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"From the Hip" is your chance to ask questions of WisSports.net Football Writer and Content Manager Travis Wilson about anything going on in high school football. It could be questions on players, games, storylines, teams, or whatever else is happening around the state. Submit questions for next week's mailbag via Twitter by tweeting @travisWSN with the #FromtheHip hashtag or emailing Travis with "From the Hip" in the subject line.

Who's got better high school football from top to bottom:  Wisconsin or Minnesota? -- submitted via Twitter by @jordo63

Travis Wilson: To be honest, I've never been to a Minnesota high school game and don't follow it all that closely, so it is hard for me to judge. I do know that the majority of their population and teams are in the Twin Cities metro area, which creates a lot of easy access to competition and has led to some great players coming from the area. I'd put the best of Wisconsin up against the best of Minnesota any day however.

Do you see a deep run in the playoffs coming for a Scenic Bluffs Conference team this season? And what team would that be? -- submitted via Twitter by @mrmccann2003

TW: Cashton is the only current Scenic Bluffs team to ever make the state finals, winning a D6 title back in 1981 after a runner-up finish in 1979. Bangor came close in 2010 with a run to the state semi-finals, and if a team is going to make a deep playoff run this season, I think the Cardinals are most likely. They lose a talented rushing duo in Adam Meyers and Alex Peters, but J.J. Hundt is ready to step in with a huge season. Hillsboro should be strong as well, and could make some noise. New Lisbon has some playmakers on offense to do some good things as well.

Do you see a merger of the Marinette & Oconto and the Northern Lakes due to the defections to 8-man from both confs? -- submitted via Twitter by @Captain_Joe08

TW:  I think that is a very good possibility. Florence has had some numbers issues this year and a few other programs have struggled to be competitive in each conference. With Peshtigo's enrollment continuing to increase to where they are twice as big as some other league schools, we could see them move to one of the Olympian-Packerlands perhaps with the remaining 11-man members of the M&O and Northern Lakes combining into one league.

2025: Football is a club sport in High School. Over/Under or Never? -- submitted via Twitter by @Galaxy_Diener

TW:  I don't think so. I think football teams are more tied to the schools and communities than any other sport, and that alone could keep them under the WIAA/school umbrella. I certainly could see other sports go to a club model, or top players participating in club teams however. I, for one, would not be in favor of that model, as I think the benefits of interscholastic competition are significant.

How do you think Brandon Ehret will do in his second season at West Allis Hale??? -- submitted via Twitter by @MairDerrick

TW:  They started the year with a solid showing against Badger, a team that went to the state semi-finals last year. The 28-14 Hale suffered hopefully serves as a springboard to an improved season. Coach Ehret has just seven starters back from last year though, so it may be another year or two before we see the Huskies competing for a playoff spot. The Greater Metro Conference is a difficult one to move up in with so many quality programs, and Hale has a tough opening schedule with a non-conference game against Cedarburg with away games against Marquette, Brookfield East, and Sussex Hamilton this year. Hale hasn't been to the playoffs since 2008.

What do you think of the Janesville Craig football chances this season to make the playoffs? -- submitted via Twitter by @MairDerrick

TW:  The way the Big Eight is this year I think it would be difficult for the Cougars to get to the playoffs, something they haven't done since 2008. They would need five wins, which would mean beating all of Parker, Beloit, and Madison East plus at least two wins against the group of Sun Prairie, Verona, Madison West, Middleton, La Follette, and Madison Memorial. I just don't see it happening barring any significant surprises. They did show improvement late in 2012 though, winning the final three games, including a 20-13 victory over Middleton. I think a 3-6 or 4-5 season where they just miss the postseason is more likely. A nice opening win over Madison East that saw the Cougars rack up 362 rushing yards was a good way to start the season however.
 

Submit questions for next week's mailbag via Twitter by tweeting @travisWSN with the #FromtheHip hashtag or emailing Travis with "From the Hip" in the subject line.