skip navigation

WisSports.net Final Spring Football Coaches Poll: Large Schools

05/13/2021, 3:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Kimberly faces off with Fond du Lac in the final game of the season

With the 20201 spring high school football season complete, we will be posting a last look back via a final WisSports.net Football Coaches Poll for each group. In an effort to continue to recognize the outstanding teams and players while placing and evaluating teams in somewhat like-sized groupings, we will be using Large Schools (1000+ enrollment), Medium Schools (999-400), and Small Schools (399 or under) designations along with 8-Player. 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:

Large Schools
Medium Schools
Small Schools
8-Player

WISSPORTS.NET FINAL Spring FOOTBALL COACHES POLL: Large Schools

1. Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac posted one of the most dominating seasons in recent memory, capped off with a historic 71-47 win over Kimberly. In that one, Fond du Lac posted 689 yards of offense, 606 on the ground, as the team's combined for 1,328 yards to set a new state record. Kyle Walljasper was the top offensive player this spring, rushing for 1,467 yards and 21 touchdowns along with 769 yards and nine scores. Braelon Allen joined Walljasper as a two-way standout, accounting for more than 1000 rushing yards and 21 scores. Besides the 24-point win over Kimberly, all the Cardinals' other games ended in a running clock, as they averaged 58 points per game.

2. Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie only played three different opponents this year, as the Big Eight was a reduced league after the Madison schools canceled. The Cardinals featured a dominating defense, led by linemen Isaac Hamm and Sammy Smith. Linebackers Addison Ostrenga and Mekhi Gullens were standout performers as well. Sophomore Jerry Kaminski shared time with senior Brady Stevens at quarterback, as they combined for 15 touchdown passes and more than 1000 yards in six games. 

3. Kimberly

Kimberly put together a dominating season, up until a 71-47 loss to Fond du Lac in the final game of the year. Prior to that, the Papermakers had allowed just 53 total points in the first six games. The offense produced all season, with Caden Pendleton throwing for 12 touchdowns with no interceptions, while Caleb Frazer nearly got to 1000 yards in the shortened schedule. Owen Pawlikowski and Cam Wnek were a dangerous receiving duo on the outside. While the loss to Fond du Lac will certainly sting, Kimberly posted impressive wins against quality teams like Pulaski, Appleton East, Appleton North, and Neenah this year.

4. Waunakee

Waunakee won all six games in this spring season by at least three scores, as the Warriors largely dominated a schedule that didn't present a lot of challenges. In the final game of the year in Week 6, the Warriors blew open a close game with rival DeForest to win 48-30, putting quite a stamp on the spring season. The skill position quartet of quarterback Qunetin Keene, running back Caden Nelson, receiver Isaac Schaaf, and tight end Andrew Keller was outstanding all season, while the defense was a bit undersized but tough, physical, and able to stifle opponents.

5. De Pere

De Pere ran through its spring schedule unbeaten, featuring a 20-13 win over Bay Port plus two victories over an improved Oshkosh West team. While the Redbirds didn't face some of heavy hitters in the other divisions of the Fox Valley Classic Conference, they took care of every opponent placed in front of them. Sophomore Gabe Herman really emerged this year as not only an outstanding high school player, but a rapidly-rising collegiate prospect, throwing 16 touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes.

6. Racine Horlick

Racine Horlick was able to slide into the Woodland-Red Conference in this spring season and did not lose a game to any conference opponents. The lone defeat for the Rebels was a 35-18 setback against Menasha mid-season. Sophomore Blake Fletcher emerged as one of the top two-way players in the state, totaling more than 1000 yards of offense and 21 total touchdowns as a run-first quarterback, adding a team-high 70 tackles on defense.

7. DeForest

DeForest followed up a Division 3 state championship in 2019 with another outstanding season in head coach Aaron Mack's first year at the helm. The Norskies started 5-0, but dropped a 48-30 decision to rival Waunakee. They'd rebound nicely, defeating Menasha 59-40 in a rematch of that state title game from 18 months ago. 

8. Appleton North

Appleton North started the year like gang-busters, going 3-0 (4-0 counting a forfeit victory). However, in back-to-back games against Kimberly and Fond du Lac, the Lightning suffered running clock losses. Rather than pack it in, Appleton North finished the season strong with a 38-6 win over Neenah. They also defeated tenth-ranked Pulaski earlier in the season.

9. Superior

Superior was able to fill most of it schedule in the crazy spring season, despite most of its Big Rivers brethren playing in the fall, forcing some lengthy road trips for the Spartans. They played some white-knuckle football, winning two games by a single point, with two other victories by just nine points. The only loss of the year was a 42-14 defeat against La Crosse Central.

10. Pulaski

Pulaski played in the Fox Valley Classic Conference-Group B, one of the toughest leagues in the state this season. The Red Raiders showed they were deserving of state-wide recognition with a 4-2 overall record that included late-season wins over Bay Port and Stevens Point. They did lose to Kimberly and Appleton North earlier in the season, however.

Others Receiving Votes

Appleton East
Bay Port
Greenfield
Milton
Neenah
Oshkosh North
Racine Case


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