MONROE - When first-round WIAA football playoff games kick off Friday, six area teams will begin quests to make a run to Camp Randall Stadium for a chance to play for a state championship.
Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle received No. 1 seeds and have positioned themselves for some home cooking. As top seeds, Darlington, ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Division 6 Coaches poll and Pecatonica-Argyle, ranked No. 2, could have home games the first three rounds of the playoffs if they survive and advance.
"Everyone is 0-0 and if you don't come ready to play you will get bumped off," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "We will certainly be up to the challenge."
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki is excited to have a No. 1 seed, but he understands nothing is guaranteed.
"They have proven their worth on the field," Zywicki said. "I think our kids are deserving of that No. 1 seed. Now we just have to go out and prove ourselves again over the upcoming weeks."
The other area teams in the playoffs include Evansville-Albany (9-0) in Division 3, Brodhead-Juda (4-5) in Division 4, New Glarus-Monticello (3-6) in Division 5 and Black Hawk (6-3) in Division 7.
Here is a preview of the six first-round playoff games, all set for 7 p.m. Friday.
The state championship games are slated for Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Division 3
Pewaukee (5-4) at Evansville-Albany (9-0)
Did You Know? Evansville-Albany enters the playoffs unbeaten but has not appeared in the Division 3 state rankings. The Blue Devils didn't get seeded with a grouping of Badger South and North schools, but with No. 1 seed Kewaskum, ranked No. 2 in Division 3, is a potential foe in the state quarterfinals. ... Pewaukee finished fourth in the Woodland West Conference.
Key for Evansville-Albany's offense: Pewaukee's defense is giving up an average of 252 yards per game (152.8 rushing yards and 99 passing yards per game) and 21.6 points per game. The Blue Devils' multi-dimensional offense is averaging 36.3 points per game and 252.8 total rushing yards per game. Evansville-Albany senior running back Ryker Brown has rushed for 775 yards and 17 TDs. Senior running back Nathan Redders has been just as dangerous, rushing for a team-high 992 yards and 10 TDs. Brennen Banks is a big playmaker with 640 yards and eight touchdowns and also is the team's leading wide receiver (13 receptions for 317 yards and four touchdowns). Evansville-Albany quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 972 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Key for Evansville-Albany's defense: Albany senior Andrew Berra has 30 tackles and 11 tackles for loss to go along with a team-best four sacks. Berra is key for the Blue Devils in shutting down the run and putting pressure on Pewaukee quarterback Carl Renz. Renz has passed for 851 yards with 10 TDs and seven interceptions. Running back Aleczander Wandler has a team-high 873 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Division 4
Brodhead-Juda (4-5) at River Valley (8-1)
Did You Know? Brodhead-Juda lost a shootout in the season opener to River Valley 44-38. There was a controversial call. Brodhead-Juda senior Ned Slocum caught what appeared to be a touchdown from quarterback Matt Schmitt in the final seconds, but officials ruled he had a toe out of bounds. Slocum then caught a 25-yard pass from Schmitt but was stopped at the one-foot line. ... Both the Cardinals and Blackhawks run Wing-T offenses. ... River Valley was Southwest Wisconsin Conference co-champions with Prairie du Chien. ... Brodhead-Juda made the playoffs for the 25th straight year, which is the second longest streak in the state behind Menomonie. ... "We are two mirror images of each other," Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop said of both teams using a Wing-T offense. "The first one was nonconference and this one counts. It's a new season and anything can happen."
Key for Brodhead-Juda's offense: Slocum is a playmaker every time he touches the ball. He ran for 180 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Week 1 game against the Blackhawks. Schmitt is having a standout season at quarterback. He has passed for 1,213 yards with 19 TDs and four interceptions. Schmitt is completing 67.5 percent of his passes. Slocum remains a dual threat for the Cardinals on the ground and at wide receiver (24 receptions, 466 yards and nine touchdowns). He has also run for 452 yards and scored six touchdowns and is averaging 12.9 yards per carry. Senior Dylan Kubly leads the Cardinals with 711 rushing yards and 11 TDs.
Key for Brodhead-Juda's defense: River Valley quarterback Elijah Alt gave the Cardinals fits in the opener passing for 164 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Alt has passed for 793 yards and 10 TDs this year and he has rushed for 730 yards and 10 TDs. Running back Hunter Schwingle leads the Blackhawks with 769 rushing yards and 13 TDs. Schwingle ran for 110 yards in the season opener against the Cardinals. Stopping the run on early downs will make the difference for the Cardinals' defense that has been getting gashed for 312 rushing yards per game in their current three-game losing streak.
"We have been trying to find our identity a little bit," Bockhop said. "We have to keep him (Alt) in the pocket. He likes to roll out quite a bit. If we can get them in third down situations, I think our defense will be successful."
Division 5
New Glarus-Monticello (3-6) at Spencer-Columbus Catholic (9-0)
Did You Know? New Glarus-Monticello lost its first five games that coincided with injuries to four starters including quarterback Gavin Binger who recovered from a hip injury to make a comeback. ... The Glarner Knights won three straight Capitol South Conference games to qualify for the playoffs. ... Spencer-Columbus Catholic was the Cloverbelt Conference champion.
Key for New Glarus-Monticello's offense: If the Knights are able to run the ball with success they could pull off an upset. Senior running back Trey Taylor has rushed for 1,165 yards with 13 TDs and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Binger has been gaining more confidence running the option since he returned. He has nine total touchdowns (five rushing and four passing). He gives the Knights a balanced offense they can lean on.
Key for New Glarus-Monticello's defense: Spencer-Columbus Catholic will look to pound the ball on the ground. Running back Hunter Luepke (877 rushing yards and 18 TDs) is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Teammate Calvin Lenz at quarterback has passed for 641 yards with eight touchdowns with two interceptions. However, he is completing just 48 percent of his passes. The Knights could turn the tide by forcing turnovers.
Division 6
PardeEville (5-4) at Darlington (9-0)
Did You Know? Darlington, the two-time Division 6 state runner-up, is clicking on all cylinders heading into the playoffs. ... The Redbirds entered the postseason 8-1 the last two years and won 12 straight games to get to the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium. ... The last time the Redbirds played Pardeeville in 2009, Darlington knocked off the Bulldogs 34-14.
Key for Darlington's offense: Pardeeville is giving up 199 rushing yards per game, which could spell trouble for the Bulldogs against the Redbirds. The Redbirds roll into the playoffs averaging 46.7 points per game and are averaging a total of 361.3 rushing yards per game. Darlington junior fullback Hunter Johnson has been a workhorse at fullback with a team-leading 1,618 rushing yards and 25 TDs. Hunter's cousin, Trevor Johnson, has 811 rushing yards and 12 TDs. Trevor Johnson is the Redbirds' leading receiver with eight receptions for 200 yards and five touchdowns. When Darlington junior quarterback Jared Meister passes the ball, he looks to make the big play down the field. Meister has passed for 605 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
Key for Darlington's defense: The Redbirds have one shutout this season and have thrived at bottling up the run and forcing turnovers the past three years. Pardeeville quarterback Tyler Young has thrown 11 TDs and eight interceptions this year. Pardeeville wide receiver Tyler Hentrich is Young's favorite target (38 receptions for 617 yards with three touchdowns).
Kickapoo-LaFarge (3-6) at Pecatonica-Argyle (9-0)
Did You Know? Pecatonica-Argyle steamrolled its way through the Six Rivers Conference averaging 45.7 points per game and winning conference games by an average of 45.3 points per game. .. The enrollment for Pecatonica-Argyle (222) for this year's playoffs is higher than Darlington's (209). The Redbirds are eight students away from being a Division 7 postseason team. ... The Vikings played Kickapoo-LaFarge in the 2011 playoffs and lost a nail-biter 6-0. .. The Vikings play in a Division 7 conference, but in their only game against a Division 6 team this season, Pecatonica-Argyle routed Iowa-Grant 34-12.
Key for Pecatonica-Argyle's offense: Kickapoo-LaFarge's defense is giving up an average of 36.1 points per game and have been outscored 117-26 in the second half of games this season. This could turn into a shootout for the Vikings who are a tough matchup for most defenses with the balance they display on offense. Pecatonica-Argyle junior quarterback Logan Green is completing 65.8 percent of his passes and has passed for 934 yards with 15 TDs and just two interceptions. Green is averaging 103 yards passing per game and the Vikings have a big-play running game. Senior running back Riley Ostby leads the team with 912 rushing yards and 17 TDs. Ostby is averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Junior running back Cam Treuthardt has rushed for 503 yards and six touchdowns and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The big-play player at wide receiver is junior A.J. Hendrickson, who has 17 receptions for 266 yards with three touchdowns.
Key for Pecatonica-Argyle's defense: Kickapoo-LaFarge tied for third place in the Ridge and Valley Conference with Mauston. Kickapoo-LaFarge is a run-dominated team that runs a double tight, double wing offense that relies on short play-action passes. Running back Ryan Herken leads Kickapoo-LaFarge with 889 rushing yards and five touchdowns. "Our front seven guys need to be physical and stop the run," Green said. "We have to make sure our secondary is on their toes." Ostby with 80 tackles, three fumble recoveries and one interception and senior Will Herman spearhead a Vikings' defense that is allowing just 8.3 points per game and has two shutouts this year. Green doesn't expect the Vikings to have an advantage since they have played Kickapoo-LaFarge before with the same coach.
"You go in and watch the film and then go about your business," Green said. "It's a new year and a new team. I don't think it's an advantage either way."
Division 7
Black Hawk (6-3) at Catholic Central (9-0)
Did You Know? There are nine teams in the Division 7 playoffs unbeaten, including two teams in Black Hawk's eight-team grouping, including Catholic Central (9-0), ranked No. 2 in Division 7 and Cambria-Friesland (9-0), ranked No. 6. The Warriors are trying to beat Catholic Central for the first time. Both the Warriors and Hilltoppers have a history of meeting each other in the postseason. Catholic Central edged Black Hawk 14-12 in 2012 and 35-34 in 2011. Black Hawk (102) is the fourth smallest school in the Division 7 playoffs.
Key for Black Hawk's offense: The Hilltoppers are giving up just 13.5 points per game and are limiting teams to 82 rushing yards per game. It's unknown if Black Hawk sophomore quarterback Michael Flanagan (mononucleosis) will be healthy enough to play. That means the running and passing load could fall on sophomore Brody Milz, who started the year at quarterback, but has been used at tight end late in the year to help with blocking defensive ends and outside linebackers to open holes for the Warriors' running backs in a split veer option based offense. Milz is a physical runner who could be dangerous in the open field. Milz has completed 60 percent of his passes this season with three touchdowns and one interception. He also has rushed for 321 yards and scored three touchdowns. Senior running back Jacob Quinn (944 rushing yards and 12 TDs) needs to get on track.
Key for Black Hawk's defense: Catholic Central has been a juggernaut on offense averaging 40.4 points per game. Catholic Central quarterback Ben Heiligenthal has racked up 1,810 total yards and 38 total touchdowns. The Hilltoppers have a strong one-two punch on the ground. Running back Cole Kresken (1,276 yards and 20 TDs) along with Heiligenthal (936 rushing yards, 17 TDs, 874 passing yards, 11 TDs) are both instrumental playmakers.
Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle received No. 1 seeds and have positioned themselves for some home cooking. As top seeds, Darlington, ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Division 6 Coaches poll and Pecatonica-Argyle, ranked No. 2, could have home games the first three rounds of the playoffs if they survive and advance.
"Everyone is 0-0 and if you don't come ready to play you will get bumped off," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "We will certainly be up to the challenge."
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki is excited to have a No. 1 seed, but he understands nothing is guaranteed.
"They have proven their worth on the field," Zywicki said. "I think our kids are deserving of that No. 1 seed. Now we just have to go out and prove ourselves again over the upcoming weeks."
The other area teams in the playoffs include Evansville-Albany (9-0) in Division 3, Brodhead-Juda (4-5) in Division 4, New Glarus-Monticello (3-6) in Division 5 and Black Hawk (6-3) in Division 7.
Here is a preview of the six first-round playoff games, all set for 7 p.m. Friday.
The state championship games are slated for Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Division 3
Pewaukee (5-4) at Evansville-Albany (9-0)
Did You Know? Evansville-Albany enters the playoffs unbeaten but has not appeared in the Division 3 state rankings. The Blue Devils didn't get seeded with a grouping of Badger South and North schools, but with No. 1 seed Kewaskum, ranked No. 2 in Division 3, is a potential foe in the state quarterfinals. ... Pewaukee finished fourth in the Woodland West Conference.
Key for Evansville-Albany's offense: Pewaukee's defense is giving up an average of 252 yards per game (152.8 rushing yards and 99 passing yards per game) and 21.6 points per game. The Blue Devils' multi-dimensional offense is averaging 36.3 points per game and 252.8 total rushing yards per game. Evansville-Albany senior running back Ryker Brown has rushed for 775 yards and 17 TDs. Senior running back Nathan Redders has been just as dangerous, rushing for a team-high 992 yards and 10 TDs. Brennen Banks is a big playmaker with 640 yards and eight touchdowns and also is the team's leading wide receiver (13 receptions for 317 yards and four touchdowns). Evansville-Albany quarterback Zach Mielke has passed for 972 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Key for Evansville-Albany's defense: Albany senior Andrew Berra has 30 tackles and 11 tackles for loss to go along with a team-best four sacks. Berra is key for the Blue Devils in shutting down the run and putting pressure on Pewaukee quarterback Carl Renz. Renz has passed for 851 yards with 10 TDs and seven interceptions. Running back Aleczander Wandler has a team-high 873 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Division 4
Brodhead-Juda (4-5) at River Valley (8-1)
Did You Know? Brodhead-Juda lost a shootout in the season opener to River Valley 44-38. There was a controversial call. Brodhead-Juda senior Ned Slocum caught what appeared to be a touchdown from quarterback Matt Schmitt in the final seconds, but officials ruled he had a toe out of bounds. Slocum then caught a 25-yard pass from Schmitt but was stopped at the one-foot line. ... Both the Cardinals and Blackhawks run Wing-T offenses. ... River Valley was Southwest Wisconsin Conference co-champions with Prairie du Chien. ... Brodhead-Juda made the playoffs for the 25th straight year, which is the second longest streak in the state behind Menomonie. ... "We are two mirror images of each other," Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop said of both teams using a Wing-T offense. "The first one was nonconference and this one counts. It's a new season and anything can happen."
Key for Brodhead-Juda's offense: Slocum is a playmaker every time he touches the ball. He ran for 180 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Week 1 game against the Blackhawks. Schmitt is having a standout season at quarterback. He has passed for 1,213 yards with 19 TDs and four interceptions. Schmitt is completing 67.5 percent of his passes. Slocum remains a dual threat for the Cardinals on the ground and at wide receiver (24 receptions, 466 yards and nine touchdowns). He has also run for 452 yards and scored six touchdowns and is averaging 12.9 yards per carry. Senior Dylan Kubly leads the Cardinals with 711 rushing yards and 11 TDs.
Key for Brodhead-Juda's defense: River Valley quarterback Elijah Alt gave the Cardinals fits in the opener passing for 164 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Alt has passed for 793 yards and 10 TDs this year and he has rushed for 730 yards and 10 TDs. Running back Hunter Schwingle leads the Blackhawks with 769 rushing yards and 13 TDs. Schwingle ran for 110 yards in the season opener against the Cardinals. Stopping the run on early downs will make the difference for the Cardinals' defense that has been getting gashed for 312 rushing yards per game in their current three-game losing streak.
"We have been trying to find our identity a little bit," Bockhop said. "We have to keep him (Alt) in the pocket. He likes to roll out quite a bit. If we can get them in third down situations, I think our defense will be successful."
Division 5
New Glarus-Monticello (3-6) at Spencer-Columbus Catholic (9-0)
Did You Know? New Glarus-Monticello lost its first five games that coincided with injuries to four starters including quarterback Gavin Binger who recovered from a hip injury to make a comeback. ... The Glarner Knights won three straight Capitol South Conference games to qualify for the playoffs. ... Spencer-Columbus Catholic was the Cloverbelt Conference champion.
Key for New Glarus-Monticello's offense: If the Knights are able to run the ball with success they could pull off an upset. Senior running back Trey Taylor has rushed for 1,165 yards with 13 TDs and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Binger has been gaining more confidence running the option since he returned. He has nine total touchdowns (five rushing and four passing). He gives the Knights a balanced offense they can lean on.
Key for New Glarus-Monticello's defense: Spencer-Columbus Catholic will look to pound the ball on the ground. Running back Hunter Luepke (877 rushing yards and 18 TDs) is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Teammate Calvin Lenz at quarterback has passed for 641 yards with eight touchdowns with two interceptions. However, he is completing just 48 percent of his passes. The Knights could turn the tide by forcing turnovers.
Division 6
PardeEville (5-4) at Darlington (9-0)
Did You Know? Darlington, the two-time Division 6 state runner-up, is clicking on all cylinders heading into the playoffs. ... The Redbirds entered the postseason 8-1 the last two years and won 12 straight games to get to the state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium. ... The last time the Redbirds played Pardeeville in 2009, Darlington knocked off the Bulldogs 34-14.
Key for Darlington's offense: Pardeeville is giving up 199 rushing yards per game, which could spell trouble for the Bulldogs against the Redbirds. The Redbirds roll into the playoffs averaging 46.7 points per game and are averaging a total of 361.3 rushing yards per game. Darlington junior fullback Hunter Johnson has been a workhorse at fullback with a team-leading 1,618 rushing yards and 25 TDs. Hunter's cousin, Trevor Johnson, has 811 rushing yards and 12 TDs. Trevor Johnson is the Redbirds' leading receiver with eight receptions for 200 yards and five touchdowns. When Darlington junior quarterback Jared Meister passes the ball, he looks to make the big play down the field. Meister has passed for 605 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
Key for Darlington's defense: The Redbirds have one shutout this season and have thrived at bottling up the run and forcing turnovers the past three years. Pardeeville quarterback Tyler Young has thrown 11 TDs and eight interceptions this year. Pardeeville wide receiver Tyler Hentrich is Young's favorite target (38 receptions for 617 yards with three touchdowns).
Kickapoo-LaFarge (3-6) at Pecatonica-Argyle (9-0)
Did You Know? Pecatonica-Argyle steamrolled its way through the Six Rivers Conference averaging 45.7 points per game and winning conference games by an average of 45.3 points per game. .. The enrollment for Pecatonica-Argyle (222) for this year's playoffs is higher than Darlington's (209). The Redbirds are eight students away from being a Division 7 postseason team. ... The Vikings played Kickapoo-LaFarge in the 2011 playoffs and lost a nail-biter 6-0. .. The Vikings play in a Division 7 conference, but in their only game against a Division 6 team this season, Pecatonica-Argyle routed Iowa-Grant 34-12.
Key for Pecatonica-Argyle's offense: Kickapoo-LaFarge's defense is giving up an average of 36.1 points per game and have been outscored 117-26 in the second half of games this season. This could turn into a shootout for the Vikings who are a tough matchup for most defenses with the balance they display on offense. Pecatonica-Argyle junior quarterback Logan Green is completing 65.8 percent of his passes and has passed for 934 yards with 15 TDs and just two interceptions. Green is averaging 103 yards passing per game and the Vikings have a big-play running game. Senior running back Riley Ostby leads the team with 912 rushing yards and 17 TDs. Ostby is averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Junior running back Cam Treuthardt has rushed for 503 yards and six touchdowns and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The big-play player at wide receiver is junior A.J. Hendrickson, who has 17 receptions for 266 yards with three touchdowns.
Key for Pecatonica-Argyle's defense: Kickapoo-LaFarge tied for third place in the Ridge and Valley Conference with Mauston. Kickapoo-LaFarge is a run-dominated team that runs a double tight, double wing offense that relies on short play-action passes. Running back Ryan Herken leads Kickapoo-LaFarge with 889 rushing yards and five touchdowns. "Our front seven guys need to be physical and stop the run," Green said. "We have to make sure our secondary is on their toes." Ostby with 80 tackles, three fumble recoveries and one interception and senior Will Herman spearhead a Vikings' defense that is allowing just 8.3 points per game and has two shutouts this year. Green doesn't expect the Vikings to have an advantage since they have played Kickapoo-LaFarge before with the same coach.
"You go in and watch the film and then go about your business," Green said. "It's a new year and a new team. I don't think it's an advantage either way."
Division 7
Black Hawk (6-3) at Catholic Central (9-0)
Did You Know? There are nine teams in the Division 7 playoffs unbeaten, including two teams in Black Hawk's eight-team grouping, including Catholic Central (9-0), ranked No. 2 in Division 7 and Cambria-Friesland (9-0), ranked No. 6. The Warriors are trying to beat Catholic Central for the first time. Both the Warriors and Hilltoppers have a history of meeting each other in the postseason. Catholic Central edged Black Hawk 14-12 in 2012 and 35-34 in 2011. Black Hawk (102) is the fourth smallest school in the Division 7 playoffs.
Key for Black Hawk's offense: The Hilltoppers are giving up just 13.5 points per game and are limiting teams to 82 rushing yards per game. It's unknown if Black Hawk sophomore quarterback Michael Flanagan (mononucleosis) will be healthy enough to play. That means the running and passing load could fall on sophomore Brody Milz, who started the year at quarterback, but has been used at tight end late in the year to help with blocking defensive ends and outside linebackers to open holes for the Warriors' running backs in a split veer option based offense. Milz is a physical runner who could be dangerous in the open field. Milz has completed 60 percent of his passes this season with three touchdowns and one interception. He also has rushed for 321 yards and scored three touchdowns. Senior running back Jacob Quinn (944 rushing yards and 12 TDs) needs to get on track.
Key for Black Hawk's defense: Catholic Central has been a juggernaut on offense averaging 40.4 points per game. Catholic Central quarterback Ben Heiligenthal has racked up 1,810 total yards and 38 total touchdowns. The Hilltoppers have a strong one-two punch on the ground. Running back Cole Kresken (1,276 yards and 20 TDs) along with Heiligenthal (936 rushing yards, 17 TDs, 874 passing yards, 11 TDs) are both instrumental playmakers.
