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WisSports.net Final Spring Football Coaches Poll: Small Schools

05/14/2021, 10:00am CDT
By Travis Wilson

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: Small SCHOOLS

1. Omro

Omro opened the 2021 spring season with a win over Saint Mary's Springs that opened a lot of eyes and leap-frogged the Foxes into the top spot of the Small School Coaches Poll, a position they never left. They'd defeat a very good Mayville team by 29 later in the year, and while we didn't get an Omro versus Lomira showdown to give us a clear number one, the Foxes did everything necessary to earn the top spot. Ben Wellhoefer and Kyle Dietzen were as good as any two-way duo in the state at the small school level, combining for more than 2200 yards and 35 touchdowns on offense and 151 tackles on defense.

2. Lomira

Lomira did everything it could in the spring season, as the Lions not only went unbeaten but hosted many other Flyway Conference games at their turf facility. Lomira defeated Saint Mary's Springs and Mayville, two very good teams that are ranked in the poll. Two-way elite lineman Avery Johnson gets a lot of headlines, but head coach Shane Obregiwitch had a nice group of skill athletes that included Zach Dewhurst, Soph Gengler, Logan Neitzel, Jesse Weber, and Lueranze Johnson. 

3. Bangor

Bangor got pushed by Cashton late in the year, but the Cardinals once again finished unbeaten in the regular season, running their Scenic Bluffs Conference winning streak to a state-leading 42 straight games, dating back to 2013. The Cardinals saw Cashton come back to tie the game in Week 6, but Bangor got a touchdown in the closing seconds to seal a 34-28 win. The defense pitched three shutouts and allowed just 40 points in six games.

4. Arcadia

Arcadia dropped a close game to G-E-T midway through the season, but in a unique six-game schedule, got a chance for redemption, beating the Red Hawks just two weeks later in another low-scoring close game. Arcadia would defeat a solid Kewaunee squad in-between the G-E-T games. Kaden Updike and Evan Pauly were two of the top two-way players in the small schools.

5. Black Hawk/Warren (IL)

Black Hawk/Warren (IL) won the last two Division 7 state titles, and the Warriors would have been a contender once again in a normal season. After opening with a shocking 30-22 loss to Fennimore, the team rebounded to win five straight, including victories over ranked teams Belleville and Cuba City. It was an impressive debut for head coach Desie Breadon, who continued to rely on a strong rushing attack, this season featuring Lucas Milz and Landen Mahoney.

6. Belleville

Belleville was an extremely exciting team to follow in 2021, winning its first two games by just a touchdown before falling in a close one against Black Hawk/Warren (IL), which would prove to be its only loss of the year. They'd close things out with another white-knuckler, defeating New Glarus/Monticello 21-20 in the final game of the season. Trevor Syse was one of the most prolific passers in the spring season, throwing for 1,481 yards and 17 touchdowns in just seven games.

7. Mayville

Mayville beat Saint Mary's Springs 7-6 in a nail-biter, which in a normal year would likely make you the favorite in the Flyway. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, two other behemoths stood in their way in the form of Lomira and Omro. Still, a 5-2 record and win over Springs was a great season for head coach Scott Hilber. 

8. Saint Mary's Springs

Saint Mary's Springs won three straight state championships from 2017 to 2019, and most expected the Ledgers to continue to roll in this unique spring season. However, a 24-12 opening loss to Omro would set the stage for a frustrating season that saw Springs finish 4-3 overall, with additional close losses to Lomira and Mayville. In the four wins, the team was dominant, scoring at least 40 points.

9. Cashton

Cashton won some very competitive games early on, including 7-6 wins over Brookwood and Royall to go with a one-score victory against Wauzeka/Seneca. It set the stage for a huge showdown with Bangor, and the Eagles made a run, tying the game in the fourth only to see Bangor score in the closing seconds for the 34-28 win. It was the team's only loss, as they rebounded with a 20-7 victory over Necedah the next week to close out the season.

10. Cuba City

Cuba City finished the spring season with a 4-2 overall record, dropping close games to Belleville and Black Hawk/Warren (IL). Quarterback Beau Kopp showed quite a bit of improvement, going from 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 10 games as a sophomore to 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in six games in this, his junior campaign. 

Others Receiving Votes

Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg
Brookwood
Royall


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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