North Central West-8 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: Clayton won the North Central West-8 title last season and advanced to Level 2 before going out to eventual champion McDonell Central. Frederic was second and also made it to Level 2. New Auburn and Siren also made the postseason.

Note: Clayton and Prairie Farm form a new co-op this year. Turtle Lake and Clear Lake move from 11-player to 8-player after previously competing in the Dunn-St. Croix. Lake Holcombe moves in from the North Central East-8.

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

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

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

2026 PREVIEW:

Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Turtle Lake
2) Clayton/Prairie Farm
3) Clear Lake
4) Siren
5) Frederic
6) New Auburn
7) Luck
8) Lake Holcombe

Players to Watch:

Cain Casarez, RB/DL, Clayton/Prairie Farm: Casarez ran for more than 1000 yards last year and was the North Central West-8 Defensive Player of the Year.

Riley Cummings, WR/DB, Frederic: Cummings took home First Team All-Conference as a receiver and Second Team at defensive back last season, hauling in 24 passes for 510 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Brody Curtis, RB/LB, Clayton/Prairie Farm: Playing for Clayton last year, Curtis was Second Team All-Conference as a running back and First Team All-Conference as a linebacker a year ago.

Joe D’Jock, RB/LB, Siren: D’Jock earned Second Team All-Conference as a linebacker and Second Team at running back, leading the Dragons in rushing and recording 76b tackles on defense.

Parker Fingerson, QB, Siren: Fingerson had a strong sophomore season in 2025, throwing for 1,607 yards and 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions in 252 pass attempts.

Chester Lang, RB, New Auburn: Lang ran for 724 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, earning First Team All-Conference recognition in the North Central West-8.

Brody Tarman, QB, Turtle Lake: Tarman was Second Team All-Conference in the Dunn-St. Croix last season, throwing for 880 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 637 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Josh Taylor, WR/DB, Siren: Taylor was First Team All-Conference on offense and Second Team on defense, catching 56 passes for 923 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with three interceptions on defense. He earned WFCA All-State recognition as a receiver.

2026 Team Previews

1) Turtle Lake makes the move to 8-player football this year, coming off a playoff appearance in 2025. The team returns seven starters on offense and defense, led by standout quarterback Brody Tarman along with five offensive linemen who started games a year ago. A total of 12 letterwinners return this season, as the team expects to run a double-tight I-formation on offense and 3-2 base on defense.

2) Clayton/Prairie Farm is a new co-op this year after Clayton finished 8-3 as a playoff qualifier a year ago and Prairie Farm went 3-6 overall. Playing for Clayton last year, Cain Casarez ran for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns, while leading receiver Alex Young is back as well. Casarez doubles as a disruptive defensive lineman, earning Defensive Player of the Year recognition in the conference.

3) Clear Lake is another team making the switch from 11-player to 8-player this season, and they went out in style in 11-player last season with a postseason appearance, winning three of the final four regular season games to qualify. Head coach Neil Larson brings back 11 letterwinners from a year ago, with a good number of seniors included. “New conference, new to 8-player, it’s going to be a learning curve but I think we will do well,” Larson said.

4) Siren kept its playoff streak alive last season, qualifying for the 8-player postseason for the seventh consecutive year. While longtime successful coach Ryan Karsten stepped down in the off-season, the Dragons are poised to remain a strong contender in the conference and to push for another playoff spot in 2026. A talented offensive core is back this season behind some time-time playmakers. Parker Fingerson threw for 1,607 yards and 20 touchdowns as just a sophomore last season, Joe D’Jock rushed for 859 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Josh Taylor was among the top receiving threats in the state with 56 receptions for 923 yards and 11 touchdowns.

5) Frederic put together a strong 2025 campaign, going 6-2 during the regular season as the second place team in the North Central West-8, winning a dominating Level 1 playoff game 65-0 over Newman Catholic before going out to Flambeau the next week. The Vikings return both Royce Anderson and Austin Adams, who each saw time at quarterback last season. Anderson was second on the team in rushing. Leading receiver Riley Cummings is also back this year.

6) New Auburn was able to make it into the playoffs last year, the first time they’ve done so in 8-player and the first of any kind since 2008. The North Central West-8 got tougher this year with the additions that have moved in, but the Trojans should remain in the mix for a postseason spot. Quarterback Sawyer Jones is among the graduates, but leading rusher Chester Lang as well as second-leading receiver Austin Ebner do return.

7) Luck was one of the best 8-player programs for many years when the division re-started ten years ago, but the Cardinals have fallen on hard time a bit recently. Last year, they did not win a game on the field, with a 58-54 opening loss to New Auburn the only co0mpetitive game the team had in 2025. Quarterback Tate Johnson and leading receiver Aiden Johnson do return this year.

8) Lake Holcombe won just one game on the field last year, an opening 28-0 decision over neighboring Cornell. The league is even tougher this season, and it could be a challenge for the Chieftains in 2026.