Bay Port is going for a second consecutive Division 1 state title
Last week I went 10-4 in picking the state semi-final and 8-player championship contests, giving me an overall record of 204-32, good for a 86.44% prediction rate. Here are my picks and breakdown of each of the state title contests.
DIVISION 1
Bay Port is back in the Division 1 state title game after winning it all last season. There have been a lot of similarities to last season, including a tough early loss then a wild defeat against West De Pere, coming into the postseason a bit under the radar. The Pirates face a Classic Eight team in the championship once again. Speaking of Classic Eight, they defeated Muskego last week in a title game rematch, after taking down previously undefeated Frnaklin in Level 3. Quarterback Matt Stevens and running back Brady Moon are returning standouts from last season’s championship team. Arrowhead has faced an extremely tough schedule this season and has shown to be up to the challenge more often than not. The last few playoff games have certainly tested the Warhawks, with close victories over Brookfield East, Sussex Hamilton, and Waunakee. Last week, the Warhawks rallied to take down Waunakee 19-17 on a late field goal. The Warhawks have played without or with a very limited Jacob Siner the last month, as the senior running back is a standout difference-maker in the backfield.
My Pick: Bay Port 27, Arrowhead 23
D1 Last Week: 1-1
D1 Overall: 26-4; 86.67%
DIVISION 2
Notre Dame (13-0) vs. West De Pere (13-0), Friday 1 pm
For entertainment value, it doesn’t get much better than this. These teams put up huge offensive numbers, though in different ways. Notre Dame is coming off the Division 3 title last year, elevated to D2 this season. Despite losing 3000-yard rusher Christian Collins, the Tritons may be even better in the run game this season with junior running back Kingston Allen, who has 3,205 yards entering the weekend despite missing a game with injury. He’s had 1,510 yards and 19 touchdowns in the team’s four playoff games, as his 55 rushing scores is a new record. West De Pere can run it, as Ryan Lutz has 1,842 yards on the ground, but senior quarterback Patrick Greisen is the story everyone has talked about this year. coming off a junior All-State campaign, Greisen has thrown for 3,560 yards and 47 touchdowns this season, as his 100 career passing touchdowns is a new state record.
My Pick: Notre Dame 35, West De Pere 32
D2 Last Week: 1-1
D2 Overall: 26-4; 86.67%
DIVISION 3
Grafton returns to the Division 3 title game after a runner-up finish in 2023, as the Black Hawks have been one of the top Division 3 teams all season, with impressive wins over Mount Horeb/Barneveld, Port Washington, and Whitnall to begin the season. Grafton took down previously undefeated Plymouth a couple weeks ago before a wild 34-31 comeback overtime victory against Catholic Memorial last Friday. It is a senior-dominated crew for the Black Hawks, who start 11 seniors on a very good defense. Reedsburg is in the D3 title game for the first time since a 2009 championship, just two years after finishing 1-8. That season, 2023, the Beavers averaged 9.6 points per game. After switching to the Wing-T offense last year, the Beavers are averaging 39.6 points per game this season while leading the state in rushing. Will Mikonowicz, who switched from quarterback to running back in Week 5, has 2,387 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns this year, adding four punt return scores.
My Pick: (No selection)*
D3 Last Week: 1-0
D3 Overall: 23-2; 92%
* - Disclaimer: I am an assistant coach at Reedsburg
DIVISION 4
Little Chute (12-1) vs. Winneconne (13-0), Thursday 7 pm
This is the rare rematch in a state title game from a regular season meeting, as Winneconne opened the 2025 season with a 14-6 win over Little Chute way back in August. The Wolves won despite getting out-gained 293-215. It was the first game for Little Chute under head coach Mark Krommenacker, who brought over a flexbone option attack that has gotten better and better as the season has progressed. The Mustangs won the North Eastern Conference title, going on to post some impressive playoff wins, including a 23-12 victory against defending champion Racine St. Catherine’s a couple weeks ago. Winneconne was on the doorstep of state last season before falling to Baldwin-Woodville in a state semi-final, but in the same level this year, took down the Blackhawks 28-8. Brody Schaffer has been dynamic all season, as the Iowa commit has thrown for 1,734 yards and 18 touchdowns with another 1,075 yards and 22 scores on the ground.
My Pick: Winneconne 27, Little Chute 25
D4 Last Week: 1-1
D4 Overall: 24-6; 80%
DIVISION 5
Mayville (13-0) vs. Northwestern (13-0), Thursday 4 pm
Mayville is in to the Division 5 championship game for the third time in the last five seasons, as Scott Hilber’s crew took home runner-up trophies in 2021 and 2022. The Cardinals ran through the Flyway Conference to a league crown, but have been tested considerably in the playoffs. In Level 2, they took down league foe Winnebago Lutheran 28-21, then defeated Amherst 26-21 the following week. Mayville defeated Lake Country Lutheran 27-15 in the state semi-finals as Landen Baker ran for 211 yards. Northwestern gets over the hump to Madison for the first time since 1993. It’s a strong rushing team, racking up 4,454 yards on the ground, though Kamden Kroll also has 16 passing scores.
My Pick: Mayville 27, Northwestern 26
D5 Last Week: 2-0
D5 Overall: 28-2; 93.33%
DIVISION 6
Darlington (13-0) vs. Edgar (13-0), Thursday 1 pm
Two of the state’s top small school programs square off in this one, with Edgar playing in its record 16th WIAA state title game, having captured nine previous championships, including the last two in Division 7. Darlington finds itself in Madison for the 14th time, sporting four state titles, though the Redbirds have take home seven consecutive runner-up trophies since the last championship in 1995. Darlington hasn’t been challenged much this year, with just one game, a 26-14 win against Prairie du Chien in Week 2, decided by less than three scores. The average margin of victory in the playoffs has been 33 points. The defense has kept Edgar going this season, allowing just 41 points all year. It’s helped the Wildcats win some close games, including three postseason contests decided by a single score.
My Pick: Darlington 22, Edgar 18
D6 Last Week: 2-0
D6 Overall: 26-4; 86.67%
DIVISION 7
Cochrane-Fountain City (13-0) vs. Kenosha St. Joseph (12-0), Thursday 10 am
Cochrane-Fountain City qualifies for the state finals for the first time in school history, but the Pirates are no strangers to big environments. Many of these players, as well as head coach Jesse Cyrus, were part of the Division 5 state basketball champions in the winter. Cyrus can join Ron Schultz (Fall Creek) and Pete Kittel (Brillion) as the only coaches to win a state title in football and boys basketball. Kenosha St. Joseph has shutout physical teams Coleman and Potosi/Cassville in back-to-back weeks, as the Lancers are led by recently minted WFCA Small School Offensive Player of the Year Zach Rizzo.
My Pick: Kenosha St. Joseph 30, Cochrane-Fountain City 27
D7 Last Week: 2-0
D7 Overall: 26-4; 86.67%
8-PLAYER
8-Player Last Week: 0-1
8-Player Overall: 25-6; 80.65%
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].