catherine’s, both of which have been knocked out of the postseason already.
LCL run a more passing balanced offense. On the season, 54% of snaps are passing plays. Junior QB Will Molnau (6-4, 190 lbs) has thrown for 2,288 yards, 28 TDs and nine INTs this season. Rarely does he scramble for yardage — or get sacked. He has carried the ball a total of 15 times in 12 games. Of the 1,045 team rushing yards, more than half come from 5-7, 140-pound sophomore back Noah Janousky (556 yds, 12 TDs). Ethan Hans (53 rec, 684 yds, 11 TDs) is the top target of Molnau, though Parker Baranyk (48 rec, 560 yds, 6 TDs), Connor Stippich (21 rec, 407 yds, 6 TDs) and Caleb Root (27 rec, 310 yds, 1 TD) also play a major role in the passing attack. All three wideouts are between 5-10 and 6-3.
Defensively, the Lightning have forced 26 turnovers this season, five of which have been returned for a TD. The team has also blocked three punts.
For NG, Marty is the main QB, throwing for 1,241 yards this year to go with 19 TDs and just four INTs. He has another 166 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Prechel leads the offense with 850 rushing yards on 154 carries, with 21 TDs, and another 17 catches for 235 yards and a score. Brent Weeden (476 rush yds, 5 total TDs), Baer (521 rush yds, 5 TDs), Schmitt (23 rec, 333 yds, 4 TDs) and Sysko (24 rec, 592 yds, 9 TDs) also play a major role in the offense. The Knights run the ball more than 68% of the time.
