WIAA Football Playoffs: Gridiron Glory Awaits

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Prepare for the electrifying spectacle of gridiron glory as the WIAA Football Playoffs commence! The culmination of intense regular seasons, these playoffs are the ultimate battleground where the best of the best collide. With each snap, passion and determination ignite, and every play promises to leave a lasting mark in the annals of high school football. Get ready for a thrilling ride through the postseason as we witness the crowning of state champions and the forging of unforgettable memories.

WIAA Football Playoffs: Division 1

Brackets Set

The WIAA Division 1 football playoff brackets have been determined. The top eight teams from each of the four conferences—Big 8, Greater Metro, Fox Valley, and Wisconsin Valley—have earned a berth in the postseason.

Key First-Round Matchups

The opening round of the playoffs boasts several intriguing matchups. In the Big 8, conference champion Brookfield Central, the No. 1 seed, will welcome No. 8 seed Waukesha West. The Greater Metro\’s top-ranked team, Muskego, will host No. 8 seed Kenosha Tremper. No. 2 seeds Appleton North (Fox Valley) and Stevens Point (Wisconsin Valley) will also host first-round games against No. 7 seeds Green Bay Preble and Marshfield, respectively.

Potential Cinderella Stories

While the top seeds are favored to advance, there are a handful of dark horse teams that could make a deep playoff run. West De Pere, the No. 5 seed in the Fox Valley, has an experienced offense led by standout running back Dayton Hebert. Arrowhead, the No. 6 seed in the Big 8, boasts a talented defense that has held opponents to an average of just over 10 points per game. In the Greater Metro, No. 7 seed Wauwatosa West could be a threat to upset a higher-seeded opponent, led by quarterback Logan Graf, who has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.

WIAA Football Playoffs: Division 2

Brackets Set

The brackets are set for the WIAA Division 2 football playoffs. The top eight teams in each of the four conferences will advance to the postseason. The teams that have secured their spot in the playoffs are:

• Big 8: Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Sun Prairie, Verona, Middleton, Madison La Follette, Janesville Parker, Sussex Hamilton
• Fox Valley: Kimberly, Kaukauna, Appleton North, Fond du Lac, Neenah, Oshkosh North, Green Bay Preble, Bay Port
• Greater Metro: Muskego, Racine Horlick, Waukesha West, Franklin, Oak Creek, Kenosha Bradford, Racine Case, Racine Park
• Wisconsin Little Ten: Monroe, Stoughton, Beaver Dam, Portage, Reedsburg, Clinton, Platteville, McFarland

The first round of the playoffs will be played on Friday, October 21st at 7:00 PM.

Key Matchups

There are several key matchups in the first round of the playoffs. In the Big 8, No. 1 seed Kettle Moraine will host No. 8 seed Sussex Hamilton. Kettle Moraine is the defending champion and has been ranked among the top teams in the state all season. Sussex Hamilton is a dark horse team that could make a run in the playoffs. They have a talented quarterback in junior Max Bredeson and a strong defense led by senior linebacker Matt Nelson.

In the Greater Metro, No. 1 seed Racine Horlick will host No. 8 seed Oak Creek. Racine Horlick is led by senior running back Jalen Johnson, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season. Oak Creek is a young team, but they have a lot of potential. They are led by junior quarterback Cade Garcia and senior wide receiver Josh Grabinski.

Other key matchups in the first round include:

• No. 2 seed Sun Prairie at No. 7 seed Verona
• No. 3 seed Mukwonago at No. 6 seed Middleton
• No. 4 seed Kimberly at No. 5 seed Fond du Lac
• No. 3 seed Waukesha West at No. 6 seed Kenosha Bradford

Dark Horse Teams

There are a few dark horse teams that could make a run in the playoffs. In the Fox Valley, No. 5 seed Kaukauna could be a threat to win the championship. Kaukauna has a talented quarterback in senior Sam Nelsen and a strong running game led by junior Nick Pearson.

In the Big 8, No. 6 seed Mukwonago could make a deep run. Mukwonago is a young team, but they have a lot of potential. They are led by junior quarterback Matt Polzin and senior wide receiver Luke Martinson.

Other dark horse teams to watch include:

• No. 7 seed Verona
• No. 6 seed Middleton
• No. 5 seed Fond du Lac
• No. 6 seed Kenosha Bradford
• No. 7 seed Racine Case

WIAA Football Playoffs: Division 3

The brackets for the WIAA Division 3 football playoffs have been set. The top eight teams in each of the four conferences will advance to the postseason.

Key Matchups

There are several marquee matchups in the first round of the playoffs.

The Big 8 Conference\’s top seed, Catholic Memorial, will host No. 8 seed Divine Savior Holy Angels. Catholic Memorial enters the playoffs with an undefeated regular season record, while Divine Savior Holy Angels finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, including a win over No. 2 seed Brookfield Central.

In the Greater Metro Conference, No. 1 seed Pewaukee will host No. 8 seed Kenosha St. Joseph. Pewaukee, the defending state champions, finished the regular season with a 9-1 record, while Kenosha St. Joseph finished with a 5-4 record, including a win over No. 3 seed Brookfield East.

Dark Horse Teams

Every year, there are a few teams that come out of nowhere and make a run in the playoffs. Here are a few teams to watch in Division 3 this year:

Appleton North: The No. 5 seed in the Fox Valley Conference, Appleton North finished the regular season with a 7-2 record. The Lightning have a balanced offense led by quarterback Evan Deja and running back Brayden Wendt. Appleton North could be a threat to win the championship if they can get past No. 4 seed Fond du Lac in the first round.

Homestead: The No. 6 seed in the Big 8 Conference, Homestead finished the regular season with a 6-3 record. The Highlanders have a strong defense led by linebacker Jake Burgess. Homestead could make a deep run in the playoffs if they can upset No. 3 seed Muskego in the first round.

Brookfield East: The No. 3 seed in the Greater Metro Conference, Brookfield East finished the regular season with a 7-2 record. The Spartans have a talented offense led by quarterback Matt Boerner and running back Bryce Buechel. Brookfield East could be a threat to win the championship if they can get past No. 6 seed Waukesha West in the first round.

WIAA Football Playoffs: Division 4

The playoffs for the Division 4 WIAA Football Championship are now set. The top eight teams in each of the four conferences will advance to the postseason, making it a 32-team bracket.

Brackets Set

The brackets for the playoffs have been released, with the top teams in each conference earning seeds. In the Big 8 Conference, St. Mary\’s Springs (Fond du Lac) has earned the top seed, while Menomonee Falls and Mukwonago round out the top three. In the Fox Valley Conference, Kimberly takes the top seed, followed by Appleton North and Bay Port. The Greater Metro Conference sees Wauwatosa East as the top seed, with Kenosha Indian Trail and Brookfield Central rounding out the top three seeds. Finally, the Lakeside Conference has Pewaukee as the top seed, with Greendale and New Berlin Eisenhower rounding out the top three seeds.

Key Matchups

There are several key matchups in the first round of the playoffs. In the Big 8, No. 1 seed St. Mary\’s Springs will host No. 8 seed Ozaukee. St. Mary\’s Springs is the defending Division 4 state champion, while Ozaukee is making its first playoff appearance since 2017. In the Greater Metro, No. 1 seed Wauwatosa East will host No. 8 seed Kenosha Indian Trail. Wauwatosa East is making its second straight playoff appearance, while Kenosha Indian Trail is making its first playoff appearance since 2016.

Dark Horse Teams

There are a few dark horse teams that could make a run in the playoffs. In the Fox Valley, No. 5 seed Hilbert could be a threat to win the championship. Hilbert has won seven straight games and has a talented offense led by quarterback Logan Leibham. In the Big 8, No. 6 seed Wisconsin Lutheran could make a deep run. Wisconsin Lutheran has a tough defense and is led by linebacker Jake Raddatz. Other dark horse teams to watch include No. 7 seed West Salem in the Greater Metro and No. 8 seed Monona Grove in the Lakeside.

WIAA Football Playoffs: Division 5

Brackets Set

The stage is set for the WIAA Division 5 football playoffs, with the top eight teams from each of the four conferences earning a berth in the postseason.

Key Matchups

The first round of the playoffs is brimming with compelling matchups. In the Big 8, the top-seeded Juda Panthers will welcome the eighth-seeded Fall River Pirates, while the Greater Metro\’s top-ranked Martin Luther Spartans will host the Milwaukee Lutheran Red Knights, seeded eighth.

Dark Horse Teams

While the top seeds are expected to make a strong showing, several dark horse teams possess the potential to make a deep playoff run. In the Fox Valley, the Freedom Irish, seeded fifth, are a legitimate contender for the title. Their balanced offense and stingy defense make them a formidable opponent for any team.

The Big 8 also features a dark horse in the Poynette Pumas, seeded sixth. With a seasoned defense and an explosive running game, the Pumas have the tools to upset higher-seeded teams and advance through the bracket.

Other dark horse candidates include the seventh-seeded St. Croix Central Panthers of the Middle Border and the fifth-seeded Amherst Falcons of the Central Wisconsin East.

As the playoffs unfold, these underdogs will aim to prove their worth and challenge the established favorites. Their performances will undoubtedly add excitement and unpredictability to the Division 5 postseason.