Madison, Wis. – The WIAA Level 3 playoffs wrapped up on Friday, leaving just 28 teams in the state with a shot at the coveted Camp Randall Stadium championship. Below is a roundup of the key games and what lies ahead for each winner.
Monona Grove vs. Grafton (Division 2)
Monona Grove (the No. 1 seed) hosted defending Division 3 champion Grafton. After a steady drive capped by Andy Tran’s third‑down scramble, Jack Nelson broke through for a touchdown, giving Grafton a 7‑0 lead. The Silver Eagles answered when Carson Schoenherr powered into the end zone following a Jaxon Zukowski run. Zukowski later added another score, and Monona Grove pulled ahead to win 30‑21, securing a spot in the next round against fellow No. 1 seed New Richmond. The Eagles last appeared at state in 2016.
Bay Port vs. Waunakee (Division 2)
Bay Port surged to a 21‑0 lead early, but Waunakee rallied with a touchdown from Aaron Trudell and an interception by Wes Ducharme. The game went to overtime, where Bay Port scored again to win 28‑21. The Warriors will face Hamilton for a chance to advance to the state tournament for the third straight year.
Lake Mills vs. Delavan‑Darien (Division 4)
Lake Mills (the L‑Cats) started strong, with Tyler Wollin connecting early with Collin Christian for a touchdown. A second pass to Christian extended the lead to 14‑0, and Blake Bohlman added a third score. Lake Mills finished the night with a convincing 35‑7 victory and will await the winner of the Racine St. Catherine’s vs. West Salem matchup. This marks Lake Mills’ first ever appearance at state.
Darlington vs. Panthers (Division 4)
Defending state champions Darlington continued their march with a dominant opening drive highlighted by Levi Lancaster’s run to the end zone. Peyton Dempsey and Zeke Zuberbuhler added scores, giving the Redbirds a 20‑0 lead. Darlington held on to win 47‑28 and will meet Amherst next week for another shot at the state title.
River Ridge vs. Cochrane‑Fountain City (Division 4)
River Ridge struck first when Noah Copsey ran for a touchdown. The Pirates answered with a 31‑yard pass from Parker Kujak to Maverick Arneson, tying the game. A big hit by Ryker Duellman forced a turnover, leading to a Cochrane‑Fountain City score. River Ridge responded with a pass from Blake Reynolds to Kameren Reynolds, pulling within one point. The No. 2 seed held on to win 25‑21 and will face No. 1 seed Glenwood City next week. River Ridge’s only prior state appearance was in 1997.
New Glarus vs. St. Croix Falls (Division 4)
New Glarus built a 24‑6 halftime lead. The Saints attempted a comeback, but Brett Sladky’s screen to Drake Petersen was stopped by a tackle for loss. Sladky later connected with Dash Martin for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 24‑14. Brent Weeden’s big play in the third quarter and a fourth‑quarter score sealed a 38‑20 victory. New Glarus, the No. 1 seed, will meet Lake Country Lutheran (No. 2 seed) next Friday for a chance at its first state tournament.
Iowa‑Grant vs. Ithaca‑Weston (Division 7)
Iowa‑Grant, the No. 2 seed, dominated the No. 1 seed Ithaca‑Weston with a 50‑0 shutout. The Griffins will travel to face No. 3 seed Hilbert next Friday, aiming for their first state appearance since 1979.
All winning teams now have a single victory standing between them and a trip to Camp Randall Stadium. Fans across Wisconsin can look forward to the next round of high‑stakes matchups as the race for the state championship intensifies.
Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.
