Arrowhead running back Jebari Craig
DIVISION 1 | BRACKET
(Times, dates, & locations subject to change)
The Placements
Last year’s Division 2 state champion West De Pere is the top overall seed in D1 this season, and the Phantoms are placed in the top left bracket. Big Eight champion Verona is the two-seed. Muskego earned the top seed in the lower left group, which also includes Southeast Conference champion Racine Case as the two-seed. Undefeated Hamilton is the top seed in the top right grouping, with defending state champion Arrowhead the two-seed. Bay Port earned the top seed in the lower right quadrant, while Badger-Large champion Waunakee is the two-seed there.
Six to Watch
Here are six of the most electric offensive players that will be lining it up beginning this weekend:
Jebari Craig, Arrowhead - Craig is the leading rusher for the Warhawks, carrying the ball 164 times for 1,468 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 9.0 yards per attempt.
Cole Erdmann, Hamilton - Erdmann is a multi-year starter at quarterback for the Chargers, completing 69% of his passes this year for 2,011 yards with 22 touchdowns for the undefeated Hamilton squad.
Andrew Greisen, West De Pere - Andrew has stepped in for older brother Patrick, who was an All-State pick last season, and performed at a high level. The junior has completed 66% of his passes for 1,870 yards with 26 touchdowns as the Phantoms are the top overall seed in D1.
Morell Jackson, Racine Case - Jackson is the top rusher in Division 1, going for 1,521 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Southeast Conference champs this year.
Nolberto Rosales, Kenosha Bradford - Rosales has averaged more than 15 yards per completion this season, throwing for 1,693 yards and 24 touchdowns on 112-of-186 passing.
Ben Schroeder, Marquette - Schroeder has completed 58% of his passes for 2,035 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year, with three rushing scores as well.
Upset Alert
There are several to keep an eye on here. Second-seeded Verona won the Big Eight Conference, but the Wildcats have struggled outside the league in the postseason, and former Big Eight foe Sun Prairie East has been playing better at the end of the year. Appleton North has some really nice wins on the schedule this year, but struggled down the stretch a bit. A six-seed, they will face a third-seeded Stevens Point team who may be without their best player, quarterback Trent Breitbach, again this week. Sixth-seeded Chippewa Falls just played a close game against third-seeded Hudson last week before Hudson claimed a 31-28 victory. A rematch, especially so quickly, can be hard to get a second time.
Best Level 1 Game
Several good options here, but I’ll take fourth-seeded Kenosha Bradford hosting fifth-seeded Franklin. It was Franklin that got the better of Bradford as members of the Southeast Conference for many years, including 35-0 last year, but the Sabers moved to a new league this season and took a few more lumps, meaning a road game this week. Can Bradford post a program-changing victory in the postseason, or is Franklin still at a different level?
Potential intriguing match-ups the rest of the way
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Muskego vs. Franklin, Level 2 - These teams have been frequent playoff opponents over the last decade or so, and this year were together in the Classic Eight Conference. Muskego won that first go-around 31-6.
Hamilton vs. Arrowhead, Sectional Final - Hamilton is undefeated and the top seed in the group, while Arrowhead is the defending state champion. It was Arrowhead that ended Hamilton’s season last year in the Sectional Finals after beating the Chargers during the 2025 regular season.
Bay Port vs. Waunakee, Sectional Final - A couple heavyweight programs would be squaring off here, as Bay Port was the runner-up a year ago while Waunakee advanced to a state semi-final on the other side of the bracket.
My Picks
West De Pere over Kimberly
Milwaukee Reagan over Milwaukee Pulaski co-op
Hudson over Chippewa Falls
Verona over Sun Prairie East
Muskego over Milwaukee Hamilton
Franklin over Kenosha Bradford
Kenosha Indian Trail over Milwaukee Bradley Tech
Racine Case over Milwaukee Riverside
Hamilton over Janesville Parker
Marquette over Madison Memorial
Oconomowoc over Middleton
Arrowhead over Oshkosh West
Bay Port over Wausau West
Neenah over De Pere
Appleton North over Stevens Point
Waunakee over D.C. Everest
Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].
