The Wisconsin High School football season kicks off with Week 1 action on Thursday and Friday.
Here’s a look at some of the area Western Wisconsin teams set to kick off their seasons.
Baldwin-Woodville
2024 record: 12-2 (Division 4 state runner-up)
The Blackhawks lost their biggest offensive producers last season, including do-it-all standout Gavin Sell. But the cupboard is far from empty.
Back are a number of Baldwin-Woodville’s top defensive players from a year ago, including Trevor Murdock, Brody Everts and Dawson and Drew Veenendall.
Season opener: Home vs. Tomah, 6 p.m. Friday
Ellsworth
2024 record: 7-4 (lost in Level 2 of Division-4 playoffs)
The Panthers have a chance to expand their passing game this season with quarterback Jack Stoltenburg and his top returning receiver from 2024, Omar Coulson. It will be interesting to see if that aerial attack includes more balls for senior tight end George Rohl, a North Dakota commit who had 22 grabs last season. Also back is disruptive lineman Chace Kressin.
Season opener: at La Crosse Logan, 7 p.m. Thursday
Hudson
2024 record: 7-3 (lost in Level 1 of Division-I playoffs)
Expectations for the Raiders remain high this fall, especially with Cooper Adair again under center. Hudson didn’t lose a regular season game with the hyper efficient Adair as the starting signal caller last fall. He’ll have his backfield partner Payton Pingel at his side, while defensive playmakers Liam Mayer and Ben Englund remain in the fold.
Season opener: at Eau Claire Memorial, 7 p.m. Thursday
New Richmond
2024 record: 11-1 (lost in Sectional Championship of Division-2 playoffs)
All eyes on quarterback Nick Stellrecht, who’s one of the best signal callers in Wisconsin. He threw for 1,750 yards and 22 scores as a junior, and figures to carry an even heavier load for a Tigers team that lost a lot of top producers from a group that delivered an undefeated regular season in 2024.
Season opener: Home vs. Marshfield, 7 p.m. Thursday
Prescott
2024 record: 9-2 (lost in Level 2 of Division-4 playoffs)
Many of the stars from last year’s Cardinals squad have since graduated, meaning Prescott will largely have to rely on fresh faces to reproduce the magic of 2024.
But one of the few key returners is senior receiver and defensive back Kobe Russell, a North Dakota State commit capable of turning any game on its head.
Season opener: Home vs. Durand, 7 p.m. Friday
River Falls
2024 record: 3-6 (missed postseason)
River Falls saw its streak of consecutive playoff appearances stopped by what the Wildcats would surely characterize as a disappointing season last fall.
But the Wildcats are built to bounce back. Last year’s senior class was small, and River Falls returns quarterback Tino Massa, 1,000-yard rusher Joseph Tarasewicz, a stout defensive lineman in Austin Stellrecht, experience in the defensive backfield and, perhaps most importantly, size on the offensive line. That’s highlighted by senior interior lineman Sam Simpson, an Indiana commit.
Season opener: Home vs. Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m. Thursday
Somerset
2024 record: 2-7 (missed postseason)
Maybe the best two-win team in the state last season, the Spartans were tough-luck losers with five one-score defeats. Math would tell you the law of averages should even out, setting Somerset up for a strong 2025.
But the bulk of Somerset’s production on both sides of the ball last fall came via do-it-all quarterback Kane Donnelly, who has since graduated.
Season opener: at Bloomer, 7 p.m. Friday
St. Croix Central
2024 record: 5-5 (lost in Level 1 of Division-4 playoffs)
All of St. Croix Central’s big producers with the ball from a year ago have since departed, particularly from its staunch rushing attack.
But the Panthers still have big bodies up front to drive the attack forward, along with the likes of Casey Boeseneilers and Will Fredereicks returning on defense.
Season opener: at Mauston, 7 p.m. Friday
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