Mauston makes their first WIAA football playoff appearance for the first time since 2005 this evening at Berlin High School in a D-4 opening round contest with Mauston the eight seed and Berlin the one in this particular grouping. Mauston finished the regular season at 4-5 overall but the Golden Eagles posted a 3-2 record in the South-Central Conference and that winning record in league play earns Mauston a post-season berth. The Golden Eagles enter the post-season though in the midst of a two-game losing skid with losses to Adams-Friendship and Wautoma the past two weeks including a wild 56-42 loss last week in Wautoma as six turnovers helped wipe out a 500-yard offensive performance. QB Tarren Hall has thrown for over 1300 yards for the Golden Eagles and Brandon Lierman and Keinan Fassett have combined for over 1500 yards rushing to provide a nice 1-2 punch. Mauston is allowing nearly 30 points per game and they face a Berlin squad that was second place in the East Central Conference with an 8-1 overall record and they also feature a balanced offense with an 1100-yard passer and three backs with over 400 yards rushing. The Indians are allowing well under ten points per game with one score or less given up in seven of their nine games. Join TJ Raye and John Hamm for pre-game coverage around 6:45 PM tonight on SMASH Country 92-9 FM!
Adams-Friendship is a playoff team for the second year in a row and the 6-3 Green Devils host 5-4 Winneconne tonight in D-4 action in the 4 vs. 5 seed game in this eight team grouping. Adams started 1-2 in the SCC but the Green Devils won at Mauston and at Wisconsin Dells the previous two weeks to earn a post-season bid, tying for second place in the SCC. QB Joe Duty has been a big time dual threat at QB for the Green Devils, leading the team in rushing and passing and the Adams defense allowed only 24 points total the past two games. Winneconne is 5-4 for the season and they posted a mark of 4-3 in the East-Central Conference. This winner at 7 PM at Adams-Friendship High School will face Mauston or Berlin next week in Level Two playoff action.
SCC champion Wautoma is the three seed in this grouping and the 7-2 Hornets are home tonight against the 7-2 Montello-Green Lake-Princeton group as the six seed in this eight team cluster in D-4. Wautoma wrapped up another outright title in the South-Central Conference with their 56-42 win over Mauston as the Hornets go 5-0 in the SCC, winning every league game but one by 14 points or more. The Montello coop posted a 4-2 record in the Trailways Conference Large division and among their wins this season was 30-13 over Wisconsin Dells in week one. This winner faces 4-5 Nekoosa from the SCC or 8-1 Omro from the Flyway Conference next week as those two meet in Omro tonight. Omro won their league title in the Flyway Conference.
Reedsburg’s 6-3 regular season earns them a home game in Level One of the D-3 football playoffs tonight as Reedsburg, a three seed in their eight-team grouping, hosts six seed Onalaska with a 4-5 overall record. Reedsburg shared second place in the final Badger North standings and their defense has allowed one touchdown or less in five of their nine games. Reedsburg advanced all the way to the State semi-finals in D-3 last season. Onalaska enters the post-season with a four-game losing skid and a rash of injuries but they do feature a potent passing attack. The winner gets two seed La Crosse Logan or seven seed Madison Edgewood next week.
Tomah has won three straight games as they enter the post-season tonight at Waunakee in Level One in D-2. The Timberwolves are 6-3 overall after a 5-2 finish in the Mississippi Valley Conference with QB Jack Haye enjoying a big season. Waunakee has been a state ranked team most of the season and the Badger North champions are 9-0 overall. The winner gets De Forest from Badger North or Holmen from the Mississippi Valley next week in Level Two.
Hillsboro is in the playoffs for the 14th year in a row and the 7-2 Tigers host 7-2 De Soto tonight in D-7 playoff action. Hillsboro, the four seed in this group, shared second place in the Scenic Bluffs this year and they’ve won two in a row by a combined 79-12 score against Necedah and Royall. Tommy Crandall has rushed for over 1100 yards to lead the Hillsboro offense and the Tiger defense has allowed one score or less in six of nine games and are giving up less than 12 points per game. De Soto was second in the Ridge and Valley Conference and the five seed Pirates feature a balanced offense and their defense also allows less than 12 points per game. It’s the 20th straight playoff appearance for the Pirates and it’s the second time in four years that De Soto opens the playoffs in Hillsboro. Game time is 7 PM and you can join Troy Matz and Mark Ellison for pre-game coverage around 6:45 PM on NOW 92-one FM!
Scenic Bluffs champion Bangor is 9-0 and they are the top seed in this eight-team grouping and they host 3-5 Weston from the Ridge and Valley Conference tonight and the winner gets the De Soto-Hillsboro winner next week. Bangor is scoring 45 points per game with Andrew Piske at over 1800 yards rushing for the Cardinals. Cashton is a seven seed in this group and the 4-5 Eagles play at 9-0 Ithaca, the two seed and the Ridge and Valley Conference champions. 4-5 Highland also plays at 8-1 Wild Rose in the other game in this grouping this evening.
Brookwood is the fourth Scenic Bluffs playoff team and the 6-3 Falcons are at 8-1 Markesan in a D-6 playoff opener. Brookwood has made quite a turn-around after winning just one game last season. Brookwood and Hillsboro shared second place in the Scenic Bluffs this season behind Bangor.