Edgar has won two consecutive state titles in Division 7 and bumps up to D6 this season, where they are undefeated
DIVISION 6 | BRACKET
(Times, dates, & locations subject to change)
The Placements
Regis is the top seed in Group A, with Mondovi the number two seed, as those teams played an amazing game earlier this year, won by Regis. Two-time defending Division 7 state champion Edgar is the top seed in Group B, where Packerland teams Kewaunee and Bonduel are the two and three, respectively. Darlington earned the number one seed in Group C, with fellow unbeaten Markesan the two-seed. Manitowoc Lutheran’s unbeaten Big East title gives the Lancers the top seed in Group D, where heavyweight Saint Mary’s Springs and defending champion Lomira are also included.
Six to Watch
Here are six of the most electric offensive players that will be lining it up beginning this weekend:
Maverick Butt, Edgar - Edgar has dominated frequently this year and spreads the ball a good amount, so Butt’s stats aren’t as big as they could be, but he still has 889 yards and 13 touchdowns on 120 rush attempts. He’s also second on the team in tackles and involved in the return game.
Treston Eckstein, Markesan - The Hornets hammer away in the running game, with Eckstein the workhorse, carrying it 193 times for 1,134 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt.
Bode Falkner, Mondovi - Falkner is very close to a 1000/1000 season, with 1,465 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, adding another 922 yards and 14 scores on the ground, as just a sophomore.
Dylan Mathison, Bangor - Mathison is second in Division 6 in rushing heading into the playoffs, going for 1,461 yards and 16 touchdowns on 157 carries, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt.
Jaymen Ott, Manitowoc Lutheran - Ott is among the division passing leaders with 1,313 yards and 15 touchdowns, completing 68.2% of his passes. He’s added 301 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground as well.
Brett Paulsen, Kewaunee - Paulsen has thrown for 1,555 yards and 20 touchdowns this season for the Storm, who claimed the Packerland Conference title. He also rushed for a team-high 761 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Upset Alert
Belleville was the belle of the ball last year, when the Wildcats took down the undefeated Eastern Suburban Conference champion Cambridge as an eight-seed, before advancing all the way to the state semi-finals. After tying for second in the tough SWAL against a challenging schedule and many tight games, Belleville is the seven-seed and takes on….undefeated Eastern Suburban Conference champion Markesan.
Best Level 1 Game
Saint Mary’s Springs is making its first playoff appearance without legendary coach Bob Hyland, as Zach Wildermann is looking to replicate some of that success. The Ledgers finished third in the Flyway, a game ahead of Lomira, last year’s Division 6 state champion who has three competitive losses this year, including a 17-0 loss to Springs back in Week 4.
Potential intriguing match-ups the rest of the way
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Regis vs. Mondovi, Sectional Final - These teams played one of the best games of the entire season back in Week 7, when Regis completed a Hail Mary at the end for a 27-22 victory, which determined where this one will be played, a home game for Regis.
Edgar vs. Regis, State Semi-Final - This would be two of the top small-school programs in the state over the last 20-plus years, as these teams have met several times during that stretch. Regis holds a 4-2 record against Edgar in the playoffs since 2001, though Edgar won the last one, 20-0 in 2023. Edgar also defeated Regis 46-7 in the 2009 state title game.
Darlington vs. Markesan, Sectional Final - Both teams are undefeated and both love to run the football, with Markesan second in the division with 2,823 yards on the ground while Darlington is fourth with 2,534 yards, though Darlington has a higher per-carry average.
My Picks
Regis over Unity
Fall Creek over Chetek-Weyerhaeuser
Bangor over Marshall
Mondovi over Abbotsford
Edgar over Loyal/Greenwood
Poynette over Howards Grove
Bonduel over Saint Mary Catholic
Kewaunee over Marathon
Darlington over Melrose-Mindoro
Fennimore over Mineral Point
Auburndale over Crandon
Markesan over Belleville
Manitowoc Lutheran over Waterloo
Weyauwega-Fremont over Cambridge
Saint Mary’s Springs over Lomira
Cedar Grove-Belgium over Mishicot
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].