skip navigation

Level 1 Rapid Reaction

10/21/2017, 2:00pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Verona kicks off to Kettle Moraine in a Level 1 playoff game

Below are some quick takeaways from Level 1 of the high school football playoffs. Look for a full preview of each division to come out next week on WisSports.net.

Home Teams Dominate, but so do a few Road Teams

In 2015, road teams won 23 of 112 games in Level 1, or 20.5%. It was the second-highest road winning percentage since the WIAA went to 1-8 seeding in 2012. In 2016, just 16 of 112 road teams (14.3%) claimed victory in Level 1, the lowest percentage by visiting teams since 2012.

Road teams won 19 of 112 games this year, for a winning percentage of 17%. 

While home teams took control of most of the games, there were several road teams that not only won, but won big. Ten of the 19 road victors won by three scores or more, including margins of victory of 23, 27, 27, 28, 32, 34, 35, and 43 points.

Hilbert (over Almond-Bancroft) and Martin Luther (over University School) both had running clock victories on the road.

The full list of teams seeded #6 or lower to gain victories is below:

#6 Northwestern over #3 G-E-T 29-17
#6 Martin Luther over #3 USM 42-7
#6 Auburndale over #3 Crandon 35-7
#6 Pulaski over #3 Appleton West 40-6
#6 Kettle Moraine over #3 Verona 28-19
#6 Westby over #3 Lancaster 38-29
#6 Valders over #3 Howards Grove 41-14

#7 Laconia over #2 Southern Door 26-14

Thrillers

While there were many blowouts around the state, there were a handful of games that produced some thrilling results.

Hudson tied the game with Stevens Point with just 14 seconds remaining, but the Hudson player spiked the ball, resulting in a 15-yard penalty on the extra point, which was missed, sending the game to overtime. Stevens Point scored first to go up 48-41, and Hudson got a touchdown as well. The Raiders chose to go for a two-point conversion, which failed, giving Stevens Point the win.

Top-seeded Wrightstown survived quite a scare against Peshtigo, as a potential game-winning field goal from eighth-seeded Peshtigo with three seconds left hit the goal post, allowing Wrightstown to hold on for a 21-20 victory.

Waterford trailed Southern Lakes conference rival Burlington 21-7 late in the third quarter, but came all the way back to tie the game and force overtime. Waterford scored first and kicked the extra point. Burlington converted a fourth-and-ten to get a touchdown on its possession, and head coach Steve Tenhagen chose to go for two and the win. However, the conversion pass was incomplete, as Waterford held on for a 28-27 victory.

Berlin scored a 34-27 overtime win over Fox Valley Lutheran as well.

In western Wisconsin, West Salem senior Ryan Beirne tipped a fourth-and-goal with less than a minute left to help the Panthers hold on for a 17-14 win over New Richmond.

Tracking the Champions

It was domination by the defending state champions in Level 1, as the teams won by an average of 34.1 points. Catholic Memorial's 42-20 win over East Troy was the closest game amongst defending champions.

D1: Kimberly over Milwaukee Riverside 49-8
D2: Brookfield East over Menomonee Falls 35-0
D3: Catholic Memorial over East Troy 42-20
D4: Saint Croix Central over Mauston 48-24
D5: Amherst over Colby 53-6
D6: Regis over Fall Creek 50-15
D7: Edgar over Athens 35-0

Runners-up Run Out

While the defending state champions fared very well in Level 1, the runners-up from last season had mixed results. Of course, Shullsburg (D7) didn't even make the playoffs. 

After four straight runner-up finishes in Division 6, Darlington struggled during the year but won four straight to qualify, though the Redbirds went out in Level 1 to Markesan, 44-14.

River Valley also showed some struggles during the regular season, and the Division 4 runners-up from last season saw their year come to an end at the hands of Racine St. Catherine's, 53-35.

My Game - Verona vs. Kettle Moraine

Kettle Moraine was identified as a sleeper team by many people, as the Lasers were very competitive in the Classic Eight Conference, suffering three losses to Waukesha West, Catholic Memorial, and Arrowhead by a combined 10 points while defeating Muskego.

In was an inauspicious start for head coach Justin Gumm's team however, as Verona scored a quick touchdown to go up 7-0, then took advantage of a Kettle Moraine turnover to add a field goal for a 10-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. 

The Lasers stayed the course however, getting a two-yard Max Herro touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. While a controversial last second play allowed Verona to add another field goal with just seconds remaining in the first half to go up 13-7, the momentum had changed.

Verona got an early third quarter field goal, but Kettle Moraine scored on what proved to be the first of three Mike Timm touchdown runs a short time later. On the drive, Timm converted three fourth-and-one situations as well.

Young got a fourth field goal late in the third quarter, but Timm scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as Kettle Moraine would win 28-19 to advance to take on top-seeded and unbeaten Sun Prairie.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson  Football Playoffs