Week 1 of the Wisconsin high school football season is here and we are putting the spotlight on the biggest games.
Four of the 10 games featured below include a team that reached a state championship game last season.
Week 1 games to watch
Middleton at No. 2 Bay Port (Green Bay,)
Thursday, 7 p.m.
Bay Port, the defending Division 1 state champion, opens the season No. 2 in the rankings. Quarterback
Matt Stevens and running back
Brady Moon highlight the group of returning skill players for the Pirates. The Middleton Cardinals are led by running back
Elijah Jackson.
No. 16 Notre Dame Academy (Green Bay) at No. 10 KaukaunaThursday, 7 p.m. Last season's Division 3 state champion, Notre Dame, has some big holes to fill after the loss of Christian Collins (Northern Iowa) and James Flanigan (Notre Dame), who are now playing at the Division I level. Running back
Aiden Reardon headlines the offense for Kaukauna.
No. 20 Sun Prairie East (Sun Prairie) at No. 19 Verona
Thursday, 7 p.m. - Watch live on NFHS NetworkThe former Big Eight foes meet to open the season. Last season, Verona posted a 27-7 victory in their non-conference game. The Wildcats are led up front by offensive lineman
Ethan McIntosh and in the backfield by Austin Perez. On the other sideline, Sun Prairie East's standouts are running back Max Raimer and two-way player Van Vogler (DB/WR).
D.C. Everest (Schofield) at Rice Lake
Thursday, 7 p.m. Both teams are coming off deep playoff runs. Rice Lake ended the year as the Division 2 state runner-up, while D.C. Everest fell to Division 1 state champion Bay Port in a state semifinal. Last season, Rice Lake cruised to a 44-17 victory against D.C. Everst in Week 1. Rice Lake's defense is highlighted by linebacker
Aaron Hoffman, who also spent time in the backfield. Wide receiver
Xavier Edwards, a Division II Minnesota State recruit, headlines the roster for D.C. Everest.
No. 1 Muskego at No. 13 Neenah
Friday, 7 p.m. Muskego, last year's Division 1 state runner-up, earns the No. 1 ranking to open the season. The Warriors play in the strong Classic Eight Conference, which includes fellow top-five teams Arrowhead and Mukwonago. Leaders on offense for Muskego are running back Jackson Niemiec and quarterback Joey Shaw. Last season in a sectional final, Muskego posted a 21-7 victory against Neenah. The Rockets have several players to replace, including current Wisconsin Badger Grant Dean, who played running back and defensive back.
No. 4 Arrowhead (Hartland) at No. 6 Marquette University (Milwaukee)
Friday, 7 p.m. - Watch live on NFHS Network Perennial powers Arrowhead and Marquette University meet in the top 10 matchup. Last season, Arrowhead earned a 47-28 win to open the campaign. Headlining Marquette's roster is running back
Tommy Novotny, who enters the year with over 3,000 yards and 57 touchdowns. Arrowhead is led by running back
Jacob Siner and wide receiver
Harper Hughes on the offensive side of the ball.
Appleton North (Appleton) at No. 3 Mukwonago
Friday, 7 p.m. Last season, Mukwonago earned a 20-10 road victory against Appleton North to open the year. Wisconsin recruit
Ben Wenzel (LB) headlines the roster for Appleton North. Mukwonago will look to
Colton Lynch to take a larger role in the backfield. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back
Devin Viola, an Illinois State recruit, is an impact player for the Indians.
No. 5 Kimberly at No. 15 Sussex Hamilton
Friday, 7 p.m. The non-league meeting features perennial powers Kimberly (FVA) and Sussex Hamilton (Greater Metro). Standouts for Kimberly include running back
Kegan Pleau and defensive lineman
Elias Janssen (South Dakota State recruit). Sussex Hamilton is led up front by Division I prospect
Hunter Mallinger and its top skill player is wide receiver
Drew Olsson.
No. 25 Aquinas (La Crosse) at Prairie du Chien
Friday, 7 p.m. Both squads finished just one win away from a WIAA state championship game appearance, Aquinas in Division 4 and Prairie du Chien in Division 5. In the opening game of the year last season, Aquinas topped Prairie du Chien, 14-12. Two-way lineman
William Flottmeyer and wide receiver
Logan Becker headline the roster for Aquinas. Prairie du Chien has huge shoes to fill with the loss of versatile two-way player Blake Thiry.
No. 9 Franklin at No. 21 Catholic Memorial (Waukesha)
Friday, 7:15 p.m. Southeast Wisconsin powers meet in the non-conference game. Catholic Memorial, last year's Division 3 state runner-up, hosts Franklin, which was eliminated from the postseason by eventual Division 1 state runner-up Muskego. Catholic Memorial's squad is headlined by defensive lineman
Neeko Rodgers and linebacker
Nevareon Flowers. On the other sideline,
Dominick Walters (DB) and
Henry Vallee (OL) highlight the roster for Franklin. Last season, Franklin posted a 34-24 win to open the season.
