Madison, Wis. – Friday’s Level 4 playoff round delivered a memorable night for Wisconsin high school football, as fourteen teams secured spots at the state tournament on the historic grounds of Camp Randall. The action highlighted historic first‑time state bids for several programs, underscoring the strength of the state’s high school athletics.
Division 2: Monona Grove advances to title game
Top‑seed Monona Grove (MG) faced No. 1 seed New Richmond. After a quick 14‑0 lead in the second quarter, MG’s defense forced a fumble that Deangelo Clay recovered. Kicker Hans Haffele added a 37‑yard field goal, extending the lead to 17‑0. Monona Grove held on for a 30‑7 victory, earning its first Division 2 championship game appearance since a runner‑up finish in 2016. The Silver Eagles will meet No. 1 seed Notre Dame, who earned its ticket with a 28‑17 win over Union Grove.
Division 5: Lake Mills makes program history
Lake Mills, the No. 1 seed, opened strong against No. 2 seed West Salem, scoring first on a Tyler Wollin pass to Joseph Brzowski and a successful two‑point conversion. After an interception by Dylan Brinkmann, Wollin connected with Blake Bohlman for a second touchdown, pushing the lead to 15‑0. West Salem answered with a run by Drew McConkey, but a Jaden McFarlane rush sealed a 36‑7 win. The L‑Cats advance to their first state championship game, where they will meet Freedom, the No. 1 seed that defeated Little Chute 35‑6.
Division 5: New Glarus earns first state berth
New Glarus entered the semifinal as the No. 1 seed and took an early lead when Brock Roth scored in the first quarter. Defensive pressure from the Glarner Knights forced a sack on Lake Country Lutheran’s Brent Weeden, who later scored to make it 14‑0. The Knights held that margin for the remainder of the game, securing a historic first appearance at the state tournament. Their opponent will be fellow first‑time qualifier Darlington.
Division 5: Darlington advances
Darlington, the No. 1 seed, defeated Amherst 32‑21. After Amherst’s Ayden Nerdahl turned a fourth‑down attempt into a touchdown, Darlington responded with a long reception by Peyton Dempsey and a rushing score from Dante Glendenning. The Falcons move on to face New Glarus for the Division 5 title on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Division 7: Iowa‑Grant dominates
Iowa‑Grant, the No. 2 seed, overwhelmed No. 3 seed Hilbert 36‑0. A bad snap allowed Owen Wyatt to tackle Hilbert’s Ezra Sevela, and quarterback Brock Hinderman threw a deep pass caught by Wyatt. After Hilbert forced a fumble, Iowa‑Grant’s defense intercepted a pass, which Hinderman turned into a touchdown to Ty Cutts. The Panthers, who last reached the state final in 1979, will await the winner of the other Division 7 semifinal.
Division 7: River Ridge secures second state appearance
River Ridge, the No. 2 seed, edged Glenwood City 28‑14. A touchdown run by Aaren Bedward opened scoring, followed by a quarterback keeper from Blake Reynolds. Glenwood City’s Brock Wood returned a punt for a touchdown, narrowing the gap, but River Ridge answered before halftime with a reverse play by Reynolds. The Bulldogs reach the state final for only the second time in program history, after a runner‑up finish in 1997. They will meet Iowa‑Grant at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
Other division finals
West De Pere (No. 1 seed) will face Hamilton (No. 1 seed) in the Division 1 championship Friday at 4 p.m. West De Pere earned its spot with a 20‑19 win over Racine Case, while Hamilton beat Bay Port 48‑15. In Division 3, Port Washington meets Pewaukee at 10 a.m., and in Division 6, Lomira takes on Mondovi at 1 p.m. Thursday.
These playoff outcomes set the stage for an exciting state tournament, showcasing the dedication of student‑athletes, coaches and communities across Wisconsin.
Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.
