Football Bracket Breakdown: 8-Player
With football playoffs beginning this Friday all over the State, it’s always a fascinating venture to see how each team got here and who are their key players. 240 total teams will be in action and each of them has a different story. We’ll look at their record, their point differential, their stat leaders, and their matchup in Level 1. We’ll also reveal their final seed score to conclude the regular season, as well as where we have them ranked in their division and overall when combining all divisions. We'll start with the 16-team 8-Player field.
***Records shown do not count forfeits toward overall record***
***Stats courtesy of Wissports***
(1) Northwood/Solon Springs Evergreens (8-0)
Coach: Joe Brennan
Won Northwoods-West
Seed Score: .634 (3rd in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +268 (398 For, 130 Against)
Leading Passer: #4 Jared Schultz, Sr (1,147 Yards, 17 TD, 3 INT)
Leading Rusher: #4 Jared Schultz, Sr (105 Att, 1,258 Yards, 25 TD)
Leading Receiver: #5 Ian Woodhull, Jr (17 Rec, 380 Yards, 7 TD)
Leading Defender: #4 Jared Schultz, Sr (130 Tackles, 12 TFL, 3 Sacks, 3 FF, 4 INT)
Record against Playoff Teams: 0-0
(2) Siren Dragons (6-1)
Coach: Ryan Karsten
2nd in North Central-West
Seed Score: .549 (19th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +120 (331 For, 211 Against)
Leading Passer: #4 Gannen Reynolds, Sr (1,641 Yards, 27 TD, 2 INT)
Leading Rusher: #28 Joe Wiltrout, Sr (54 Att, 506 Yards, 8 TD)
Leading Receiver: #18 Jerome McGeshick (51 Rec, 723 Yards, 8 TD)
Leading Defender: #28 Joe Wiltrout, Sr (95 Tackles, 7 TFL, 4 Sacks)
Record against Playoff Teams: 0-1
(3) Clayton Bears (5-2)
Coach: Richard Croes
Won North Central-West
Seed Score: .598 (8th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +116 (291 For, 175 Against)
Leading Passer: #17 Dayne Mumm, Jr (662 Yards, 8 TD, 4 INT)
Leading Rusher: #17 Dayne Mumm, Jr (127 Att, 969 Yards, 17 TD)
Leading Receiver: #8 Landon King, Sr (21 Rec, 355 Yards, 4 TD)
Leading Defender: #56 Cain Casarez, So (76 Tackles, 19 TFL, 6 Sacks, 5 FF)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-2
(4) Hurley NorthStars (7-1)
Coach: Scott Erickson
2nd in Northwoods-East
Seed Score: .594 (10th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +116 (250 For, 134 Against)
Leading Passer: #9 Jack Rowe, Jr (566 Yards, 9 TD, 3 INT)
Leading Rusher: #5 Devin Soltis, Sr (150 Att, 1,189 Yards, 16 TD)
Leading Receiver: #22 Wyatt Hall, Jr (17 Rec, 425 Yards, 6 TD)
Leading Defender: #5 Devin Soltis, Sr (73 Tackles, 8 TFL, 2 Sacks, 3 FF, 2 INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 0-0
(1) Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Wildcats (6-1)
Coach: Dale Lange, Eddie Huberty
2nd in Across the Bay
Seed Score: .592 (12th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +184 (240 For, 56 Against)
Leading Passer: #20 Calvin Peters, Fr (251 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT)
Leading Rusher: #20 Calvin Peters, Fr (118 Att, 929 Yards, 11 TD)
Leading Receiver: #99 Colt Miller, Jr (7 Rec, 137 Yards, 1 TD)
Leading Defender: #4 Tyler Shallow, Sr (41 Tackles, 10 TFL, 1 INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-0
(2) Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters (7-0)
Coach: Josh Bardon
Won Southeast-8
Seed Score: .593 (11th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +177 (289 For, 112 Against)
Leading Passer: #3 Cole Wagner, So (1,478 Yards, 22 TD, 6 INT)
Leading Rusher: #11 Brody Feldmann, Sr (40 Att, 408 Yards, 7 TD)
Leading Receiver: #11 Brody Feldmann, Sr (53 Rec, 1,103 Yards, 19 TD
Leading Defender: #11 Brody Feldmann, Sr (98 Tackles, 17 TFL, 5 FF)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-0
(3) Wabeno/Laona Rebels (6-2)
Coach: Dan Moravec
2nd in Northeast
Seed Score: .463 (24th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +140 (302 For, 164 Against)
Leading Passer: #4 Cooper Albrecht, So (840 Yards, 11 TD, 7 INT)
Leading Rusher: #4 Cooper Albrecht, So (101 Att, 450 Yards, 6 TD)
Leading Receiver: #18 Boone VanOoyen, Jr (32 Rec, 740 Yards, 12 TD)
Leading Defender: #4 Cooper Albrecht, So (77 Tackles, 17 TFL, 4 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 0-2
(4) Wausaukee Rangers (6-1)
Coach: Kurt Stumbris
Won Northeast
Seed Score: .589 (13th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +170 (298 For, 128 Against)
Leading Passer: #30 Luke Smith, Sr (1,421 Yards, 23 TD, 3 INT)
Leading Rusher: #30 Luke Smith, Sr (120 Att, 1,002 Yards, 12 TD)
Leading Receiver: #14 Gavin Thomson, Jr (24 Rec, 469 Yards, 7 TD)
Leading Defender: #63 Andrew Lawrence, Jr (77 Tackles, 19 TFL, 7 Sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-1
(1) Owen-Withee Blackhawks (8-0)
Coach: Terry Laube
Won North Central-East
Seed Score: .671 (1st in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +379 (450 For, 71 Against)
Leading Passer: #15 Dominic Sherwood, Sr (179 Yards, 2 TD)
Leading Rusher: #27 Mason Gay, Sr (94 Att, 1,190 Yards, 22 TD)
Leading Receiver: #30 Winston Poehler, Jr (4 Rec, 148 Yards, 1 TD)
Leading Defender: #15 Dominic Sherwood, Sr (71 Tackles, 2 FF, 3 FR, 8 INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 2-0
(2) McDonell Central Catholic Macks (7-1)
Coach: Mark Maloney
2nd in North Central-East
Seed Score: .606 (7th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +237 (349 For, 112 Against)
Leading Passer: #1 Grant Smiskey, Sr (1,260 Yards, 21 TD, 2 INT)
Leading Rusher: #32 Dawson Moulton, Jr (104 Att, 578 Yards, 7 TD)
Leading Receiver: #80 David Andersen, Sr (34 Rec, 829 Yards, 14 TD)
Leading Defender: #9 Daniel Fritz, Sr (67 Tackles, 8 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-1
(3) Newman Catholic Fighting Cardinals (7-1)
Coach: Paul Michlig
Central Wisconsin-8 Co-Champion
Seed Score: .620 (4th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +187 (277 For, 90 Against)
Leading Passer: #11 Carson Rice, Sr (569 Yards, 7 TD, 2 INT)
Leading Rusher: #8 Everett Puent, Jr (76 Att, 552 Yards, 7 TD)
Leading Receiver: #23 Steven Klement, Sr (19 Rec, 311 Yards, 3 TD)
Leading Defender: #8 Everett Puent, Jr (38 Tackles, 13 TFL, 1 Sack, FF)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-1
(4) Port Edwards Blackhawks (6-2)
Coach: Max Ayres
Central Wisconsin-8 Co-Champion
Seed Score: .564 (17th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +137 (297 For, 160 Against)
Leading Passer: #9 Max Michels, Sr (1,149 Yards, 16 TD, 3 INT)
Leading Rusher: #7 Brynden Beck, Sr (130 Att, 774 Yards, 9 TD)
Leading Receiver: #88 Tommy Pillsbury, Sr (19 Rec, 491 Yards, 7 TD)
Leading Defender: #88 Tommy Pillsbury, Sr (66 Tackles, 9 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 FF)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-1
(1) Highland Cardinals (8-0)
Coach: Jasen Scanlan
Won Ridge & Valley-8
Seed Score: .663 (2nd in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +304 (359 For, 55 Against)
Leading Passer: #5 Bennett Smith, Sr (1,289 Yards, 20 TD, 3 INT)
Leading Rusher: #3 Landis Newberry, Jr (69 Att, 525 Yards, 5 TD)
Leading Receiver: #6 Wes Kraisinger, Sr (24 Rec, 481 Yards, 8 TD)
Leading Defender: #21 Jackson McGuire, Sr (61 Tackles, 14 TFL, 1 Sack)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-0
(2) North Crawford Trojans (7-1)
Coach: Jeremy Fradette
2nd in Ridge & Valley-8
Seed Score: .608 (6th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +232 (288 For, 56 Against)
Leading Passer: #2 Andrew Munson, Sr (1,382 Yards, 18 TD, 2 INT)
Leading Rusher: #7 Landen Blaha, Jr (114 Att, 536 Yards, 8 TD)
Leading Receiver: #1 Cullen Jacobus, Jr (26 Rec, 496 Yards, 5 TD)
Leading Defender: #7 Landen Blaha, Jr (45 Tackles, 3 TFL, 3 Sacks, 2 FR, INT)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 0-1
(3) Almond-Bancroft Eagles (7-1)
Coach: Andy Louis
Central Wisconsin-8 Co-Champion
Seed Score: .575 (15th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +258 (358 For, 100 Against)
Leading Passer: #22 Emmitt Stiles, Jr (1,762 Yards, 27 TD, 5 INT)
Leading Rusher: #22 Emmitt Stiles, Jr (83 Att, 570 Yards, 10 TD)
Leading Receiver: #88 Ayden Phillips, Sr (63 Rec, 977 Yards, 13 TD)
Leading Defender: #34 Davis Dernbach, Jr (51 Tackles, 13 TFL, 8 Sacks, 2 FF)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 1-1
(4) Oakfield Oaks (7-1)
Coach: Corey Rickert
2nd in Southeast-8
Seed Score: .588 (14th in 8-Player)
Point Differential: +229 (334 For, 105 Against)
Leading Passer: #28 Mitchell Moser, Sr (1,334 Yards, 21 TD, 2 INT)
Leading Rusher: #10 Lennon Rauls, Jr (86 Att, 635 Yards, 10 TD)
Leading Receiver: #18 Brayden Glugla, Jr (35 Rec, 916 Yards, 14 TD)
Leading Defender: #8 Bo Bijl, Jr (29 Tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 Sacks, 2 FF)
Record Against Playoff Teams: 0-1