2025 BADGER SMALL CONFERENCE PREVIEWPredicted Order of Finish1.
Mount Horeb/Barneveld (Mount Horeb)2.
Edgewood (Madison)3.
Stoughton 4.
Portage (Portage)5.
Sauk Prairie (Prairie du Sac)6.
Lakeside Lutheran (Lake Mills)Players to WatchHayden Anderson, TE, Mount Horeb/Barneveld: Anderson is the third-ranked senior tight end in the WSN Senior Player Rankings, coming off an Honorable Mention All-Conference season with 30 catches.
Gannon Bagstad, QB, Edgewood: Bagstad threw for 1,178 yards with nine touchdowns last year and is looking to build off that for a big senior season.
Jake Buckles, OL/DL, Sauk Prairie: Buckles was a First Team All-Conference choice as both an offensive and defensive lineman for the Eagles last season.
Logan Hedstrom, RB, Stoughton: Hedstrom was a Second Team All-Conference choice, rushing for 792 yards and 7 touchdowns last season.
Brooks Hendrickson, QB, Mount Horeb/Barneveld: Hendrickson threw for 2,249 yards and 26 touchdowns last season as a First Team All-Conference selection.
Max Nelson, OL, Stoughton: Nelson has given a commitment to Northern Illinois as the last Nelson brother to go through the Stoughton program.
Jackson Stein, OL, Lakeside Lutheran: Stein is a three-year starting offensive lineman for Lakeside Lutheran and has committed to North Dakota.
Jack Wilson, LB, Mount Horeb/Barneveld: Wilson has committed to North Dakota State and recorded 102 tackles with 18 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks a year ago.
2025 Team Previews1. Mount Horeb/Barneveld was minutes away from the second state semi-finals trip in state history until a wild ending resulted in a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to Catholic Memorial. It ended an incredible season that saw the Vikings go 11-1, win the Badger-Small Conference title, and advance to a sectional championship. Head coach Bret St. Arnauld has a team that should be among the state's elite in Division 3, with 35 returning letterwinners that include six starters back on offense and seven on defense. "We return five of our front six on defense from a group that produced a lot last season," said St. Arnauld. "We will be expecting a lot from them this year. Our secondary returns two starters, so that will be the one area that will need to show growth this offseason. Our offense has to replace the likes of Chris Kiel and Owen Preimesberger, but we return our First Team All-Conference and D1 recruit quarterback Brooks Hendrickson, along with three starting offensive linemen, and a big-time tight end in Hayden Anderson. We have depth at the receiver position from a group that rotated and got a lot of reps last season. We have a lot of young talent coming up in the sophomore class who have a shot at making some big moves into the starting lineup this season." Jack Wilson and Harrison Walker are dynamic, game-wrecking types of defenders for the Vikings.
2. Edgewood was 4-6 last season, dropping the final four games of the year, but played town down the stretch, including a narrow 14-10 loss to Aquinas in the opening playoff game. The Crusaders are in line for an improved 2025 season behind a very experienced group returning for head coach Jesse Norris. "Lots of experience and talent on offense with great size and strength," said Norris. "We're looking to build off last year, only losing two offensive linemen and returning all skill positions on offense. Defense will need to have a few athletes step into some big roles, but will still be a very stingy and physical defense!" The Crusaders welcome back nine starters on offense, including quarterback Gannon Bagstad, while eight starters return on defense. Edgewood is eagerly anticipating the return to health of seniors Aydon and Ashton Fickell, who each suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2024 and are working back to 100 percent.
3. Stoughton struggled against the better teams on its schedule, finishing 7-3 overall but getting shut out by Mount Horeb/Barneveld and Sauk Prairie in league play. The Vikings fell to Waterford in a Level 1 home game. "The offensive line will be anchored by returning starters Max Nelson and Reign Altenburg," said head coach Jason Becker. "Logan Hedstrom and Gatlin Empey will once again split carries in the backfield, and Parker Sellnow and Reid Blackburn return as the main receiving threats, but will need to replace Griffin Rousseau, Drew Viney, and Jay Johnson." In addition to five starters back on offense, there are five returning on defense as well.
4. Portage was impressive in its first two games, posting dominating victories over Wisconsin Dells and Adams-Friendship. The Warriors struggled in the conference season, however, dropping four straight and finishing 4-5 overall. Head coach Chris Rice has a group that could challenge for a playoff spot, especially with the new postseason qualification guidelines this year that incorporate non-conference games. "We have a solid core of returning talent, particularly in the backfield and on the offensive line. The speed in the backfield, combined with an experienced offensive line and two returning tight ends, will help our offense. We have two quarterbacks who have gained valuable varsity experience last season, who should push each other for the starting job. However, the lack of depth is a major factor that could be an issue for us. The experience gained by the returning players should provide leadership and stability, but our success will likely hinge on our ability to avoid significant injuries." Oskar Johnson, Brody Kayartz, Tristan Brunt, Ryker Rockhill, and Austin Fries are all experienced skill players on an offense that returns six starters. Six starters are returning on the defensive side of the ball as well.
5. Sauk Prairie had quite the up-and-down season, finishing 5-5 overall with the five victories coming by an average of 29 points, while the five defeats came by an average of 22 points. The Eagles lost most of last year's offensive production, including standout quarterback Landon Schultz, top rusher Lawson Maier, and leading receivers Boden Frosch and Kade Kinney. The Eagles have a couple of standout defenders coming back, including First Team All-Conference picks Bryan Breunig and Jake Buckles.
6. Lakeside Lutheran moved into the Badger-Small last year, and it did not go great, with the Warriors finishing just 1-8 overall and 0-7 in the league standings. After Paul Bauer spent more than 20 years with the Warriors before retiring after 2023, the team will have its third coach in as many seasons, with Dennis Leckwee replacing Matthew Doering, who served just one year. "This senior class is full of guys who have been playing for our program for four years," said Leckwee, who likes the leadership the group brings to the table. Jackson Stein is not only a three-year starter on the offensive line but a North Dakota commit.
• The Badger-Small is a six-team league that is paired with the East Central, and all Badger-Small teams will play two crossover games against East Central teams that will count in the standings.
