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WisSports.net Final Football Coaches Poll: Division 6

12/02/2020, 7:15pm CST
By Travis Wilson

With the 2020 high school football season complete, we will be posting a last look back via a final WisSports.net Football Coaches Poll for each division. Divisional placement is based on division cutlines for the 2020 playoffs and may be different than the division a school appeared in the Coaches Poll during the season. To view Coaches Polls from the regular season, please click here.

Listed records include only games played, not any forfeits or cancelations.

Previous Final Coaches Poll Rankings:

8-Player

WISSPORTS.NET FINAL FOOTBALL COACHES POLL: DIVISION 6

1. Edgar

Edgar finished as the Division 7 runner-up in 2018 and 2019, and the Wildcats had hoped to get that sour taste of coming up just short of a gold ball out of their mouth. Unfortunately for Edgar and all teams, there was no state final this year. Based on how things played out, Edgar would have been a huge favorite, scoring wins over a ranked Division 2 Onalaska squad, a solid Shawano team, and larger Portage along with an unbeaten record in the Marawood. Many felt Edgar against Iola-Scandinavia in Level 2 was a matchup of the top two teams in Division 6. It wasn't much of a contest, as Edgar dominated en route to a 56-8 victory. Edgar's 12-7 win over Onalaska was the team's only game decided by less than 28 points, as the Wildcats finished a perfect 9-0.

2. Lourdes Academy

Lourdes Academy was a state semi-finalist in 2019 and the Knights would have been a strong contender to make their first-ever WIAA state title game in a regular year. Instead, they finish with a perfect 9-0 record that included a Trailways Conference title. Lourdes beat a solid, larger New Holstein team in a replacement game and also had impressive wins over Randolph (twice), Coleman, and Hilbert. Josh Bauer put up some of the most impressive passing numbers in the state, while Preston Ruedinger and Jack McKellips led an outstanding group of receivers for head coach Kevin Wopat.

3. Highland

Highland was a consistent team in 2020, and despite playing in a revised league in southwest Wisconsin after COVID-issues forced several teams in their conference to move to spring, the Cardinals were able to put together a nearly-full schedule. A Week 4 comeback win over Potosi/Cassville established the team as a true contender. It was another game against Potosi/Cassville, this time in Level 2 of the postseason, that provided the most memorable moment of the year. With the game tied at 13 in the closing seconds, Highland recovered an errant snap in the end zone as time expired to claim a wild 19-13 win. The Cardinals finished 8-0.

4. Iola-Scandinavia

Iola-Scandinavia missed the playoffs altogether in 2019 after winning a Division 6 state championship in 2018. The T-Birds rebounded in a big way, riding a strong rushing attack featuring junior quarterback Parker Prahl and senior running back Brye Hardel to an undefeated, dominating regular season. After dispatching Hurley in Level 1, the much-anticipated showdown with fellow unbeaten Edgar turned into a route, as Iola-Scandinavia fell 56-8. The T-Birds finished 8-1.

5. Blair-Taylor

Blair-Taylor won a number of close games to open the season, then turned things on a big way in the latter half, posting four dominating victories to end the year. Winning a Dairyland Conference title, the Wildcats finished 8-0 overall after postseason victories over Cochrane-Fountain City and Assumption.

6. Reedsville

Reedsville won its first six games of the year, but dropped a 41-6 decision to Edgar in a replacement game in Week 7. The Panthers rebounded to beat Markesan the next week, but a showdown with unbeaten Lourdes Academy in the final game of the year didn't work out. Reedsville won the Big East title and finished 7-1 overall.

7. Coleman

Coleman breezed through the first few games of the season but had some trouble with cancelations in October. At the end of the month, the Cougars lost their only game, a 39-32 decision against Lourdes Academy. Coleman was supposed to play Reedsville in Level 1, which would have been another great test, but couldn't get the game in. The Cougars closed the year with a 55-12 win over Markesan to finish 5-1.

8. Randolph

Randolph was clearly the second-best team in the Trailways Conference this season, but unfortunately the Rockets could not get by Lourdes Academy, first dropping a very exciting 17-14 decision to the Knights in the regular season before falling 40-0 to end the year in a Level 2 replacement. Randolph also suffered a loss to Watertown Luther Prep, finishing 6-3.

9. Hurley

Hurley moved into the Lakeland Conference this year after many years in Michigan leagues or a few as an Independent. It was a successful change for the Northstars, who won the Lakeland title this season. The team did fall to Colby in a non-conference contest and dropped a 35-6 decision to Iola-Scandinavia, finishing 4-2.

10. Pepin/Alma

Pepin/Alma dropped back-to-back close games to Blair-Taylor and Melrose-Mindoro in mid-October and it sunk their chances of competing for the Dairyland Conference title, ultimately won by Blair-Taylor. The Eagles did rebound to score four straight victories to close the season, including a 30-0 shutout of Augusta in Level 2 of the postseason. Pepin/Alma finished 6-2.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

Assumption
Boyceville
Cambria-Friesland
Clear Lake
Hilbert
Ozaukee
River Ridge
Shiocton
Turtle Lake


About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

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  FB Rankings  Travis Wilson