A look at the matchups for Friday night’s WIAA first-round football playoff games for local teams.
WIAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
First Round
Division 4
(8) Amery (4-5) at Aquinas (9-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: G-ET High School
UP NEXT: (5) Ellsworth or (4) Osceola on Oct. 31
NOTEWORTHY: Amery–The Warriors placed fifth in the Middle Border Conference, which was won by Baldwin-Woodville. … Amery is making its first playoff appearance since 2016 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2004. … Amery won its final 2 regular-season games and had a 4-game losing streak in the middle of the season. … The offense was held to 10 points or fewer 4 times but scored at least 46 points twice. … Senior QB Jacob Maxon is the offensive star with 856 passing yards and 11 TDs and 605 rushing yards and 4 TDs, but junior RB Keaton Wollan (148-894, 8) will be a concern for the Blugolds defense. … Junior WR Wyatt Hanson (15-313, 8) is a threat near the end zone; Aquinas–The Blugolds won the Coulee Conference and haven’t lost since last postseason. … The offense hinges on senior QB Ryan Johnson (72-102-1,357, 16-1), who has been as efficient as could be expected. … Aquinas averages 100 rushing yards per game but has no one with more than junior RB Landon Teachout’s 188 rushing yards. … Senior WR Logan Becker (28-405, 4) is a threat anywhere on the field, and senior DL Will Flottmeyer has 14 TFLs and 5 sacks.
(6) West Salem (7-2) at (3) Berlin (8-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Berlin High School
UP NEXT: (2) Little Chute or (7) Ripon on Oct. 31
NOTEWORTHY: West Salem–The Panthers placed second to Aquinas in the Coulee Conference and have won at least 1 playoff game in 4 straight seasons. … Only 2 opponents have scored more than 14 points. … West Salem’s 2 losses are to teams — Onalaska, Aquinas — with a combined 16-2 record. … Junior QB Drew McConkey has passed for 961 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 376 yards and 8 TDs. … Junior RB Lucas Fry (54-437, 11) is the top rushing weapon with sophomore RB Kaden Langrehr (23-308, 5) not far behind. … Senior DL Landon Michlig has 16 TFLs, 4 forced fumbles and 3 sacks; Berlin–The Indians have won 8 straight games and won the South Central Conference. … Berlin has won at least 1 playoff game in 3 of the past 4 years. … The Indians average 47.6 points per game and have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in senior RB Jakob Martin (143-1,204, 22) and senior QB Carter Hess (83-1,009, 21). … Hess has also passed for 948 yards and 10 TDs. … The Indians average 343.3 rushing yards per game and 450.7 total yards per game.
Division 5
(5) Arcadia (7-2) at (4) Winnebago Lutheran (6-3)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Winnebago Lutheran Academy High School
UP NEXT: (1) Mayville or (8) Chilton on Oct. 31
NOTEWORTHY: Arcadia–The Raiders placed third in the Coulee Conference and are looking for their first playoff win since 2019. … Senior RB Max Blaschko (219-1,567, 18) has been a workhorse all season and needs to be established in this game. … Junior QB Carter Wegman (70-122-946, 14-4) has several consistent receivers to use in the passing game, but junior Jonah Slaby (29-451, 6) leads the team. … Junior Logan Breske has 13 TFLs and 6 sacks; WLA–The Vikings placed second in the Flyway Conference and have won 6 straight games since an 0-3 start. … WLA is making its 3rd straight playoff appearance and won a first-round game last year. … The offense is led by senior run-first QB Gannan Schwartz (119-954, 14). … Schwartz has also passed for 628 yards and 5 TDs. … The Vikings have allowed a total of 24 points in their past 4 games.
Division 6
(8) Melrose-Mindoro (5-4) at (1) Darlington (9-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Darlington High School
UP NEXT: (5) Mineral Point or (4) Fennimore
NOTEWORTHY: Melrose-Mindoro–The Mustangs finished fifth in the Dairyland Conference and lost their final 2 games of the regular season. … A big win over Bangor in Week 1 helped Melrose-Mindoro return to the playoffs after a 1-year absence. … The Mustangs are looking for their first postseason win since 2017. … Junior QB Brady Blaken (87-166-1,120, 8-5) and senior RB Isaiah Kleinsmith (482 rushing yards, 6 TDs to go with 392 receiving yards and 3 TDs. … Senior Eric Herzberg has a team-high 10 TFLs and is tied for the lead with 2.5 sacks; Darlington–The Redbirds are in the playoffs for an 18th straight season and have won at least 1 postseason game 4 straight times. … Darlington’s closest game was a 26-14 win over Prairie du Chien, and it won every other game by at least 21 points. … Junior QB Zeke Zuberbuhler (57-80-1,048, 12-1) is also one of 3 players with more than 500 rushing yards. … Zuberbuhler’s 715 yards and 14 rushing TDs lead the team, but junior Callum Crist (61-652, 6) and junior Dante Glendenning (50-570, 10) aren’t far behind.
