WISCONSIN — The WIAA State Football Championships begin Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Following is a look at Thursday’s title games in Divisions 4 through 7.

Division 7

10 a.m. — Eau Claire Regis (13-0) vs. Shiocton (11-2)

About Eau Claire Regis

State finals appearances: 7th appearance; two-time state champions (2003, 2016).

Key players: QB Kendon Krogman (59-of-94 passing, 1,338 yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs), RB Jack Weisenberger (83 rushes, 1,051 yards, 14 TDs), RB Zander Rocknow (80 rushes, 890 yards, 17 TDs), RB Carson Tait (46 rushes, 596 yards, 11 TDs), LB Caden Weber (121 tackles, 1 INT).

Notable: Regis is averaging 51 points a game in its four playoff victories while allowing just 13 a game. … RB Carson Tait won the Division 3 100-meter dash state title last spring.

Coach’s comment: “Our three running backs; I think they’re as good as any group of three running backs in the whole state, regardless of division.” — Bryant Brenner.

About Shiocton

State finals appearances: 4th appearance; 2013 state champions.

Key players: Dawson Schmidt (153 of 254 passing, 1,685 yards, 17 TDs, 12 INTs), RB Cade Stingle (184 rushes, 1,303 yards, 19 TDs), WR Bennett Schmidt (36 receptions, 690 yards, 4 TDs), LB Stingle (68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss).

Notable: Cade Stingle won the WIAA Division 3 state championship in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles last spring.

Coach’s comment: “Cade Stingle is a phenomenal downhill runner. He also has great hands; we definitely use him in our spread-option offense like we do. He is our primary return guy on punts and kicks as well. He’s had quite a few kick returns this year and some tremendous stats. Defensively, too, he leads our team in solo tackles. The kid’s a tremendous athlete with great speed on all fronts.” — Brock Pahlow.

Division 6

1 p.m. — Mondovi (12-1) vs. Stratford (10-2-1)

About Mondovi

State finals appearances: 2nd appearance; no state titles.

Key players: QB Jarod Falkner (82 of 146 passing, 1,280 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs; 161 rushes 1,088 yards, 19 TDs), RB Dawson Rud (221 rushes, 1,715 yards, 24 TDs), S Rud (82 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 INTs).  

Notable: Defensive coordinator Barrett Benner is the brother of Regis head coach Bryant Brenner. … Dawson Rud was the defensive player of the year in the Cloverbelt Conference. … Mondovi’s only loss was a 37-14 setback to unbeaten and Division 7 finalist Regis.

Coach’s Comment: “They’ve been a good, hard-working group of seniors. I think we have 12 on the team, eight that are two-way starters. They don’t come off the field. We don’t have a setup like some of these people do, so our best kids play all the time and they’re tough. I’m excited for you to see them.” — Craig Loscheider.

About Stratford

State finals appearances: 10th appearance; seven-time state champions (1986, 2003-2008).

Key players: QB Braeden Schueller (87 of 168 passing, 1,650 yards, 21 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Koehler Kilty (266 rushes, 1,685 yards, 18 TDs), LB Ryan Becker (109 tackles), LB John Seitz (110 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions).

Notable: Stratford achieved its 500th win in school history this season. … The Tigers rebounded to win 10 of 11 games after an 0-1-1 start. … Stratford’s defense has allowed only 21 points in four playoff wins.

Coach’s comment: “This team is so resilient. Our Tiger Stadium has been getting a facelift this year, so we’ve played every game on the road. So it’s been kind of a ‘road warrior’ mentality all year.” — Jason Tubbs.

Division 5

4 p.m. — Aquinas (12-1) vs. Mayville (13-0)

About Aquinas
State finals appearances: 3rd appearance; two-time state champions (2006, 2021).

Key Players: QB Jackson Flottmeyer (137 of 202 passing, 2,514 yards passing, 28 TDs, 8 INTs), RB Calvin Hargrove (106 rushes, 729 yards, 14 TDs), WR Collin Conzemius (40 catches, 811 yards, 14 TDs), DL Damien Lee (138 tackles, 17 tackles for loss), LB Hargrove (143 tackles, 25 tackles for loss).

Notable: Aquinas is the defending Division 5 state champion as it defeated Mayville 28-26 in last year’s title game. … Aquinas’ only loss this season was to Division 3 finalist West Salem, 28-14. … Flottmeyer, a first-team Wisconsin Football Coaches Association selection in 2021, is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. …. Flottmeyer has received offers from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Yale, among others. … Eddie Hodges, a former strength and conditioning coach with the San Francisco 49ers and a native of Caledonia, heads Aquinas’ strength and conditioning.

Coach’s comment: “We didn’t want to be compared to last year. The boys were not allowed to wear any state championship shirts or gear in the weight room or anytime they were doing football stuff around the football facility. We wanted to make our own mark.” — Tom Lee.

About Mayville

State finals appearances: 6th appearance; 1994 state champion.

Key players: RB Blake Schraufnagel (210 rushes, 2,478 yards, 39 TDs), QB Adison Mittelstadt (75 of 115 passing, 1,307 yards, 15 TDs, 1 INT), LB Zane Vetter (97 tackles, 8 tackles for loss), DE Bradley Bushke  (65 tackles, 20 tackles for loss).

Notable: Schraufnagel was recently named the WFCA Small School Offensive Player of the Year. … Schraufnagel also has 18 receptions for 360 yards and two scores and a punt return for a touchdown. … He ran for 205 yards and scored twice in last year’s title game against Aquinas. … Schraugnagel has 5,602 yards and 87 TDs in his career for the Cardinals.

Coach’s comment: “These guys (Schraufnagel and Bushke), ever since they’ve been in seventh grade, they’ve bought completely into the program. The weight training; just growing as athletes. They pretty much can do it all. And we expect guys like that to make big plays in big moments and they never let us down.” — Scott Hilber.

Division 4

7 p.m. — Columbus (13-0) vs. Catholic Memorial (13-0)

About Catholic Memorial

State finals appearances: 9th appearance; five-time state champions (2012, 2016, 2018-19, 2021).

Key players: QB Isaiah Nathaniel (114 of 152 passing, 1,709 yards, 18 TDs, 3 INTs), RB Corey Smith 146 rushes, 1,209 yards, 24 TDs), WR Bennett McCormick (32 catches, 498 yards, 6 TDs), LB Matt Miklosy (105 tackles, 12 tackles for loss), LB AJ Vranak (93 tackles, 11 tackles for loss).

Notable: The Crusaders will go for their fourth straight state championship, discounting the 2020 COVID season where no championships games were played. …Over its last nine games, Catholic Memorial has been averaging 45 points a game on offense and allowing just eight on defense.

Coach’s comment: “(Columbus’) Colton Brunell is one of the best. This is my 49th year of coaching high school football, and he is one of the best running back/linebacker combinations that I’ve ever seen. The kid is just a complete hammer.” — Bill Young.

About Columbus

State finals appearances: 4th appearance; 1990, 1996 state champions.

Key players: QB Nathan Cotter (94 of 147 passing, 1,565 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs), RB Colton Brunell (281 rushes, 2,711 yards, 41 TDs), Mallani Aragon (140 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks).

Notable: Brunell, only a junior, is already Columbus’ all-time leading rusher. … Brunell is being recruited by Wisconsin, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and North Dakota State. … On the season, Columbus has outscored opponents 633-126. .. Prior to last week’s 31-16 semifinal win over Freedom, it beat every opponent this season by at least 27 points.  

Coach’s comment: “I mean, (Catholic Memorial) is loaded. They’re absolutely loaded. They’ve got one of the most talented football teams I’ve ever seen. And last year they were one of the most talented teams I saw. I think they could give any division a run for their money based on sheer talent.” — Andrew Selgrad.

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