Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the high school football season was split into two parts, with about 70% of teams participating in an abbreviated fall schedule, while about 30% of teams participated in an alternate spring schedule. Neither season had a traditional playoff tournament, and teams that participated in the fall did not play against teams from the spring. 

In an effort to compare teams from both seasons and generate discussion in the absence of teams settling it on the field, WSN General Manager and football writer Travis Wilson will be producing All-State Team Rankings. These rankings are determined by Wilson based on his in-person observations, film review, record and stats consideration, and other factors, and are not affiliated with the WSN Coaches Poll.

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.

Previously released rankings:

Large All-Season Rankings
Medium All-Season Rankings
Small All-Season Rankings
8-Player All-Season Rankings

This is what you all wanted. My take on Muskego and Fond du Lac. It's been a discussion item since early in the spring season, when Fond du Lac established itself as a truly dominant team putting up ridiculous numbers. It came to a head when the Cardinals hung 71 points on Kimberly in the final game of the season to cap off a perfect 7-0 record.

As one of the few prep sports media members who saw both Fond du Lac and Muskego this year (as well as other "top team" contenders like Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Whitefish Bay, Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Kimberly, and Catholic Memorial), I was fortunate to see both in their final games of the respective seasons, when the most dominating parts of their teams shone the brightest. In the fall, Muskego capped off its third straight unbeaten season with a 31-7 domination of Menomonee Falls, as the Warriors' defense limited what had been a prolific Phoenix offense to just 65 total yards. The lone Menomonee Falls score came on the second half kickoff. This spring, Fond du Lac put up one of the most eye-opening offensive performances in recent memory, dismantling a very good Kimberly squad 71-47 as the duo of Kyle Walljasper and Braelon Allen were just too much, accounting for 667 total yards of offense and ten touchdowns between just those two. 

A mythical matchup between these two heavyweights would be a true test of the "Irresistible force meets immovable object" adage. Fond du Lac's offense wasn't stopped or even slowed down this year, averaging more than 58 points per game. Muskego's defense was as good as any I've seen, against a very tough schedule. However, I think the key may lie on the other side of the ball for each team. Fond du Lac's defense is talented and very experienced, but allowed a lot of points and yards (more than 600) against Kimberly. Several of their top players, including Walljasper and Allen, also go both ways. Muskego's offense can create all kinds of problems with its athletes and now-rarely utilized Wing-T, with a team preparing for it in a one-off situation in a tough spot when they aren't used to seeing it. No doubt it would be a great game between two of the top teams in recent years, and one that high school football fans around the state were unfortunately robbed of the opportunity to witness.

Muskego entered as the two-time defending state champion in Division 1 and proceeded to somehow exceed expectations in a shortened 2020 campaign. The Wing-T offense was executed to perfection once again, but it was the defense that really was the difference-maker in 2020. After a 32-24 win over Arrowhead to open the season, the first-team unit allowed just two touchdowns in the final eight games. They shutout Waukesha West, Oconomowoc, and Arrowhead (in the second matchup). The Warriors limited Waukesha North, Mukwonago, Hudson, and Menomonee Falls to just one touchdown. Hudson's score came in the fourth quarter against third-teamers after Muskego was already up 54-0, while Menomonee Falls' lone touchdown was a kick return. In that Menomonee Falls game, the final game of the year and one of the most anticipated in the state, Muskego's defense limited the Phoenix to just 65 yards of offense. It was dominance in every facet, against a very tough schedule, and one that proved once again Muskego is the class of the state. The Warriors will carry a 37-game unbeaten streak into 2021 after going 9-0.

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.

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. 

Franklin certainly had its share of challenges in this unique season. After the three Racine schools opted for the spring season, the Southeast Conference initially limited teams to playing only other SEC squads. After beating the three Kenosha schools, Franklin had several openings on its schedule later in the year, and were able to add a game against Wauwatosa West, one the Sabers won 21-7. After dispatching Oak Creek 35-3 in the regular season finale, there was much excitement over the Sabers' pairing with Muskego, Menomonee Falls, and Arrowhead in a four-team D1 super-pod. However, before Franklin could square off with Menomonee Falls in Level 1, the school moved to virtual instruction and canceled athletic activities, ending the year for the football program, who finished 5-0.

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.

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.

Menomonee Falls had its best season since finishing as the Division 1 runner-up in 2009. Loaded with a very experienced and talented group, head coach Dan Lutz's crew won an outright Greater Metro Conference title after sharing the crown a year ago. The Phoenix, who were ranked number one in Division 2 all season before moving up to D1 for the playoffs, were able to find a way to win several close games, finishing unbeaten in the regular season. While a much-anticipated Level 1 showdown with Franklin did not materialize, Falls capped off the year with one of the state's biggest games, a matchup against two-time defending state champion Muskego. While it didn't go as planned in a 31-7 loss, it did cap off a very impressive 7-1 season for Menomonee Falls.

Kaukauna was a team without a home in 2020, as the Galloping Ghosts were the only team from the FVA to play in the fall, with the rest moving to the spring. The team was able to put together a very competitive schedule, though there were some cancelations along the way. In the regular season, Kaukauna beat the following teams, who all ended the year ranked in the final Coaches Poll for their division: Martin Luther, Plymouth, Wrightstown, and Germantown. To find games, the team played in the Fox Valley, central Wisconsin, and the northern Milwaukee suburbs. Unfortunately, the team was shutdown prior to the playoffs, finishing with a perfect 6-0 record in yet another "What could have been..." season in Wisconsin.

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.

Arrowhead had significantly raised expectations this year, with Matt Harris taking over the program as it tried to get back to its former glory. There were definitely steps in the right direction, though like everyone else the past three years, the Warhawks couldn't get past Muskego, losing to the Warriors to open the season before getting shutout 38-0 in Level 1 of the postseason. While they also dropped a mid-season game to Waukesha West, Arrowhead would finish 6-3 with victories over Mukwonago and Kenosha Bradford included in the tally.

Mukwonago continues to move forward under head coach Mike Gnewuch, as the Indians put together a 7-2 record this season, with the only losses coming against Arrowhead and Muskego. The team topped Waukesha West in Classic Eight play, and beat Kenosha Indian Trail and Brookfield Central in the WIAA postseason. The defense allowed just 28 points in the final four games of the year.

Menomonie was extremely short-handed in a season-opening loss to Hudson, but once the Mustangs got back to full strength as the season went along, they proved themselves as a team that would certainly have been a state title contender in a normal year. After that Week 1 defeat, Menomonie rebounded to win the next five games of the year, and while they opted up to Division 1 for the playoffs, the team had to be shutdown before taking part in any postseason competition. The Mustangs were 5-1 in the limited season.

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 this spring, 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. 

Marquette wasn't sure if they'd play at all this fall, as the initial Milwaukee Health Department guidance seemed to force them to move to spring. However, the Hilltoppers appealed and were granted the ability to go in the fall, though it was a late start and they missed Week 1. The Hilltoppers won the first three games of the season, including a 28-21 victory over Germantown, but dropped back-to-back games to the Brookfield schools to end the regular season. They'd close out 2020 with a 35-24 victory over Oak Creek in Level 2. The Hilltoppers finished 4-2 this season.

Germantown was a pleasant surprise this season, navigating its way to a three-way tie for second place in the very competitive Greater Metro Conference. The Warhawks dropped games to Menomonee Falls and Marquette in league play, but did beat Brookfield East and Brookfield Central, along with a non-conference victory over Catholic Memorial. After falling to Kaukauna to close the regular season, Germantown rebounded with postseason victories over Hortonville and Cedarburg to finish 6-3.

Waukesha West turned in another solid campaign in the Classic Eight, finishing in a three-way tie for second place with Arrowhead and Mukwonago behind league-leader Muskego. In addition to a loss to Muskego, like everyone else, the Wolverines fell to Mukwonago but won the head-to-head battle with Arrowhead. In the postseason, West scored wins over Waterford and Brookfield East.

Appleton North
Cedarburg
Hartford
Hudson
Pulaski
Racine Horlick
River Falls
Superior
Union Grove
Waterford
Wauwatosa West
West De Pere

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.