As the 2026 high school football season reaches Week 6, Wisconsin’s prep teams are gearing up for several marquee contests. The spotlight shines on the No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown in Division 4, with Little Chute taking on Freedom, while other regional rivals also vie for conference supremacy.
Little Chute at Freedom
Little Chute enters the game ranked No. 2 with a perfect 5‑0 record. The Mustangs rely heavily on running back Reece Joten, who has amassed 507 rushing yards on 65 carries and scored six touchdowns. Supporting Joten are Charlie VandenHeuvel (294 yards), Jaden Hermsen (267 yards) and Tyler Hietpas (246 yards). Hermsen has also contributed through the air, completing 6 of 16 passes for 68 yards, with Verhagen catching four passes for 61 yards.
The Mustangs have rushed 206 times for a total of 1,720 yards, averaging 8.4 yards per carry, and Joten leads the team with 39 tackles on defense. Little Chute’s defense has allowed just 43 points while the offense has put up 215 points in five games.
Freedom counters with a balanced attack, posting 1,004 passing yards and 989 rushing yards. Running back Axzil Eggert dominates on the ground with 752 yards and 17 touchdowns on 71 carries, an impressive 10.6 yards per carry. Quarterback Owen Henkel has thrown for 930 yards and 12 touchdowns on 64‑of‑107 completions, with only one interception. His top receivers are Charlie Micke (20 catches, 296 yards) and Aidan Aerts (20 catches, 350 yards). Defensively, Henry VanASsten and Cody Scheibe lead with 27 and 20 tackles respectively. Freedom has scored 261 points while allowing just 35, and both teams sit 3‑0 in the North Eastern Conference.
Pulaski at West De Pere
Pulaski (4‑1 overall, 2‑1 Fox River Classic) travels to face unbeaten West De Pere (5‑0). Pulaski’s offense is powered by Anthony Ficarri, who has rushed for 630 yards and 16 touchdowns on 99 carries. Quarterback Bohdan Schmidt adds 507 rushing yards and has completed 19 of 38 passes for 190 yards. Andrew Burnett leads the receiving corps with six catches for 105 yards, while Bryce Vanlannen tops the defense with 35 tackles. Pulaski has outscored opponents 169‑96.
West De Pere’s quarterback Andrew Greisen has completed 95 of 148 passes for 1,146 yards and 13 touchdowns. The ground game is shared by Kainan Strong (359 yards on 32 carries) and Cooper Schabo (364 yards on 56 carries). Leading receivers are Colton Neuens (28 catches, 298 yards), Parker Diedrich (20 catches, 267 yards) and De Arian Acevedo‑Ortiz (19 catches, 208 yards). Defensive standout Braylon Stegall records 38 tackles, including 10 for loss. The Phantoms have shut out their last two opponents and have outscored all opponents 192‑39.
Appleton North at Neenah
Appleton North (4‑1, 3‑0 Fox Valley Association) hosts Neenah (2‑1 conference, 2‑3 overall). Appleton North secured first place in the league with a 14‑0 win over Kaukauna. The Lightning’s offense is modest; Brock Struensee leads rushing with 441 yards on 121 carries, and Owen Rein has completed 24 of 54 passes for 340 yards. Brody Olp is the top receiver with nine catches for 138 yards. Defensively, Jake Gaskill has 42 tackles. The team averages 3.2 yards per carry, scoring 79 points while allowing 72.
Neenah’s Rockets boast a more explosive offense, tallying 160 points, including a 53‑point opening win over Notre Dame. Quarterback Ashton VanBeek is a dual‑threat, completing 49 of 88 passes for 649 yards and rushing for 369 yards. Running back Cooper Sieck has 382 rushing yards on 60 carries and 80 receiving yards. Leading receivers are Matthias Charles (22 catches, 276 yards) and Dylan Foat (15 catches, 171 yards). On defense, Connor Stuckel leads with 36 tackles, followed by Owen Fox with 35.
These matchups showcase the depth of talent across Wisconsin’s high school football landscape. Fans can expect hard‑fought battles as teams vie for conference titles and playoff positioning.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
