Bound Wisconsin Week 1 Football Preview

All game times 7 pm unless otherwise noted.

Middleton (Preseason D1 #16) at Bay Port (Preseason D1 #1) - Bay Port took down Middleton 37-28 to open the 2024 season, when the Pirates would go on to claim the Division 1 state championship. They open their title defense against a Middleton squad hoping to push Verona off the Big Eight throne.

Greendale (Preseason D3 #14) at Badger (Preseason D1 #11) - Badger bumps up to Division 1 this year after back-to-back strong runs in Division 2, including a 2023 state championship. These teams have had some exciting early season non-conference games in recent seasons, with Badger rallying from a fourth quarter deficit to win 27-17 last year.

Notre Dame (Preseason D2 #2) at Kaukauna (Preseason D2 #6) - Notre Dame dominated to a Division 3 state title last year, but a large contingent of the roster graduates, including 3000-yard rusher Christian Collins and Notre Dame tight end recruit James Flanigan. The Tritons get bumped up to D2 this season, and take on one of the other Division 2 heavyweights in Kaukauna, who shared the FVA title last season.

Ellsworth (Preseason D4 #10) at La Crosse Logan (Preseason D3 #9) - Logan scored with eight seconds left and converted the two-point play to defeat Ellsworth 22-21 last season. Logan played a number of close games last year, advancing to the state semi-finals, but has to replace do-everything quarterback/linebacker Bradley Check.

Marshfield at New Richmond (Preseason D2 #5) - New Richmond scored a 7-6 win over Marshfield to open the 2024 season, as the Tigers would go on to win the Big Rivers Conference title. Marshfield was a couple games off the pace in the Wisconsin Valley, but hope to compete towards the top this season.

Menasha at Plymouth (Preseason D3 #5) - Both teams made the playoffs last year, but it was Plymouth who pulled away for a 34-18 victory over Menasha in Week 1 last season. The Panthers racked up 471 yards of offense in the game, including a pair of 100-yard rushers.

D.C. Everest at Rice Lake (Preseason D2 #10) - Both teams made outstanding playoff runs a year ago, with Rice Lake advancing to the Division 2 state final, finishing as runner-up after a D3 title the year before. D.C. Everest advanced to the state semi-finals before dropping a close one against eventual D1 champ Bay Port.

Waunakee (Preseason D1 #7) at La Crosse Central - Waunakee shutout Central 38-0 in the season opener last year, though both teams would go on to earn a conference title. Waunakee won the Badger-Large outright, while La Crosse Central was part of an unprecedented five-way tie atop the Mississippi Valley.

Sun Prairie East (Preseason D1 #15)) at Verona (Preseason D1 #8) - These former Big Eight Conference foes continue to play in early non-conference games. Last year Verona cruised to a 27-7 victory, though the Wildcats have some big shoes to fill with the graduation of all-everything Tennessee commit Tre Poteat.

All game times 7 pm unless otherwise noted.

Lodi (Preseason D4 #9) at Monroe (Preseason D3 #12) - Both these teams have won state titles in recent seasons, Lodi in Division 4 in 2023 and Monroe in Division 3 in 2022. Both should be among the top teams in their respective divisions once again.

Greenfield at Columbus (Preseason D4 #4) - Greenfield should have made the playoffs last year but for an error on the part of the WIAA in determining the postseason field, and can get off to a good start this season and make an early move to take themselves off the bubble against a strong Columbus team.

Lakeside Lutheran at Lake Mills (Preseason D4 #6) - Lakeside struggled to a 1-8 record last year, but the Slider Bowl is one of the most unique rivalries in the state, as both schools are located in Lake Mills, just two-thirds of a mile away from each other.

Darlington (Preseason D6 #6) at Platteville - A southwest Wisconsin showdown between teams that should contend towards the top of their respective leagues. Platteville welcomes in a new coach as Isaiah Altfillisch replaces Bryce Arneson.

Aquinas (Preseason D4 #3) at Prairie du Chien (Preseason D5 #14) - Aquinas handed Prairie du Chien its only loss of the regular season in a 14-12 opener a year ago, and Prairie heads into 2025 with loads of changes. They have to replace do-everything Blake Thiry, and have a new head coach with Kevin Campbell taking over.

Belleville at Lancaster - Belleville was the belle of the ball in last year’s playoffs, going from a losing record in the regular season and eight-seed in the postseason, all the way to the state semi-finals in Division 6. Now, can they build off that and compete higher in the SWAL?

Potosi/Cassville (Preseason D7 #4) at Cuba City - Cuba City losses every single starter from a year ago, and gets one of southwest Wisconsin’s top teams to open the season, as Potosi/Cassville once again has designs on a deep postseason run.

Cambridge (Preseason D6 #9) at Randolph - Cambridge went undefeated during the regular season, but the Blue Jays were shocked in the opening playoff game by Belleville. With that bad taste in their mouth all off-season, they’ll try to get off on a good note against a solid Randolph squad.

Racine Case (Preseason D1 #12) at Cedarburg (Preseason D2 #12) - Cedarburg welcomes in new head coach Matt McDonnell, who moves over from a successful stint at Kettle Moraine. Case has designs on ending Franklin’s dominance in the Southeast Conference and can make an early non-league statement here.

Arrowhead (Preseason D1 #2) at Marquette (Preseason D1 #10) - Traditional powerhouses meet up in an early top ten showdown in Division 1, both feeling like they have not only conference title aspirations but state championship aspirations as well. It is the first game as Marquette head coach for Jon Kahle, who moves over from Brookfield Academy.

Kimberly (Preseason D1 #5) at Sussex Hamilton (Preseason D1 #9) - Kimberly finally gets a Week 1 game after several years struggling to find someone to play. It’s a big one, as the Papermakers welcome in a Sussex Hamilton squad ready to push back to the top of the Greater Metro Conference.

Franklin (Preseason D1 #3) at Catholic Memorial (Preseason D3 #1) - Certainly one of the marquee games in the state, as both teams are strong contenders for state championships in their respective divisions. CMH struggled at times offensively unless now-graduated quarterback M.J. Mitchell made plays for them, and this will be a key early test to see if they can generate consistent offense against good opponents.

Fond du Lac at Hartford (Preseason D2 #9) - Fond du Lac has gotten off to extremely slow starts against tough schedules the last few years, and the team can’t let that happen again, especially with increased importance on non-conference games for playoff qualifying.

Appleton North (Preseason D1 #13) at Mukwonago (Preseason D1 #4) - FVA versus Classic Eight, conference bragging rights on the line. North is looking for improvement on a fourth place finish in the league a year ago and 5-5 overall mark, while Mukwonago has some talented young players ready to replace All-State running back Mason Radobicky.

Pulaski at Oconomowoc (Preseason D1 #14) - Oconomowoc was one of the darlings of the state last year, coming from seemingly nowhere to claim a share of the Classic Eight title. How will the Raccoons respond to raised expectations in 2025?

Germantown (Preseason D2 #8) at Homestead (Preseason D2 #4) - Evoking memories of Phil Datka against Dave Keel, this northern subruban matchup is actually a rematch of a Level 2 game from last year won by Homestead 21-14.

Mount Horeb/Barneveld (Preseason D3 #2) at Grafton (Preseason D3 #3) - What a way to kickoff the 2025 season, as a pair of top three teams in Division 3 will meet up in this one, in which could easily be a deep playoff preview.

Port Washington (Preseason D3 #4) at Pewaukee (Preseason D3 #8) - This one will be especially important for Pewaukee with the new playoff rules that reward wins in non-conference games for postseason qualifying. Wins in the larger Classic Eight may be hard to come by, and a game like this could be the difference between getting into the playoffs or staying home.

Milwaukee Academy of Science (Preseason D5 #8) at Whitnall (Preseason D3 #7) - Whitnall brings back a powerful passing attack led by Tanner Effertz, though the defense may be the key to the success this year. MAS loses some talented playmakers to not only graduation but transfer as well, though they have plenty of athletes plus some strong players up front.

Saint Mary’s Springs (Preseason D6 #4) at Lake Country Lutheran (Preseason D5 #6) - This marks the first time in more than 50 years that Saint Mary’s Springs opens a season without Bob Hyland at the helm, as Zach Wildermann takes over the program. This has been a nice opening game between these squads for several years, with both entering the year in their respective top ten.

Muskego (Preseason D1 #6) at Neenah - After a strong finish to the season that included a Division 1 state runner-up finish, Muskego has the kind of team that can not only get back to Camp Randall but win the whole thing. Neenah has to replace the dynamic backfield duo of Grant Dean and Evan Vanevenhoven.

Mayville (Preseason D5 #13) at Cedar Grove-Belgium (Preseason D6 #3) - Cedar Grove-Belgium has some dynamic young playmakers coming back as they enter as one of the favorites in Division 6 this year. Mayville will provide a stiff test to open things up, as head coach Scott Hilber always has the Cardinals ready to go, with a strong group up front.

Holmen (Preseason D2 #11) at Medford - A couple powerful running teams meet up in this one, with Medford winning an outright Great Northern title last year while Holmen shared a five-way Mississippi Valley title. Medford won this one 26-13 last year, though they turned to the air quite a bit, throwing for more than 200 yards.

Stratford (Preseason D5 #1) at Mosinee (Preseason D4 #8) - Stratford has taken down larger Mosinee three times in the last four years (along with a weather-shortened tie in 2022), as the Tigers have not been afraid to challenge themselves during a strong run of success that has seen them claim three consecutive state championships.

Bonduel (Preseason D6 #5)at Wittenberg-Birnamwood (Preseason D5 #5) - What a matchup in north central Wisconsin, with Bonduel coming off a Packerland Conference title and trip to the state semi-finals, while Wittenberg-Birnamwood has plans to challenge at the top of the CWC-Large, where three-time defending champion Stratford has ruled things of late.

Iola-Scandinavia (Preseason D7 #8) at Shiocton - Iola-Scandinavia finished a distant fourth in the Marawood/CWC and just 6-4 overall last year, but has some top-end talent that means raised expectations for 2025. Jensen Rice is a dynamic athlete at quarterback, while junior tight end Korz Loken has drawn recruiting interest from schools around the country.

Onalaska at West Salem (Preseason D4 #7) - This suburban La Crosse rivalry has produced some incredible games in recent years, though last year it was West Salem that got the better of the Hilltoppers in a 27-7 decision.

Northwestern (D5 #4) at Prescott (D5 #11) - A great game in northwestern Wisconsin featuring a couple teams in our preseason Division 5 rankings. Prescott loses some talented skill players, but returning receiver/defensive back Kobe Russell is as good as anyone in the state. Can the speed and spread offense of Prescott keep up with the ground and pound from Northwestern?

Wauzeka/Seneca at Cashton - There’s a feeling that Wauzeka/Seneca could be taking a step forward in the Six Rivers Conference this year, and we’ll get a good gauge on just how likely that is against a Cashton team that is usually pretty solid.