High School Football Preview: Week 1

The 2020 High School Football season kicks off tonight with a handful of games across the area.

Here’s a preview of the area action….

 

Fall River/Rio @ St. Johns Northwestern Academies– 4pm (LIVE on DailyDodge.com Video Stream)

-The Rebels are stressing toughness in 2020 as they hit the road to face off with new Trailways Conference foe St. John’s Northwestern Academies in Delafield.  The Rebels return three All-Trailways Small picks from 2019 in OL/DL Gavin Wodill, WR/DB Jacob Rowe and special teamer Christ Perez.  The Rebels also get a boost from transfer Barrett Nelson who was a 2nd Team All-Badger South pick on the defensive line at Stoughton last season as a sophomore.  SJNWA looks to be a contender for the Trailways crown as they return twins Phillip and Donald Austin.  Phillip threw for 1157 yards and 14 TDs in 2019 while Donald rushed for 1027 yards and 11 TDs.  SJNWA shifts from the Midwest Classic Conference to the Trailways Conference in 2020.    You can watch this game on the DailyDodge.com videostream thanks to Columbus Family Dental and Farmers and Merchants Union Bank.  CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GAME

 

Johnson Creek @ Randolph

Coming off of a 7-3 playoff season, the Rockets brig back a lot of talent and should be contenders in the Trailways Conference. Tom Chases’ squad has nine starters back on both sides of the ball This is not a normal year. Brayden Haffele is nominated for the Dave Krieg Award which is awarded to the state’s top quarterback while Jordan Tietz is up for the Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch Award given to the state’s top senior running back each year.  Jay Rataczak is on the Tim Krumrie Award watch list which goes to the state’s top senior defensive lineman.  Zach Paul is nominated for the John Anderson Award for as the top linebacker and Matt Dykstra is mentioned as a contender for the Jim Leohnard Award given to Wisconsin’s top senior defensive back. Johnson Creek was runner up in the Trailways-Small last season and were defeated in the 2nd round of the WIAA playoffs by eventual Division Six champion St. Mary’s Springs.

 

Kingdom Prep Lutheran @ Cambria-Friesland

The Hilltoppers feature one of the most exciting players in the area in All-Trailways Small Special Teams Player Cade Burmania.  Also back is quarterback Kobe Smit who started most of 2019 under center after Joseph Pulver was injured.  Up front on the offensive line, 6’3, 259-pound senior Eli Lehman returns as one of the bigger lineman in the league and fellow senior Austin Braaksma is back as a two-year starter.  Kingdom Prep Lutheran is a first year varsity football program located in Wauwatosa, WI.

 

Marshall @ Tomahawk

The Cardinals will play all road games in 2020 as local health restrictions won’t allow them to host games.  Tonight they make the three hour bus ride to Tomahawk for their opener.  The Cardinals graduated just four players off of last years’s squad and return three All-Capitol South Conference selections from 2019 including 1st team offensive and defensive lineman Kelby Petersen.  Peterson has been named to the preseason “Watch List” for the Joe Thomas and Tim Krumrie Awards by wissports.net.  Tomahawk went 1-8 in the Marawood Conference last season and shifts to the Northwoods Conference this season.

 

Waterloo @ Palmyra-Eagle

Veteran coach Paul Frisell enters his 2nd season as the Pirates head coach as his squad begins play in the new Eastern Suburban Conference.  With a large senior class, Waterloo will be bringing back a good group of players who saw extensive action in 2019.   Senior Blake Huebner, a first team All-Capitol South pick at WR in 2019, will move from receiver to quarterback in 2020.  Coach Frisell says that senior Jordi Aguero, 2nd Team All-Capitol South in linebacker in 2019, will be a three-year starter and play running back and linebacker.  Fellow senior Reynol Limon, 2nd team All-Capitol South defensive lineman in 2019, also returns this season.  Junior Eugene Wolff, Honorable Mention All-Captiol South Linebacker & Punter,  also returns and will play both linebacker and running back in 2020.  Palmyra-Eagle will be looking to re-tool their squad this season as they graduated most of their play-makers from a year ago including dynamic quarterback Brandon Wilde.

 

Edgewood @ Watertown

The Watertown High School football team will be looking for some new faces to step up as they get ready for the 2020 season.  Head coach Benji Kamrath’s squad graduated seven players on offense and five on defense that earned all-conference recognition in 2019. Watertown returns a pair of players who did earned All-Badger South Conference recognition in 2019.  Branden Fischer earned first team all-league status as a kicker and punter.  Fischer is on the “Watch List” for the Kevin Stemke Award which is given to the state’s top senior kicker.  Senior running back Dylan Sippel was an Honorable Mention All-League pick as a junior.  Edgewood will play all road games in 2020 as one of the few teams in Dane County playing football this fall season.  Travis Wilson of wissports.net picked Edgewood 6th out of the eight team Rock Valley Conference in his preseason preview.

 

Click here to listen to the DailyDodge.com High School Football Preview Show

If you have a question about this story or have an idea for a future local sports story, please email Wade Bates at ddsports@goodkarmabrands.com