Oshkosh North (5-4) vs. Madison Memorial (7-2) at Mansfield Stadium
How they got here: Oshkosh North, which is 11-9 in 10 playoff appearances, finished tied for fourth in the Fox Valley Association. Madison Memorial, which is 4-7 in seven playoff appearances, shared the Big Eight Conference title with Middleton, Sun Prairie and Verona.
Statistical standouts: North RB Isaiah Gray (107 carries, 767 yards, 11 TDs); Memorial QB Mike Moss (170-for-281, 2,226 yards, 24 TDs) and WR Lechein Neblett (58 catches, 1,166 yards, 17 TDs).
What to watch: A battle of contrasting styles features run-oriented North vs. pass-happy Memorial. North has won its playoff opener the past two years but is coming off a battle with the flu and a 20-8 loss to Kimberly. Memorial, averaging 28.5 points, hasn't won a playoff game since 2003.
Milwaukee Vincent (7-1) at Sun Prairie (7-2): Sun Prairie, which won the 1995 state title, hasn't advanced past the first round in six of its past seven playoff appearances. Vincent didn't play either of the two teams ahead of it in the Milwaukee City Conference.
Madison West (5-4) at Waukesha West (9-0): Madison West RB Leighton Settle (1,553 yards, 20 TDs) will test the Classic Eight Conference-champion Wolverines, who have allowed 11.7 points per game. Waukesha West handed 2008 state runner-up Hartland Arrowhead its only loss.
Janesville Parker (6-3) at Hartland Arrowhead (7-1): The Vikings and RB Adam Vesterfelt (1,459 yards, 17 TDs) face a tough matchup in the Warhawks, who have played in the past three state title games.
Hartford (5-4) at Verona (7-2): The host Wildcats, who advanced to 2007 Division 1 state semifinals, are back in Division 1 after advancing to 2008 Division 2 state finals. Hartford won its last four games after a 1-4 start.
Oconomowoc (5-4) at Middleton (7-2): The Cardinals can't get caught looking past the Raccoons -- the third-place team in the Little Ten Conference -- and a potential second-round battle with Verona.
Milton (7-2) at DeForest (7-2)
How they got here: Milton, which is 19-15 in 17 playoff appearances, finished second in the Southern Badger Conference. DeForest, which is 19-18 in 19 playoff appearances, shared the Northern Badger Conference title with Waunakee and Reedsburg.
Statistical standouts: Milton QB Nate Hammon (89-for-173, 1,225 yards, 8 TDs); DeForest RB Cory Wipperfurth (1,131 yards, 15 TDs in seven games).
What to watch: After receiving back-to-back forfeits, DeForest could be rusty in its first game since beating Reedsburg 28-0 on Oct. 9. The Norskies lost to Milton 46-41 in the 2008 season opener. The Red Hawks' only losses this season were to Waunakee and Southern Badger champion Monona Grove.
Slinger (5-4) at Monona Grove (9-0): Southern Badger champion MG has posted five shutouts and allowed only 50 points all season (5.6 points per game). The Owls tied for fourth in the largely Division 1 Little Ten.
Oregon (7-2) at Waunakee (8-1): These teams last met in the 2008 regular season with the Northern Badger co-champion Warriors breaking a 15-all tie in the second half to win 29-15. Oregon won all three of its games against teams from the Northern Badger -- the last a 22-21 victory over Reedsburg one week before the Beavers handed Waunakee its only loss.
Madison Edgewood (5-4) at Jefferson (8-1)
How they got here: Edgewood, which is 10-8 in eight playoff appearances, finished fourth in the Southern Badger. Jefferson, which is 8-5 in six playoff appearances, shared the Northern Rock Valley Conference title with McFarland.
Statistical standouts: Edgewood RB Mike Eshun (78 carries, 520 yards, 7 TDs) is Edgewood's top rusher, but he was sidelined with an ankle injury in Week 6 against Monona Grove. RB Peter Linse leads Jefferson with 1,218 yards and 12 TDs on 154 carries.
What to watch: Edgewood, which upended Jefferson 28-19 in the first round last year, relied on a rotating backfield and a series of trick plays to stay in the game last week at Oregon. Jefferson could be poised for a playoff breakthrough after suffering its only regular-season loss to 2008 Division 4 state runner-up Walworth Big Foot.
Whitewater (5-4) at Pewaukee (9-0): The visiting Whippets will have their hands full with a Pewaukee team that is averaging 41.1 points and has posted four shutouts.
Wisconsin Dells (4-5) at Reedsburg (6-3): QB Chad Mazur has the Northern Badger co-champion Beavers focused on returning to the state title game. Dells is trying to shake a six-game postseason losing streak dating to 1986.
Mount Horeb-Barneveld (4-5) at McFarland (8-1): The Northern Rock Valley co-champion Spartans -- led by RB-LB Alec Carr (1,071 yards, 15 TDs) -- look to avenge a 7-0 first-round loss to the Vikings last season. Mount Horeb-Barneveld, which forfeited its Week 9 game to DeForest (flu), last played Oct. 16 (a loss to Reedsburg).
Brodhead-Juda (7-2) vs. New Glarus-Monticello (7-2) at New Glarus
How they got here: Brodhead-Juda, which is 18-17 in 17 playoff appearances, finished second in the Southern Rock Valley Conference. New Glarus-Monticello, which has never won a playoff game in 12 appearances as a co-op program, shared the Southern Capitol Conference title with Marshall and Waterloo.
Statistical standouts: New Glarus-Monticello quarterback Ryan Bright has thrown for 654 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 554 yards and six TDs. Brodhead-Juda's Ethan Douglas has rushed for 1,041 yards and 17 touchdowns, but has been slowed by an ankle injury.
What to watch: New Glarus-Monticello is hosting a playoff game for the first time and is looking for its first playoff victory since New Glarus experienced postseason success in 1987 -- its last year before adding Monticello to its program. Brodhead-Juda bounced back from consecutive losses to Walworth Big Foot and McFarland with a win over Orfordville Parkview.
River Valley (7-2) at Lodi (8-1): Lodi, the largest school in the Division 4 field, suffered its only loss to McFarland in the opener. The Blue Devils will have to shut down Nick Radlinger, who has rushed for 1,367 yards and 15 TDs.
Marshall (6-3) at Prairie du Chien (7-2): Prairie du Chien finished second in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference behind Lancaster. Marshall's attack of Luis H. Acosta, David Jones and Tony Klock has combined to rush for 1,444 yards and 16 TDs.
Montello-Princeton-Green Lake (6-3) at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (7-2): Montello-Princeton-Green Lake finished tied for second in the Small Trailways Conference behind Pardeeville. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau shared the Coulee Conference title with Black River Falls.
Lake Mills (5-4) at Walworth Big Foot (9-0): RB Michael Walker leads the way for 2008 state runner-up Big Foot with 1,174 rushing yards and 16 TDs. Lake Mills' Nick Dunkleberger has thrown for 1,383 yards and 14 TDs.
Mishicot (6-3) at Nekoosa (6-3): Nekoosa won the South Central Conference with an unbeaten SCC record.
Cuba City (6-3) at Lancaster (9-0)
How they got here: Cuba City, which is 8-9 in nine playoff appearances, shared the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League title with Darlington and Iowa-Grant. Lancaster, which is 45-12 in 18 playoff starts, won the SWC.
Statistical standouts: Lancaster's Trevor Landon has rushed for 1,210 yards and 23 touchdowns on only 142 carries. Cuba City's tandem of John Frederick and Michael Bruner have combined to rush for 1,514 yards and 24 TDs.
What to watch: Lancaster opened the season with a 41-10 win at Cuba City. The Cubans started out 0-2, but recovered to win six of their past seven games -- including a 20-14 win over Darlington.
Waterloo (7-2) at Iowa-Grant (7-2): Marcus Boothe has rushed for 1,152 yards and 15 touchdowns for Iowa Grant. Waterloo's Buddy Lincks and Deven Venden have combined to rush for 1,471 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Darlington (8-1) at Palmyra-Eagle (5-4): Darlington quarterback Alex Erickson has thrown for 647 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 835 yards and 16 touchdowns. Palmyra-Eagle finished third in the Southern Rock Valley behind Big Foot and Brodhead-Juda.
Poynette (7-2) at Pardeeville (8-1): Jordan Genrich has rushed for 874 yards and 18 touchdowns for Pardeeville, which took an 8-1 record into the postseason last year and lost to Iowa-Grant. Poynette, a Division 4 team last year, has won four straight games since losing to Division 4 Lodi.
Necedah (7-2) at Marathon (8-1): Necedah running back Brett Jump has gained 1,122 yards and 19 touchdowns on only 142 carries. Marathon's only loss came in the regular-season finale to undefeated Edgar, but by a 61-0 score.
Dodgeland (5-4) at Greendale Martin Luther (5-3): Dodgeland tied for fourth in the Large Trailways Conference and beat Montello-Princeton-Green Lake in Week 9 to gain a playoff berth. Martin Luther tied for second in the Southern Midwest Classic.
Fennimore (5-4) at Melrose-Mindoro (5-4)
How they got here: Fennimore, which is 17-12 in 12 playoff starts, finished fourth in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League. Melrose-Mindoro, which is 11-11 in 11 playoff appearances, shared the Dairyland Conference title with Blair-Taylor and Whitehall.
Statistical standouts: Joe Carl, who was Fennimore's quarterback before a wrist injury kept him out action for four weeks, has returned as a tailback and rushed for 425 yards and five TDs on 48 carries. Melrose-Mindoro has five players with at least 40 carries and 240 yards rushing.
What to watch: Fennimore has reached the state semifinals each of the past four years, but injuries to Carl, 2008 SWAL lineman of the year Alex Zart (ACL) and linebacker Hunter Lyght (broken leg) have made it a struggle this time around. Melrose-Mindoro, which won a 1997 second-round meeting 34-20 over Fennimore, has bounced back from a 1-4 start.
River Ridge (5-4) at Bangor (9-0): River Ridge is back in the postseason after a two-year hiatus behind running back Weston Nemitz, who is 41 yards shy of 1,000. The Timberwolves will have to contain RB John Piske (1,353 yards, 22 TDs) and a Bangor offense averaging 417 yards per game.
Hillsboro (5-4) at Blair-Taylor (7-2): Hillsboro is in the Division 6 field for the first time since the WIAA went to seven divisions in 2002. The Tigers will have their hands full with Blair-Taylor quarterback Hank Kujak, who is 108-for-200 passing for 1,581 yards and 17 touchdowns -- and just 2 INTs.
Deerfield (5-4) vs. Lake Country Lutheran (8-1) at Kettle Moraine High School in Wales: Deerfield looks to unleash halfback Trey Shaw (1,312 yards, 21 TDs) on the Lightning. Lake Country won 21-7 over the same Johnson Creek team that the Demons beat 26-14, and lost its only game 35-34 to Milwaukee Heritage Christian.
Madison Abundant Life (5-4) at Benton-Scales Mound (6-3)
How they got here: Abundant Life, making its first playoff appearance, finished third in the Small Trailways. Benton-Scales Mound, which is 3-6 in six playoff appearances as a co-op program, tied for second in the Six Rivers Conference behind Potosi.
Statistical standouts: Tyler Bozacki is Abundant Life's top rusher with 917 yards and eight TDs. Benton-Scales Mound's Matt Savatski has thrown for 10 TDs and also has the team lead, defensively, in interceptions with five.
What to watch: Abundant Life has not scored a touchdown in its past 13 quarters. The Zephyrs, who have won six of their past seven games, will be hosting a playoff game for the first time at Swift Park in Benton, which made its debut on the WIAA's approved sites list.
Seneca (3-6) at Potosi (9-0): Seneca bounced back from a 1-8 record in 2008 to earn its 17th playoff berth. Potosi won a Week 3 meeting between the two teams 59-20.
Wauzeka-Steuben (5-4) vs. Rio (4-5) at Portage: Both teams lost in the first round of the 2008 playoffs, which was Wauzeka-Steuben's first taste of postseason. Rio's 49-8 win last week over Fall River made the Vikings playoff eligible.
Belmont (6-3) vs. North Crawford (4-5) at Soldiers Grove: The host Trojans (1-8 last season) are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2005. They will have to deal with a Belmont ground game led by Jordan Farrey (1,024 yards), Ethan Steinhoff (982) and Josh Eastlick (805).
Cochrane-Fountain City (6-3) at De Soto (9-0): Cochrane-Fountain City went 3-0 outside of the largely Division 6 Dairyland Conference. De Soto has won nine in a row since a 36-10 loss to Burlington Catholic Central in last year's state semifinals.
Hustisford (3-6) at Burlington Catholic Central (8-1): Hustisford won its past three games after an 0-6 start. The Hilltoppers won last year's state title 37-14 over Hilbert.
Shullsburg (6-3) at Cambria-Friesland (6-3): Both teams have multiple options in solid ground games -- Shullsburg in Nate Carrier (1,118, 11 TDs), Trevor Milestone (466, 10) and Cambria in Manny Ramirez (1,172, 16) and Zach Bubolz (717, 6). Shullsburg won the only other postseason meeting between the two 21-0 in 1989.
Ithaca (4-5) at Randolph (7-2): The host Rockets earned a share of their 19th conference title last week. Ithaca will be minus injured QB Josh Cornett (1,166 yards, 13 TDs).
Loyal (6-3) at New Lisbon (8-1): Loyal makes its first playoff appearance since 2005 and only its third against a Rockets team that lost its regular-season finale to Bangor to finish second in the Scenic Bluffs. New Lisbon hasn't won a playoff game since 2003.
Posted in Football, Dennis_semrau, Rob_hernandez on Monday, October 26, 2009 11:00 pm Updated: 7:55 pm. | Tags: Prep Football, Wiaa Football Playoffs,
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