Dunn-St. Croix 2026 Football Preview

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be previewing every conference in the state as part of our preseason preparations.

Check out all of our Football Conference Previews for every league in the state, here.

2025 Recap: Boyceville ran away with the Dunn-St. Croix title last year, going a perfect 9-0 during the regular season. They’d advance to a sectional final. Spring Valley and Turtle Lake tied for second, while Clear Lake and Glenwood City also made the postseason, though Glenwood City was the only other league team to score a victory.

Note: The Dunn-St. Croix is a seven-team league and each team will play one crossover game against a member of the Lakeland that will count in the standings for playoff qualification. Clear Lake and Turtle Lake leave the Dunn-St. Croix to go to 8-player football. McDonell Central, the defending 8-player champs, move to 11-player football and into the Dunn-St. Croix. Osseo-Fairchild joins the Dunn-St. Croix from the Cloverbelt.

2025 Dunn-St. Croix Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference

2025 Cloverbelt Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference

2025 North Central East-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference

2026 PREVIEW:

Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Boyceville
2) Glenwood City
3) Spring Valley
4) McDonell Central
5) Osseo-Fairchild
6) Elmwood/Plum City
7) Colfax

Players to Watch:

Luke Andersen, WR/DB, McDonell Central: Andersen led the state in receiving touchdowns with 20 last year, hauling in 41 passes for 1,019 yards. He was First Team All-Conference in the North Central East-8 on both offense and defense.

Logan Auth, RB/LB, Elmwood/Plum City: Auth was First Team All-Conference as a running back, linebacker, and punter for the Wolves last season.

Braden Gregg, OL, Spring Valley: Gregg is the only returning First Team All-Conference selection on the offensive line in the Dunn-St. Croix.

Tucker Lindstrom, RB/DB, Boyceville: Lindstrom is the leading returning rusher for the Bulldogs, going for 10 touchdowns on the ground as a Second Team All-Conference selection last season.

Asher Turner, RB, Spring Valley: Turner led the Dunn-St. Croix in rushing last year with 1,260 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns as a First Team All-Conference selection.

2026 Team Previews

1) Boyceville put together a dominant regular season, allowing just 21 points in eight contests. After wins over Webster and Pepin/Alma, they’d fall to Cochrane-Fountain City in a sectional final. It was a strong senior group that led the way, meaning some changes coming for 2026. “It is impossible to replace a group of seniors who had a four-year varsity record of 41-7 with two conference championships and a sectional championship under their belt,” said head coach Michael Roemhild. “We have a group of guys who know how to win. They have followed in the footsteps of some great leaders and now it is their time.” Replacing All-State quarterback Carson Roemhild plus All-State defensive lineman Zach Hellendrung will be especially difficult, but there are eight starters back to try to keep things going. Eli Weber is expected to take over at quarterback.

2) Glenwood City had several very competitive losses during the regular season but still qualified for the playoffs, where they’d defeat Spring Valley for a second time before falling to Cochrane-Fountain City. Head coach Shane Strong likes the look of the defense for 2026, where ten starters are returning, with four of them entering their third season as regulars. Five starters are back offensively, but there is once again some concern in the trenches. “We will be small up front on both sides of the ball,” said Strong. “Last year we averaged 145 pounds on our offensive and defensive lines, and we will be very similar again this year, though we do have good speed.”

3) Spring Valley finished 5-5 last year, including a Level 1 playoff exit, but there’s reason to believe they’ll be back to pushing towards the top of the Dunn-St. Croix in 2026. Head coach Ryan Kapping has 14 returning letterwinners, highlighted by the return of eight offensive starters. That includes the league’s leading rusher Asher Turner, quarterback Mason Winger, and several other key pieces. The defense has five starters back this season.

4) McDonell Central makes the move from 8-player back to 11-player this year, and they’re coming off an 8-player state championship. After falling to Gilman in the regular season, they advanced to the championship game for a rematch with the Pirates, claiming a 22-0 shutout. They’ll need to replace 8-player Player of the Year Dawson Moulton along with quarterback Cael Holm, but 1000-yard receiver Luke Andersen is among the group returning. There are solid numbers in the program that will help the transition, which will also see a new coach take over. Mark Maloney retired after leading the team to the titled, and former G-E-T coach Luke Oliver moves over to take over the Macks program.

5) Osseo-Fairchild returned to varsity competition last year, and managed to grab a pair of victories. They’ll make the move from the Cloverbelt to the Dunn-St. Croix this season. Second year coach Tim Serum brings back 11 starters this year. “Our strengths should be our offensive line and our defensive front,” he said. “One weakness will be an inexperienced secondary, replacing four-of-five starters from last season.”

6) Elmwood/Plum City went just 1-8 last season, with the lone win coming over Colfax. Veteran coach Michael Birtzer has five starters returning on each side of the ball, though there are limited numbers overall in the program. “The team we have has speed and athleticism,” said Birtzer. “We do need to develop the line.” Logan Auth is a standout skill player, rushing for 885 yards last year as a two-way all-league performer.

7) Colfax did not find the win column last year, though there were some competitive games during the season. It was an extremely young group, that loses just one senior from last season. “The offensive and defensive lines should be our strength, being all but one will be a two- or three-year starter returning,” said head coach Mark Pankow. “Our weakness will be we will be young at our specialty positions and more than likely at the quarterback position.” The Vikings return 20 letterwinners, with 19 starting positions back.