Aquinas and senior receiver Logan Becker are chasing a gold ball in Division 4 after winning three straight in D5 from 2021 to 2023
DIVISION 4 | BRACKET
Toughest Road So Far
Top-seeded Racine St. Catherine’s had no trouble with Saint Francis to open the playoffs, winning 47-0. However, the Angels had a tough matchup in Level 2, facing a very talented Lake Mills teams that has explosive playmakers. The St. Cat’s defense rose to the occasion once again, completing shutting down junior quarterback Tyler Wolling, who entered with with a state-high 38 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. However, he completed just 13-of-33 passes and threw five interceptions. Neither offense was able to get much going, however, but St. Cat’s was able to pull out a 12-6 victory.
Cinderella
After three of the six-seeds and four total road teams scored victories in Level 1 of the playoffs in Division 4, it was all chalk last week, with all 1’s and 2’s remaining. All of the teams made the playoffs last year, and six of last season’s quarterfinalists are among this year’s group of eight.
Most Impressive
Baldwin-Woodville has put 118 points in the first two playoff games, as the Blackhawks are averaging 47 points per game this year as one of the state’s highest-scoring teams. The Middle Border Conference champions had a few close games during the latter part of the league schedule, but have been extremely impressive in the postseason.
The Match-Ups
#2 Baldwin-Woodville (11-0) at #1 Aquinas (11-0)
Aquinas and Baldwin-Woodville are both undefeated this year and have been on a collision course for a sectional final. Aquinas was a state semi-finalist last season after being elevated to Division 4 following three consecutive championships in D5. Baldwin-Woodville was the runner-up in Division 4 last season, falling in a close game to Racine St. Catherine’s at Camp Randall.
My Pick: Aquinas
#2 Freedom (10-1) at #1 Winneconne (11-0)
These teams met in 2021 in the playoffs, with Freedom scoring a victory, and in a Bay-North Eastern crossover two seasons ago when Winneconne 24-14. They have a number of shared opponents this season as well. Winneconne fell a game short of Madison last season, and with Iowa commit Brody Schaffer leading the way, the Wolves have been one of the favorites in D4 all season.
My Pick: Winneconne
Mosinee shared the Great Northern Conference championship this year behind a veteran group that was led by two-way standout Trev Stoffel, who was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Columbus is into Level 3 for a fifth consecutive season, looking to advance to the state semi-finals for the first time since 2022’s Division 4 state championship. After three straight seasons with a 2000-yard rusher, the Cardinals have shared the load a bit more this season, with senior Peyton Powers providing a steadying influence at quarterback.
My Pick: Columbus
#2 Little Chute (10-1) at #1 Racine St. Catherine’s (10-1)
Little Chute finished third in the North Eastern Conference and went out in Level 1 of last season’s playoffs, and underwent a coaching change in the off-season as Mark Krommenacker took over, coming over from Appleton East. The Mustangs adapted to the new flexbone offense quickly, averaging more than 321 yards rushing per game as the league champs. They take on defending state champion Racine St. Catherine’s, who has suffered just one loss this year to the last place team in the Metro Classic Conference, when the Angels had almost 20 players out due to suspension. The St. Cat’s defense has been dominant this year, allowing just 40 points outside of that loss to Brown Deer.
My Pick: Racine St. Catherine’s
My Picks:
(8-0 last week; 21-3, 87.50% overall in Division 4)
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].