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WisSports.net Final Football Coaches Poll: Division 5

12/03/2020, 10:15am 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:

Division 6
8-Player

WISSPORTS.NET FINAL FOOTBALL COACHES POLL: DIVISION 5

1. Mineral Point

Mineral Point was undefeated in the 2019 regular season before going down in a heartbreaker to Mondovi in Level 3. Despite losing All-State quarterback Isaac Lindsey, the Pointers put together another outstanding season. That included an impressive 44-36 win over Lake Mills in Week 2, and after the program was shutdown for a couple weeks, a 28-19 win over a ranked River Valley squad. After blowing out Palmyra-Eagle 63-6 to open the WIAA postseason, the Pointers had to cancel the final game against Cambridge. Behind some excellent, versatile athletes like Will Straka, Dominick McVay, and Liam Stumpf, the Pointers were an offensive powerhouse under head coach Andy Palzkill. The team finished 6-0 in the abbreviated 2020 season.

2. Regis

Regis was once again a very strong squad in 2020, and there's a good chance that had the Ramblers been able to finish out the season, they would have landed on top of the final Coaches Poll. The team was a perfect 5-0 to begin the year, with wins over Mondovi and Stanley-Boyd including in there, only to get shutdown for good after a 43-14 win over Osseo-Fairchild in Week 5. The team had to cancel the last two regular season games and opted out of the WIAA postseason, finishing 5-0. It was a disappointing way to end the year for a team that in a normal year would have been a state title contender once again.

3. Spring Valley

Spring Valley had no problems in the redesigned Dunn-St. Croix Conference that saw strong programs like Elk Mound, Mondovi, and Durand depart this season. The Cardinals won every game this season with a running clock, including a Level 1 playoff contest against Unity. Unfortunately the next week's game against Grantsburg would be canceled. Spring Valley finished 7-0.

4. Racine Lutheran

Racine Lutheran had some very impressive victories this season, including twice over Kenosha St. Joseph, against Racine St. Catherine's and a win at Fox Valley Lutheran. The only loss on the year was a 19-6 defeat against Watertown Luther Prep. The Crusaders finished 7-1 overall.

5. Bonduel

Bonduel was the champion of the re-imagined Packerland Conference this season, going a perfect 4-0 against league foes in the regular season. The lone loss was a 34-6 decision against Lourdes Academy to open the year, though Bonduel would beat a much larger Seymour squad a few weeks later. The Bears topped Oconto and Manawa in the WIAA postseason. 

6. Aquinas

Aquinas played in its third conference in three years in 2020, though with several cancellations and opponents moving to the alternate spring season, the Blugolds ended up facing several foes from its past. The team did lose three games, but all were to larger teams from the Mississippi Valley Conference: West Salem, Onalaska, and Tomah. Aquinas really solidified its spot in the top ten with postseason victories over Darlington and Lancaster.

7. Durand

Durand opened the 2020 season on a roll, winning five straight games to begin the year. However, the Panthers struggled down the stretch a bit, dropping the final three games to Elk Mound, Cumberland, and Grantsburg, with the last two both coming by one score.

8. Mondovi

Mondovi was within a game of the state championship in 2019, and the Buffaloes made the move from the Dunn-St. Croix to the Cloverbelt Conference in 2020. After an impressive win over Osseo-Fairchild to open the season, Mondovi would be shutout by Regis in the next game. While they'd also lose games during the regular season to Durand and Stanley-Boyd, the team did finish 6-3 overall after topping Luther and Hilbert to close out the season. Senior Tanner Marsh led the state in rushing with 2,043 yards and 27 touchdowns.

9. Darlington

Darlington had significantly raised expectations in 2020, as we picked the Redbirds to win the SWAL. Things looked very good out of the gates, with a 34-21 win over SWC champion River Valley to begin the season. However, the program had to shutdown for several weeks after that, and the rust showed in their next game, a 20-14 loss to Prairie du Chien. While they'd close with wins over Lancaster, Potosi/Cassville, and Platteville, the WIAA postseason didn't go as planned, with top-seeded Darlington losing to Aquinas. The Redbirds finished 4-2.

10. Cambridge

Cambridge moved to a new conference this year, the Eastern Suburban. While a couple teams opted out, the Blue Jays were able to put together a mostly full schedule of games. The only in-league loss was against Marshall, while the team also suffered a non-league setback against Randolph. Cambridge finished 5-2 on the year.

Others Receiving Votes

Grantsburg
Kenosha St. Joseph
Lancaster
Manawa
Markesan
Melrose-Mindoro
Unity


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.

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