2025 DAIRYLAND CONFERENCE PREVIEWPredicted Order of Finish1. Pepin/Alma (Pepin)
2. Cochrane-Fountain City (Fountain City)
3. Eleva-Strum (Strum)
4. Blair-Taylor (Blair)
5. Whitehall
6. Melrose-Mindoro (Melrose)
7. Augusta
8. Independence/Gilmanton (Independence) Players to WatchJustin Bergmann, RB/LB, Pepin/Alma: Bergmann ran for a team-high 1,052 yards and 15 touchdowns as a First Team All-Conference choice last year, also playing a key role at linebacker for the Eagles.
C.J. Dummer, WR/DB, Blair-Taylor: Dummer was a First Team All-Conference pick as both a receiver and defensive back last year, leading the Wildcats in receiving.
Breckin Hullopeter, OL/DL, Pepin/Alma: Hullopeter earned First Team All-Conference recognition on both sides of the ball for the Eagles and head coach Mike Olson last season.
Bo Killian, RB, Whitehall: Killian was a First Team All-Conference pick as just a sophomore last season, when he rushed for more than 1300 yards.
Parker Kujak, QB, Cochrane-Fountain City: Kujak had a nice season in 2024, throwing for 1,038 yards with 15 touchdowns as a Second Team All-Conference selection.
Brock Stendahl, RB, Eleva-Strum: Stendahl led Eleva-Strum with 812 yards on the ground, scoring five touchdowns, earning Second Team All-Conference recognition.
2025 Team Previews1. Pepin/Alma has been the most consistent team in the Dairyland over the last several years, as the Eagles have won at least a share of three consecutive league titles. After unbeaten league crowns in 2022 and 2023, the team shared the title last year after falling to Cochrane-Fountain City late in the year. The Eagles would fall to Boyceville in Level 2 of the playoffs. Veteran head coach Mike Olson, who sports a 187-119 overall head coach record, brings back 33 letterwinners from last season, including nine starters on offense and seven on defense. "We return our offensive line and have a lot of size and strength with that group," said Olson. "We return our starting quarterback, top receiver, and top three running backs as well." Justin Bergmann was a 1000-yard rusher last year, while Liam Midtovne went for more than 700 yards on the ground, and Owen Post finished with 517 rushing yards and 379 receiving yards. Trenton Krzoska is back at the quarterback spot.
2. Cochrane-Fountain City took down Pepin/Alma last year, which resulted in a three-way tie for the league championship, including the Pirates. Cochrane-Fountain City scored a playoff victory for a second straight year, but went out to Potosi/Cassville in Level 2. "We have a lot of returning talent that got a ton of varsity experience last year," said head coach Jesse Cyrus, who also coached the boys basketball team to a state championship in the winter. "Though the previous senior class wasn't a big one, we have some key spots to fill with some new faces. We should be very athletic with good team speed." The Pirates have seven starters on both sides of the ball returning this fall. Among them are quarterback Parker Kujak, standout receiver Tye Popp, and experienced rushers Ethan Smith and Aidan Lisowski.
3. Eleva-Strum dropped the first game of the year against Glenwood City before rattling off five consecutive victories. However, the team dropped four straight to close the season, including back-to-back running clock defeats against Pepin/Alma in the final regular season game and the first postseason contest. The Cardinals have seven starters returning on both offense and defense this season, with head coach Nick Stowell liking the strength in the trenches. "We will have four for sure, possibly five, senior offensive linemen," said Stowell. "We return two of our top three rushers and defensively will be solid with returning players at all three levels." Brock Stendahl and Luis Itehua are experienced ball-carriers, but the Cardinals have holes to fill at quarterback and receiver on offense.
4. Blair-Taylor dropped the opening game to Luther but rallied to get itself a share of the Dairyland Conference title, though they'd fall to Glenwood City in a Level 1 home playoff game. The Wildcats have big shoes to fill with the graduation of do-everything quarterback Tavian Shramek, who threw for more than 2000 yards and also led the team in rushing with 943 yards and 17 touchdowns. The cupboard isn't bare, however, as leading receiver C.J. Dummer is back along with second-leading rusher Collin Johnson.
5. Whitehall was able to sneak back onto the postseason with three wins in the final four weeks of the regular season, though a 42-7 loss to Spring Valley to open the playoffs sent the Norse home right away. Whitehall was a run-heavy team, and welcome back talented running back Bo Killian, who was a First Team All-Conference choice as just a sophomore last season.
6. Melrose-Mindoro missed the playoffs last year, the second time in the last three seasons the Mustangs were left at home for the postseason. It was an extremely young team, which brings back a number of players that will have two or three years of starting experience this fall. Veteran head coach Tory Lockington has 17 letterwinners back, including nine starters on offense and eight on defense. In the team's Power-T offense, Brady Blaken returns with experience at the quarterback position. Eric Herzberg and Aaron Dunigan are two standouts up front.
7. Augusta did not find victory last season, as the team scored just 32 points in nine games while allowing at least 28 points in every outing. "We should be able to attack through the air more this year, as that's where our skill will lie," said head coach Derek Boldt. "We will still try to run the ball well, but our passing game should be opened up more. We will be very green up front, which is where we lost most of our seniors. This will dictate what we will be able to rely on." The Beavers return six starters on offense and six on defense.
8. Independence/Gilmanton did score a 28-6 win over Augusta last year, but that was it for the longtime co-op program, which finished the season 1-8. The team will be battling low numbers once again this fall, with a small margin for error with injuries, etc. Chase Back returns at quarterback.
