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Last year, high winds and bad weather were the big story in Level 1, with the winds affecting game-plans, game play, and even changing the location of games. 2011 saw no such problems, with the weather just right for playoff football.

The big story of Level 1 this year was the delay in the release of playoff qualifiers and match-ups and subsequent reduced preparation time as a result of the Messmer/Shorewood lawsuit against the WIAA. MessWood of course won that judgment and were ruled eligible for the playoffs, although their stay didn't last long as Milwaukee Riverside dominated in a 49-7 victory.

The Olympian-Packerland conferences were realigned this season, with Brillion and Roncalli moving from the Small Division to the Large. Of course Brillion won the Division 5 state title last year, while new division-mate Kewaunee captured the D4 crown. The leagues proved they are going to be strong postseason contenders again this season. The Large Division went a combined 5-0, while the Small Division was 3-1.

For the fourth straight season the Mount Horeb/Barneveld team has been unseeded in the playoffs facing a Rock Valley team; for the fourth straight season they claimed victory in Level 1. The Vikings knocked off East Troy 40-30 this year after previously defeating Jefferson last year and McFarland the two years prior to that. Head coach Travis Rohrer will hope history doesn't repeat itself in Level 2 however, as the team has lost its second playoff game the last three seasons. The Vikings host Jefferson in yet another game against a Rock Valley team.

DeForest's Bryar Harper was held in check in a 14-10 Week 9 loss to Waunakee, but broke out in a big way in Level 1. The senior standout rushed for a weekend-high 326 yards as the Norskies dominated La Crosse Central 54-7.

A pair of players passed for over 400 yards, although both saw their teams lose in Level 1. Watertown's Tarek Yaeggi returned after missing the last two games with a concussion and completed 37 of 54 passes for 433 yards and 2 touchdowns, nearly leading the Goslings to an upset of Verona. Unfortunately he also threw 4 interceptions, including a costly Pick-6, as Verona pulled out a 49-35 win. Eau Claire Memorial quarterback Matt Knapp completed 26 of 46 passes for 403 yards and 5 touchdowns but it wasn't enough to keep D.C. Everest from upsetting the Old Abes 49-35.

Delavan-Darien couldn't stop Jefferson's rushing attack in a 42-27 loss, but the Comets did post some impressive passing totals, including a Level 1 high 230 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 7 catches by senior Marcus Hudson.

Last year there were thirty teams that pulled upsets in Level 1 based on the seeding, and three #1 seeds that went down. A total of 27 teams pulled upsets in Level 1 this year based on the seeding, including four #1 seeds going down. In Division 2, Brookfield East played a difficult schedule in the Greater Metro Conference and used that to help knock off #1 seed Greendale 14-7.

Cambridge and Darlington played one of the best games of the weekend, as two overtimes were needed to decide the game, with Blue Jays running back Alex Resnick scoring a pair of overtime touchdowns. His second score pulled Cambridge within 42-41 as Darlington had also scored on its first possession of double overtime. Head coach Mike Klingbeil decided to go for the win, and Resnick ran in the two-point conversion for the upset victory over top-seed Darlington.

Marathon trailed top seed Athens 21-12 at halftime, but shutout the Bluejays in the second half, scoring 15 points of its own to claim a 27-21 win.

Randolph had perhaps the toughest opening draw of any #1 seed as the Rockets had to take on Catholic Central, who won D7 state titles in 2008 and 2009 and took home a runner-up trophy last season. Catholic Central's team speed overcame Randolph's size advantage as the Hilltoppers won 45-12 to firmly establish themselves as a favorite to make it to Madison once again.

Below are the upsets based on seeding in Level 1
(Click on the division heading to see the full bracket)

Division 1
D.C. Everest 49, (3) Eau Claire Memorial 35
Sun Prairie 22, (3) Badger 21
Arrowhead 37, (4) Middleton 14
Franklin 23, (3) Marquette 21

Division 2
Onalaska 41, (4) Menasha 20
Brookfield East 14, (1) Greendale 7
Whitefish Bay 58, (4) Milwaukee Bradley Tech 24

Division 3
Notre Dame 35, (4) Northland Pines 0
Mount Horeb/Barneveld 40, (4) East Troy 30
Marinette 27, (3) Xavier 21

Division 4
Spooner 28, (3) Saint Croix Falls 12
Sturgeon Bay 22, (4) Kiel 13
Valders 28, (2) University School of Milwaukee 19
Wautoma 36, (4) Montello/Princeton/Green Lake 31

Division 5
Cameron 20, (3) Cumberland 13
Stanley-Boyd 44, (2) Rib Lake/Prentice 27
Bonduel 12, (2) Northern Elite 0
Cambridge 44, (1) Darlington 43 (2OT)

Division 6
Marathon 27, (1) Athens 21
Spring Valley 39, (4) Northwood/Solon Springs 0
Pittsville 36, (4) Wild Rose 20

Division 7
Hillsboro 34, (2) Potosi 32
Belmont 24, (4) Weston 17
Catholic Central 45, (1) Randolph 12
Cochrane-Fountain City 23, (4) Assumption 16
Owen-Withee 41, (3) Pepin/Alma 12
Black Hawk 35, (4) Rio 7

Look for Level 2 previews of all seven divisions to be released on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the five finalists at each position for the WSN Senior Football Awards sponsored by Taco Bell will be announced this week as well.