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Kwik Trip & Wisconsin Dairy Game of the Week Preview: Milwaukee Academy of Science at Darlington

10/31/2024, 12:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

We asked, you voted, and Milwaukee Academy of Science at Darlington has been selected as the Kwik Trip and Wisconsin Dairy Game of the Week for Level 2 of the high school football season. A total of 4,648 votes were cast, as this one received 2,179 of those votes. 

The Kwik Trip & Wisconsin Dairy Game of the Week allows you, the fans, to pick what you feel is the biggest high school football game in the state each week. Not only will that game get featured on WisSports.net, but our WSN staff will make it our destination that week, with updates, photos, videos, and stories from the big game.

And of course, no trip to a big game in Wisconsin would be complete without a stop or two at Kwik Trip and a chocolate milk!!

This is a contrast in many ways, as Milwaukee Academy of Science makes the trip across southern Wisconsin to take on Darlington in a Division 5 playoff game. Academy of Science just won its first playoff game in its third appearance, while Darlington has 83 postseason wins in 36 appearances, including 13 title game appearances.

Academy of Science features a dynamic spread attack that does plenty of damage on the ground and through the air, while Darlington is a heavy run-based attack built on physical football.

This is a season of firsts for Milwaukee Academy of Science, who won its first playoff game in program history last week. 

"This regular season was a first for us being apart of a conference for the first time," said Novas head coach Rico Ragsdale. "Throughout the year we've always had a goal of getting better week by week and throughout the year we have done that, especially with stepping up the level of competition playing a bigger and more established team in Grafton to finish the regular season."

Darlington always has high expectations, though a second place finish in the SWAL wasn't quite what they were after.

"A 7-2 record is good but we were disappointed we didn't win the SWAL," said Darlington head coach Travis Winkers. "Regardless, we have turned our focus to making a run in the postseason, even though we are moved up to Division 5."

Academy of Science will present some new challenges for the Redbirds.

"Milwaukee Academy of Science not only has numerous explosive players but also very big lineman," added Winkers. "They have put up points all year, even against one of the top teams in Division 3 in Grafton. It is our job to keep our composure and play our brand of football if we want an opportunity to beat them."

These are new experiences for Academy of Science as they get deeper into the playoffs, and they're trying to make sure the train keeps rolling.

"We understand the magnitude of playing a storied program such as Darlington," said Ragsdale. "So our mindset leading into the game is discipline to beat a program of this caliber it all starts with our discipline."


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  Travis Wilson  KT Game of the Week