Week 7 HS football preview

The start of the final third of the high school football regular season features conference title races heating up and teams looking to clinch or improve their playoff chances. Here is our 98.9 WXCO preview of the central Wisconsin gridiron action:

Wisconsin Valley Conference:

Chippewa Falls (2-4, 1-3) @ DC Everest (4-2, 4-0)

The Evergreens are in first place in the WVC and know they will remain there with a non-conference game vs. Chippewa Falls at Stiehm Stadium on Friday night. Non-conference games vs. Big Rivers Conference teams have been an issue for Everest as they lost to Rice Lake and River Falls in the first two weeks of the season before winning their first four WVC games. Corbin Enzenroth has four straight 100 yard rushing performances for DCE and needs 128 yards to reach 1000 for the season.

Wausau West (4-2, 3-1) @ Marshfield (2-4, 2-1) 6:35 pm airtime Friday on 98.9 WXCO, wxco.fm, mobile devices by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app

Wausau West will look to keep building momentum after last week’s 28-21 win over SPASH. The Warriors can clinch a playoff berth with a victory while Marshfield looks to move a step closer to the playoffs. Marshfield rallied from a 13-0 deficit last week at Wisconsin Rapids to win 24-13. Marshfield’s defense will need to slow down TE Shea Jones, who had two touchdown catches last week, including a 79 yard game winner with 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Marshfield running back Haiden Carlson will be the focus for the Warriors’ defense. Carlson has 797 yards rushing this season after 124 yards last week.

Eau Claire North (2-4, 1-2) @ SPASH (4-2, 2-1)

After a 4-0 start, SPASH tries to get to snap a two game losing streak. SPASH QB Trent Breitbach will look to continue his impressive 2025 season where he has thrown for 1196 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 594 yards and 15 scores. He has a massive game last week at Wausau West with 182 yards rushing and 3 TD’s while adding 172 yards through the air.

Wisconsin Rapids (0-6, 0-4) @ Eau Claire Memorial (0-6, 0-3)

Two teams looking for their first win of the season, though both have knocked on the door in recent weeks. After losing by large margins the first four games, Rapids gave Wausau West a 14-12 scare two weeks ago and let an early 13 lead slip away last week vs. Marshfield. Eau Claire Memorial came inches away from beating crosstown rival Eau Claire North two weeks ago as the clock ran out.

Great Northern Conference:

Tomahawk (5-1, 3-1) @ Medford (2-4, 2-2)

Tomahawk became the last GNC team to lose when they fell 21-14 to Mosinee last week. The defeat dropped the Hatchets into a three-way tie for the conference lead with Mosinee and Merrill. Medford’s conference title hopes took a hit last week when they lost 31-8 at Wausau East. Medford continues to run the ball well with 326 yards rushing as a team last week but their 0 yards passing is a concern.

Rhinelander (3-3, 2-2) @ Mosinee (4-2, 3-1)

Mosinee looks to be, arguably, the hottest team in the GNC after impressive wins vs. Wausau East and Tomahawk the last two weeks. Conference Player of the Year candidate Treve Stoffel was outstanding at Tomahawk last week with 13 of 17 passing for 236 yards and 2 TD along with 99 yards on the ground. That goes with leading the team in tackles and interceptions as well. Rhinelander has been a yo-yo team this season by alternating losses and wins. Last week was a win, 54-8 over Antigo. The followed a disappointing 49-7 home loss to Tomahawk. The Hodags will need to break the pattern to keep their GNC title hopes alive.

Lakeland (4-2, 2-2) @ Antigo (1-5, 0-4)

Two weeks ago Lakeland was looking like a potential GNC champion at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the league. Then came a 20-18 loss at Medford and a 34-14 loss at home to Merrill. Lakeland will try to regain their mojo against a struggling Red Robins team that has been outscored 189-26 in their four league losses.

Wausau East (2-4, 1-3) @ Merrill (4-2, 3-1) (SATURDAY) 1:06 pm airtime on 98.9 WXCO, wxco.fm, mobile devices by searching WXCO and Civic Media app

The Bluejays are looking to stay red hot and keep their surprising GNC title hopes on track. The offensive trio of QB Cole Rudie, RB Kanin Jahnke and WR Keylin Allen have kept opposing defenses off balance. Likewise, Wausau East can both run and pass with RB Iain Stahel coming off a 163 yard effort on the ground last week and wide receivers Kayden Meverden and Henry Maahs both dangerous targets for sophomore QB Cam Rye, who won his first start last week vs. Medford.

CWC-Large:

Marathon (3-3, 2-2) @ Stratford (4-2, 4-0)

The Marathon offense has come alive the last two weeks with 90 points scored combined in wins vs. Colby and Weyauwega-Fremont. The combination of QB True Thurs to WR Garrett Bracewell was unstoppable last week. Thurs hit 16 of 21 passes for 248 yards and 5 TD’s with all five of those touchdown strikes going to Bracewell, who caught 11 passes total for 205 yards. It could be more difficult vs. a Stratford defense that has sparked the Tigers to a four game winning streak. Stratford’s defense has given up an average of just 10.5 points per game during their current winning run.

Amherst (6-0, 4-0) @ Weyauwega-Fremont (3-3, 1-3)

Amherst has been dominant so far in 2025 with six consecutive double digit wins. QB Michael Glodowski sparks the offense with 901 yards passing and 334 yards rushing while Ayden Nerdahl is knocking on a 1000 yard rushing season with 870 yards in the first six weeks and an amazing 19 rushing scores. It looks to be a tough match-up for the W-F defense after they gave up 50 last week at Marathon.

Witt-Birn (3-3, 2-2) @ Colby (1-5, 0-4)

The Chargers stopped a two game losing streak last week with a 4th quarter touchdown that lifted them to a 19-16 win over Loyal/Greenwood. It has been a rough season for Colby, who have been outscored 167-14 in CWC-Large play.

Spencer/Columbus (2-4, 1-3) @ Loyal/Greenwood (4-2, 2-2)

Loyal/Greenwood tries to regain the winning touch after losing two games in a row after a 4-0 start. Spencer/Columbus has been competitive all season long, including a 35-22 loss at Amherst last week that was the closest games the Falcons played so far this season.

Marawood/CWC:

Edgar (6-0, 4-0) @ Iola-Scandinavia (2-4, 1-3)

Edgar has been doing Edgar things so far this season and that starts with a tough defense. The Wildcats have only allowed 14 points all season and will be a stiff test for a Thunderbirds squad that lost tight games to Assumption (in OT) and Pacelli (by 7 points) that has put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

Abbotsford (5-1, 4-0) @ Auburndale (5-1, 3-1)

In one of the top match-ups in central Wisconsin this week it’s a must-win game for Auburndale to keep their league title hopes alive. Auburndale’s only blemish came earlier this season to Edgar but has won three straight since. Abbotsford carries a five game winning streak into this one but showed some defensive cracks last week in a 50-42 win over Pittsville. That said, the Falcons rush offense continues to be among the best in the area.

Pittsville (1-5, 1-3) @ Assumption (2-4, 2-2)

Aurora Catholic Central vs. Pacelli (2-4, 1-3) @ Sun Prairie on Saturday

8-Player:

CW-8:

Port Edwards (0-6, 1-4) @ Newman Catholic (4-2, 3-2) 6:40 pm airtime live on the Sports 2 Stream of wxco.fm and Civic Media app and on delay following the Wausau West game on 98.9 WXCO.

Newman Catholic comes in after a week off because of forfeit by Menominee Nation. The Cardinals were last in action two weeks ago in a 48-38 loss at Marion/Tigerton and have battled numerous injuries including season-ending injuries to QB/DB Quincy Pfender and WR/LB Cooper Guld.

Tri County (5-1, 5-0) @ Marion/Tigerton (5-1, 5-0)

Wild Rose (2-4, 2-3) @ Rosholt (5-1)

Northwoods-East 8:

Athens (5-1) @ Phillips (4-2)

Flambeau (6-0) @ Rib Lake (2-4)

Hurley (4-2) @ Chequamegon/Butternut/Mercer (2-4)