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: Delavan-Darien and Evansville shared the Rock Valley Conference title in 2025, both winning a playoff game before exiting in Level 2. Edgerton was third, while McFarland and Jefferson also made the postseason.
Note: The Rock Valley is a seven-team league that is paired with the Capitol for crossover games. Monroe and McFarland move from the Rock Valley to the Badger-Small, while Jefferson and Edgerton move out of the Rock Valley and into the Capitol Conference. Clinton, Turner, and Big Foot move back into the Rock Valley from the Capitol.
2025 Rock Valley Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Capitol Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2026 PREVIEW:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Delavan-Darien
2) Evansville
3) Clinton
4) Turner
5) East Troy
6) Whitewater
7) Big Foot
Players to Watch:
Quintin Arizola, QB, Delavan-Darien: Arizola is tops among returning players in the state with 3,223 passing yards a year ago, when he completed 65.3% of his passes with 33 touchdowns. A First Team All-Conference choice, he also earned WFCA Honorable Mention All-State.
Jaxson Beaumont, RB, Clinton: Beaumont was an Honorable Mention All-Conference pick after finishing second on the team in rushing a year ago.
Kaden Garbe, WR, Delavan-Darien: Garbe was one of the most prolific receivers in the state last year, catching 73 passes for 1,324 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Brayden Golabowski, QB, East Troy: Golabowski earned Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition in the Rock Valley after throwing for more than 1400 yards with 13 touchdowns.
Harker Larsen, RB/ LB, Evansville: Larsen had 12 tackles for loss and six sacks as a First Team All-Conference linebacker, also going for 369 yards and five scores at running back.
Braedyn McKean, WR/DB, Delavan-Darien: McKean caught 66 passes for 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns, also leading the team with 368 yards and six scores on the ground. He was First Team All-Conference on both offense and defense.
Karder Tway, WR/DB, Evansville: Tway was First Team All-Conference on both sides of the ball last season after leading the team with 23 catches for 538 yards and seven scores while recording five interceptions on defense.
Matthew Wickersham, QB, Evansville: Wickersham threw for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, adding five touchdowns on the ground.
2026 Team Previews
1) Delavan-Darien dropped the two opening non-conference games, but rebounded to claim a share of the Rock Valley Conference. They’d win a playoff game for a second straight year, marking the first time in school history that has happened. Delavan-Darien returns 10 starters on offense, including the bulk of a prolific passing attack spearheaded by Quintin Arizola, who threw for 3,223 yards and 33 touchdowns. The top three receivers return, including 1000-yard receivers Kaden Garbe and Braedyn McKean. Seven starters return on the defensive side of the ball. “All of our team captains return except one and we return eight leadership council players,” said head coach Mark Kibler.
2) Evansville dropped a close early October game to Edgerton, but still were able to grab a share of the Rock Valley Conference title last fall. After shutting out Shoreland Lutheran in Level 1, the Blue Devils made the long trip to Mosinee and fell 19-7. Head coach Garth Coats returns six starters on both offense and defense. He likes the speed and athletic ability of the team, but has concerns about the experience of some of the linemen on each side of the ball. On offense, quarterback Matthew Wickersham returns, along with leading receiver Karder Tway, who was a First Team All-Conference pick. Harker Larsen is one of the league’s best players and top collegiate prospects, earning Rock Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
3) Clinton made the playoffs in the tough Capitol Conference, but fell in the first playoff game to New Glarus. It will be an extremely experienced group, with all 11 starters returning on defense to go with nine regulars on offense. Head coach Darin Wecker does have some concerns about a few off-season injuries, however. The Cougars were heavy on the ground attack in the power spread system, and second-leading rusher Jaxson Beaumont is returning in the backfield.
4) Turner was able to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2018, despite dropping five of the final six regular season contests. They’d get blown out by Mosinee in Level 1, but it was a nice step forward for the Trojans. “This group is ready to build off of last season and make another run at the playoffs,” said head coach Grant McLain. “This team continues to build a great culture of family and staying together. There will be areas of the offense and defense with little varsity experience but are very eager to fill the shoes of the last senior class.” The team welcomes back five starters on offense and four on defense.
5) East Troy split a pair of one-point games in the non-conference season, but the only conference win came over Whitewater in Week 6. The Trojans are hoping the return of quarterback Brayden Golabowski and leading receiver Connor Sickler will lead to more success this season. Golabowski threw for 1,427 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, while Sickler hauled in 25 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns.
6) Whitewater won its opening game over Big Foot in a non-conference game, but struggled the rest of the season, dropping the final eight contests. Ever game was decided by at least three scores, most in blowout fashion. It’s been a challenge for the Whippets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2009. As they try to make a move this season, they can turn to senior quarterback Ty Bucholtz, who didn’t have great stats last year but has shown promise, enough to give a commitment to Dordt University. Leading receiver Emmett Spear is back as well.
7) Big Foot did not win a game as a member of the Capitol Conference last season, finishing 1-7 overall. The Chiefs make the move back into the Rock Valley Conference, with 2011 graduate Kyle Collins taking over as head coach. “We will be continuing our rebuild this year,” Collins said. “We will rely on a lot of really good young talent, combined with some some great senior leadership. We have a really good group of hardworking kids that will play hard each night.” There are six starters back on the offensive side of the ball along with six on defense.
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].
