The first football games of the year are just over a week away, and we’re excited to kickoff a new season!

Over the next several days, Bound Wisconsin will be producing Preseason Football Team Rankings, featuring a Top 15 for each division as well as Others to Watch.

Previously Released Rankings:

Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5
Division 6

1. Kenosha St. Joseph - The Lancers dominated the Midwest Classic-Small last year, and played a tough schedule outside the league. The Lancers lost early non-conference games to Racine St. Catherine’s and Milwaukee Academy of Science, which helped prepare them for a nice playoff run to the state semi-finals. They’d go out to Potosi/Cassville, but it sets the stage for a 2025 season that will feature significant expectations right out of the gates, as they figure to be one of the top-ranked teams in the state. That senior class is extremely talented, led by returning conference Offensive Player of the Year Zach Rizzo, who threw for 1,913 yards and 28 touchdowns with just two interceptions. 1200-yard rusher Christopher Kenesie is back, along with leading receiver Dominic Rinaldi plus talented two-way player Berkley Kuiper.

2. Boyceville - The Bulldogs were a point away from a conference championship and one point away from a trip to the state finals, but it was still an outstanding season for Boyceville. The team went 8-1 in the regular season, with only a 19-18 loss to Spring Valley blemishing their record. They got their revenge on Spring Valley in the sectional final before a 21-20 loss to eventual D7 champion Edgar in the state semi-finals. There are eight starters returning on both sides of the ball for Boyceville, among them returning DSC Offensive Player of the Year Carson Roemhild at quarterback as well as fellow two-way stud Zach Hellendrung, who is committed to North Dakota State.

3. Pepin/Alma - The Eagles have won at least a share of three consecutive league titles. After unbeaten league crowns in 2022 and 2023, the team shared the title last year after falling to Cochrane-Fountain City late in the year. The Eagles would fall to Boyceville in Level 2 of the playoffs. Veteran head coach Mike Olson, who sports a 187-119 overall head coach record, brings back 33 letterwinners from last season, including nine starters on offense and seven on defense. Justin Bergmann was a 1000-yard rusher last year, while Liam Midtovne went for more than 700 yards on the ground and Owen Post finished with 517 rushing yards and 379 receiving yards. Trenton Krzoska is back at the quarterback spot.

4. Potosi/Cassville - The co-op program scored an impressive early win over Cuba City to begin the season and wouldn’t slow down from there, going on to win the Six Rivers Conference and finished a perfect 9-0 during the regular season. In the playoffs, they’d defeat league rivals Black Hawk/Warren and River Ridge for a second time each, then down a talented Kenosha St. Joseph team to get back to the state final in Division 7 for the first time since forming the co-op in 2017. They’d settle for a silver ball as state runners-up after falling to Edgar. While just three starters are back on both sides of the ball, there are 23 returning letterwinners and many players who saw valuable time on either varsity or JV a year ago.

5. River Ridge - The Timberwolves put together an excellent 2024 campaign, rebounding from a couple early conference losses to Black Hawk/Warren and Potosi/Cassville (by a combined eight points) to finish the regular season 7-2. They’d win road playoff games over Cashton and Bangor before finally going out to Potosi/Cassville in the sectional championship. The Timberwolves are ahead of many teams with the return of quarterback Brandon Davis, who has operated the team’s option offense the last two years and will be one of the league’s top players. River Ridge brings back four starters on offense and five on defense.

6. Cochrane-Fountain City - The Pirates took down Pepin/Alma last year, which resulted in a three-way tie for the league championship, including the CFC. Cochrane-Fountain City scored a playoff victory for a second straight year, but went out to Potosi/Cassville in Level 2. The Pirates have seven starters on both sides of the ball returning this fall.

7. Black Hawk/Warren - The Warriors were shocked by Southwestern/East Dubuque in the season-opener, but rebounded to win seven straight before falling to Potosi/Cassville in the regular season finale. They’d get matched up with Potosi/Cassville again in the first playoff game, falling in a tough 7-6 ballgame. The Blackhawks return three starters on offense this year, with four back on defense.

8. Iola-Scandinavia - The Thunderbirds were a distant fourth in the Marawood/CWC last season, finishing 6-4 overall after a Level 1 playoff exit against Hilbert. The Thunderbirds are ready to take a step forward this fall with the return of a couple of the state’s top athletes. Korz Loken is a junior tight end who is garnering interest and offers from some of the top colleges around the country, while quarterback Jensen Rice is a state champion track athlete who is dynamic on the football field.

9. Ithaca - The Bulldogs continued their strong run last season with an unbeaten regular season to capture a Scenic Bluffs Conference championship in the team’s first season as a member of the league. The main rushing threats have graduated, but senior quarterback Keegan Jones will provide a steadying force for the Bulldogs.

10. Johnson Creek - The Bluejays claimed an outright Trailways Conference title last season, getting through a challenging league schedule unbeaten. Johnson Creek won a couple highly competitive playoff games over Royall and Ithaca before a blowout loss to Kenosha St. Joseph in the sectional championship. 1400-yard rusher Owen Blakey, leading receiver Luke Hartz, and two-way lineman Evan Malueg are among the marquee returnees.

11. Coleman - The Cougars were perfect during the regular season, winning a dominating Northwoods Conference title. The team won a pair of conference games before going out to Bonduel, a team they beat earlier in the season. Veteran coach Jeff Bronson has 20 letterwinners back this season, including six starters on offense and five on defense.

12. Eleva-Strum - The Cardinals dropped the first game of the year against Glenwood City before rattling off five consecutive victories. However, the team dropped four straight to close the season, including back-to-back running clock defeats against Pepin/Alma in the final regular season game and the first postseason contest. The Cardinals have seven starters returning on both offense and defense this season, as Brock Stendahl and Luis Itehua are experienced ball-carriers, but the Cardinals have holes to fill at quarterback and receiver on offense.

13. Spring Valley - The Cardinals were the outright champion in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference last year, going unbeaten in the team’s first 11 games. In the Division 7 sectional final, the Cardinals would fall to league rival Boyceville, whom they had beaten just a month earlier. The offense brings back six offensive starters, though Asher Turner is the lone returning skill player regular. Max Wittmer is one of the top returnees up front. There are three starters back on defense.

14. Reedsville - The Panthers finished 4-3 in the Big East Conference last year, tying for third in the standings. Reedsville extended their playoff streak but went out to Manitowoc Lutheran in Level 1 by the same 14-7 score they fell to the Lancers in the regular season finale. The Panthers have seven starters returning on both sides of the ball.

15. Roncalli - The Jets dropped two of the first three conference games last year, but rallied to win four straight, finishing the regular season 7-2 overall. The Jets got a home playoff game, but unfortunately went out against Shiocton. It was nonetheless quite a turnaround from the Jets, who did not win a game in the 2023 regular season. Head coach Paul Kinsella returns 20 letterwinners this year, including five starters on offense and seven on defense. Receiver Donovan Cowley and tight end Kannon Kinsella each earned First Team All-Conference and WFCA All-Region recognition as juniors last year.