The WSN Team of the Week is back again for 2024. Voting is featured at the bottom of the article. Voting is open until Thursday at 2 p.m., so be sure to vote for who you feel is most deserving and spread the word (hint: Social Media is a great way to do so). Users may vote once per day.
Appleton East has not made the playoffs since 2019, finishing just 2-7 overall last year. Head coach Mark Krommenacker and company put everyone on notice that they are a team to watch this season with a 6-0 shutout of Kettle Moraine in Week 2. The lone touchdown came in the third quarter when Alex Thompson found Joshua Christiansen from 15 yards out. The Patriot defense did the rest, taking down last year's Classic Eight Conference champions, who have won ten playoff games in the last three years.
Chippewa Falls is out to a hot 2-0 start after hammering rival Eau Claire Memorial 66-7 in Week 2 of the high school football season. It was the 116th meeting between the schools, making it the eighth most-played rivalry in the state, dating back to 1898. The Cardinals rushed for 439 yards and eight touchdowns on 41 rushing attempts, averaging 10.7 yards per carry as a team. Both Jackson LeMay and Jackson Bohland went fore more than 100 yards rushing and more than 150 total yards in the win.
It was quite the weekend for Madison Memorial, who did something we haven't seen in at least 20 years. The Spartans went on the road and defeated Waunakee 49-34, marking the first non-conference loss for the Warriors (not counting playoffs) since 2013, when they fell to Edgewood, and the first non-conference home loss since at least 2002 (when WSN archives exist), though it is uncertain just how far back that may go. Owen Fiedler threw for 331 yards and three scores, while Marion Moore caught six passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, with Ty Aparicio hauling in nine passes for 109 yards and a score.
In a matchup of defending state champions, it was Stratford that came out on top against old rival Edgar, 21-8 on Friday night. The Tigers outlasted the Wildcats in a defensive battle, as neither team eclipsed 170 yards of offense. Caleb Wrensch returned a fumble for a touchdown to open the scoring, while Jack Tubbs would throw for a score and rush for a touchdown in the low-scoring affair.
West Allis Central ended what had been tied for the state's longest losing streak, downing Brown Deer 20-19 on Friday night. The Bulldogs had last tasted victory on August 31st, 2018 against Pius XI Catholic in a 14-6 win.
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.