Top Wisconsin Prep Football Level 3 Playoff Games

Top WIAA Level 3 Playoff Games

Level 3 of the Wisconsin prep football playoffs continue Friday night, and we are starting to see not only some surprises but also the cream rise to the top. For the most part the teams that are supposed to still be in the playoffs are, with a few surprise teams mixed in.

One of the bigger surprised comes out of Division 2. The La Crosse Logan Rangers (6-4) have come out of nowhere, shocking the Menomonie Mustangs in the first round and taking down cross town rival La Crosse Central Red Raiders a week ago. Next up for the Rangers is a very hot Marshfield Tigers (9-1) team. Can the Rangers keep their Cinderella season going or will the clock strike midnight on their playoff run?

In Division 1 you have my pick for state champion the Arrowhead Warhawks (10-0). The Warhawks have not seen much competition in the playoffs thus far, as they face the Kimberly Papermakers (9-1) who also have had an easy road in the playoffs. Will the Warhawks continue their domination to Madison or will the Papermakers come away with a surprise victory?

The top three teams not only in Division 6 but in the state, Edgar Wildcats, Eau Claire Regis Ramblers and St. Mary’s Springs Ledgers (all 10-0), are showing everyone just how powerful their teams are. One of those three will win the state title.

The road to Madison continues as Friday and Saturday will see some very good prep football games. Once again I picked one game from each division as what I believe will be the top game.

DIVISION 7-Lake Country Lutheran @ Randolph

This game features a match up of two 10-0 teams. The Randolph Rockets were barely able to snatch a victory from the Catholic Central Hilltoppers in overtime 35-34 last week. The Lake Country Lutheran Lightning on the other hand have a had a much easier road to the level three game. The Lightning have won each of their previous two playoff games by an average margin of 15.5 points.

MY PICK: Both teams scored at will during the regular season, although you couldn't tell the way the Rockets have played the past two weeks. It's their defense though that have brought them this far and why I pick them to advance.

DIVISION 6-Darlington @ Iowa-Grant

At 6-4 the Darlington Redbirds, who were seeded eight in their secetion, are the Cinderella team of the WIAA playoffs this year. They knocked off an undefeated and top seeded Deerfield Demons team in the first round, and then last week took down the number four seeded Necedah Cardinals. The Iowa-Grant Panthers (8-2) are also making a run of their own. The Panthers shut out the Pecatonica/Argyle Vikings in the first round 40-0 and took care of the Kickapoo/La Farge Panthers 45-6.

MY PICK: As much as I love the underdog, I think the Redbirds run ends here. I'll go with the Iowa-Grant Panthers to advance to level 4.

DIVISION 5-Durand @ Lancaster

Another great 10-0 match up in the later stages of the playoffs. The Durand Panthers have been tested in the playoffs thus far, defeating the Westby Norsemen in the first round 14-0 and the La Crosse Aquinas Blugolds a week ago 27-22. The Lancaster Flying Arrows have been able to take of their two teams they have faced, defeating both the Mondovi Buffaloes and the Arcadia Raiders by a score of 46-8.

MY PICK: I pick the Flying Arrows to win it all at the beginning of the season so I am going to keep picking them as I think this will be their year.

DIVISION 4-Lakeside Lutheran @ Big Foot

The Big Foot Chiefs (10-0) have been at or near the top of Division 4 all year. The Lakeside Lutheran Warriors (10-0) have not been far behind. The Chiefs have averaged 52.5 points in their two playoff victories while only allowing a total of 7. The Warriors average margin of victory in their two victories is 12.5 points.

MY PICK: I am going to with the "upset" if you want to call it that. I will go with the Lakeside Lutheran Warriors to knock the Chiefs out of the playoffs.

DIVISION 3-Plymouth @ West De Pere

A great one vs. two match up pitting two undefeated teams. The number two seed, the Plymouth Panthers (10-0), only allowed 7.1 points per game during the regular season on their way to the Eastern Wisconsin Conference title. The West De Pere Phantoms (10-0) scored an average of just over 48 points per game in the regular season, and have averaged 45 points in their two playoff victories. Something's got to give here.

MY PICK: This will be a very good game, could even be a game of the week. With that said, I think the Phantoms have too much fire power for the Panthers. I'll take West De Pere.

DIVISION 2-Homestead @ Green Bay Southwest

The Homestead Highlanders (8-1) were able to sneak away with a 21-18 victory last week against the Cedarburg Bulldogs. The first round proved easier for the Highlanders, defeating the Hortonville Polar Bears 42-3. The Green Bay Southwest Fighting Trojans (10-0) have been tested in their two playoff wins. The top seeded Fighting Trojans were able to hang on against the Oshkosh North Spartans 14-7 in the first round, and barely got by the Pulaski Red Raiders 27-25.

MY PICK: Both teams have a great chance of moving on, but I don't like how the top seeded Fighting Trojans have barely been able to hang on. I'm going to go with the Homestead Highlanders to squeak by.

DIVISION 1-Verona @ Sun Prairie

The Verona Wildcats (9-1) got their lone defeat from the very same Sun Prairie Cardinals (10-0) team they will face on Saturday in this very intriguing level 3 playoff game. The Wildcats recovered from their week one loss to the Cardinals by dismantling every team that stood in their way. In the first round, the Wildcats defeated the Oconomowoc Racoons 23-13 and was able to top a good Hamilton Chargers team 35-28 a week ago. The Cardinals have yet to be slowed down this season, recording four shut outs in the regular season and winning their first two playoff games by an average of 22 points.

MY PICK: I thought long and hard about this one and went back and forth a few times. While the Wildcats are looking for revenge, I don't think they get it here. Sun Prairie Cardinals move on to level 4.