Trailways 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: Lourdes Academy ran away with the Trailways Conference title, going a perfect 7-0 in league play. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals, falling to Cochrane-Fountain City. Johnson Creek was second, getting to Level 2. Randolph, Cambria-Friesland, and Westfield also made the postseason.

Note: Palmyra-Eagle moves to 8-player football this year. Deerfield and Fall River/Rio join the Trailways from the Eastern Suburban. Randolph and Cambria-Friesland form a new co-op this year.

2025 Trailways Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference

2025 Eastern Suburban Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference

2026 PREVIEW:

Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Lourdes Academy
2) Randolph/Cambria-Friesland
3) Johnson Creek
4) Westfield
5) Fall River/Rio
6) Deerfield
7) Parkview/Albany
8) Dodgeland

Players to Watch:

Brady Bauer, QB/LB, Lourdes Academy: Bauer is the best player in the league and one of the best in the state, accounting for more than 2800 yards of offense and 38 touchdowns while earning First Team All-Conference recognition on both sides of the ball.

Mason Groskreutz, RB, Westfield: Groskreutz rushed for 839 yards and six touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Conference recognition.

Hoyt Helmer, RB/LB, Randolph/Cambria-Friesland: Helmer was a Second Team All-Conference pick at running back, linebacker, and special teams player.

Harlan Kuehn, DL, Lourdes Academy: Kuehn had 67 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks to earn First Team All-Conference.

Lucas Neuens, WR/DB, Lourdes Academy: Neuens led the Trailways with 62 receptions and 853 receiving yards, hauling in nine scores last year. He also had four interceptions on defense and scored via interception, punt, and kick returns.

Kaden Seim, WR, Fall River/Rio: A First Team All-Conference choice last year in the Eastern Suburban, Seim caught 20 passes for 480 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 24 yards per catch.

2026 Team Previews

1) Lourdes Academy came within a breathe of its first WIAA state finals appearance, but a 17-14 overtime loss to Cochrane-Fountain City in the state semi-finals sent the team home with a 12-1 overall record in 2025. The opportunities should be there to push for that elusive first trip to Madison, as head coach Kevin Wopat brings back 24 letterwinners, with five starters returning on offense and six on defense. Leading the way is senior Brady Bauer, an elite linebacker who doubles as the team’s quarterback, where he was the Trailways Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Top receiver Lucas Neuens is also returning, but there are some holes to fill up front in the trenches for the Knights.

2) Randolph/Cambria-Friesland is a new co-op for this year, though both of these longtime rivals are coming off seasons that saw them qualify for the playoffs last fall. Cambria-Friesland went 5-5 overall while Randolph was 4-6, as the teams tied for third in the league standings. It will be interesting to see how the rosters come together and matchup, but bringing back parts of two rosters certainly gives the program a boost. From the Randolph side, Second Team All-Conference receiver Griffin Hemling is one of the top returning players, along with linemen Landon VanderGalien and Tres McConnell. Cambria-Friesland returns 500-yard rusher Callen Drews and Hoyt Helmer.

3) Johnson Creek put together an outstanding 2025 season, as the Bluejays went 8-1 in the regular season and beat Clear Lake in the playoffs before going out to Potosi/Cassville. Longtime head coach Tim Wagner has a group that should remain very competitive in the once-again revamped conference, despite some significant graduation losses. They’ll have to replace Luke Hartz, who led the team in passing and rushing, with more than 1800 yards of offense and 27 touchdowns, as well as standout lineman Jalen Carlson and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Evan Malueg. In fact, the top two passers, top four rusher, top two receivers, and top eight tacklers from last season have all graduated.

4) Westfield moved into the Trailways Conference a couple years ago, and it has been a boon for the Pioneers, who have qualified for back-to-back playoff appearances after nearly a dozen years missing out on the postseason. Last year, the team was third in the Trailways Conference standings, but the postseason didn’t go so hot, as they’d make the lengthy trip to Prairie du Chien in Level 1 and head home with a 50-6 loss. Quarterback Billy Gaylord and receiver Ethan Stolpa put up big numbers and will need to be replaced, but the Pioneers do return leading rusher Mason Groskreutz.

5) Fall River/Rio went 3-6 last year, but it could have been better, as they lost to Cambria-Friesland by two in a crossover and by one against Marshall later in the year. Winning either probably would have gotten them into the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Brian Prieve takes over for Josh Haas as the head coach of the program. The Rebels return six starters on offense, including junior quarterback Ryder Rozinski and top receiver Kaden Seim. Seven starters return on the defensive side of the ball. New head coach Brian Prieve likes the speed and athleticism of this year’s group.

6) Deerfield opened the season with a 37-14 win over Dodgeland, but competing in the larger Eastern Suburban Conference, the Demons did not win a game the rest of the season. It was a very young group for first year coach Tim Baldry, who has eight starters returning on offense with six on defense. Otto Ammerman is back at quarterback, with the expectation that the experience gained last year in his first season ever playing quarterback will help.

7) Parkview/Albany struggled to a 2-7 overall record and 1-6 mark in the Trailways Conference last season. While multi-year starting quarterback Aidan Crane graduates, the return of 15 starters and 25 letterwinners has the co-op program looking up. “We are returning our entire offensive line and the receiving corps looks very good,” said head coach Damian Dressler. Connor Knutson could be in line to take over at the quarterback spot this season.

8) Dodgeland had a rough 2025 season, as the Trojans finished 0-9 on the year, allowing at least 35 points in every game. It could be a challenge once again in 2026. “We are a very young team this season,” said head coach Steve Good. “We have five seniors and two juniors. We will have to grow throughout the season, though we have a talented young group.” The Trojans are looking to end a 25-game losing streak that dates back to August of 2023.