GREEN BAY (WLUK) — The high school football regular season is now completed which means the postseason has arrived and 45 teams from Northeast Wisconsin have qualified for the playoffs with the dream of winning a state championship in Madison.
Last season, Bay Port and Notre Dame won state titles, and both are in the playoffs again looking to repeat.
Notre Dame is the reigning Division 3 state champ, but moved up to Division 2 this season. The Tritons are riding the state’s longest winning streak at 23 games and are a No. 1 seed.
“I think the kids are in a really good spot,” coach Mike Rader said. “Obviously to be able to win all the games right now means a lot. But we also know after what we’ve been through in the past that these next games are a little bit different. We have to prepare differently.”
When asked how he feels about his team Tritons junior running back Kingston Allen said, “Absolutely (I have) 100% faith in the team and in the coaches and how they prepare us every week. I’m going to go into every week like we absolutely have a chance to win, whether we’re going against an NFL team or going against a pee-wee squad.
If Notre Dame finds its way to Camp Randall Stadium again it could face area rival West De Pere, which is also undefeated and seeded No. 1 in Division 2. The Phantoms won the Fox River Classic Conference North title for a second straight season and are a serious threat to make a run at Camp Randall Stadium.
WHAT ELSE?
- There was a new playoff qualification system used this year, called the playoff matrix which was going to to hopefully quiet the complaints about the playoff field, and it has, for the most part. However, three teams in the state, Shiocton, Laconia and Brown Deer each made the playoffs with a 2-7 record, while Sheboygan North’s 5-4 record was not good enough.
- For the third year in a row Northeast Wisconsin does not have a top seed in Division 1. Neenah, however, is seeded No. 2 while Bay Port and Kimberly are each seeded No. 3, respectively. Last year, Bay Port won state as a No. 2 seed, so maybe it doesn’t matter.
- Undefeated Manitowoc Lutheran is a top seed in Division 5 and Kewaunee is seeded second. These teams could meet at state.
- Unbeaten Lourdes Academy is seeded No. 1 in Division 7 and Roncalli is a two seed on the other side of the bracket, meaning these teams could meet in Madison.
Follow Doug Ritchay on X @dougritchay
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