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MADISON – The 47th annual WIAA State Football Championships will be contested with seven divisional games on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Friday, Nov. 17, at Camp Randall Stadium, home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers.
Title games in Divisions 7, 6, 5 and 4 will be played on Thursday, with games in Division 3, 2 and 1 on Friday.
All games will be broadcast live on WAOW-TV 9.2 of Wausau (Spectrum 14/610, TDS 35/1034, DISH 10 and Solarus 10), at waow.com, and on the WAOW app.
Tickets are available online at here and must be purchased online and redeemed on a mobile device. Tickets are $11 plus fees a single game for for all spectators older than 2 years old, $30 for an all-day pass for Thursday, and $25 for an all-day pass for Friday.
Stratford (12-1) is back to defend its Division 6 state title that it won a year ago with a 32-14 win over Mondovi when it takes on Darlington (12-1) at 1 p.m. Thursday.
The Tigers are in a state championship game for the 11th time overall and fourth time in the past six years. Stratford is the only school in state history to win six-consecutive state titles (2003-08) and has a chance to tie Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs for the most overall state football championships in history with nine. Stratford also won a state title in 1986.
Darlington is a four-time state champion (1987, 1990, 1991, 1995) and is in the state finals for the 13th time in program history. The mark ties Hartland Arrowhead and St. Mary’s Springs for the second most in state history, as Edgar will set the new record with its 14th championship game appearance in the Division 7 title game on Thursday.
Stratford has won 11 games in a row since a Week 2 loss to Edgar. The Tigers defeated Grantsburg 35-21 in a Level 4 state semifinal last Friday at Chippewa Falls High School as they racked up 400 yards of total offense, including 324 on the ground.
Seniors Kohler Kilty (219 yards) and Gavin Leonhardt (83 yards) led the Stratford running attack that averaged more than 6 yards per carry. Leonhardt caught a touchdown pass and ran for two more, while Kilty had two rushing TDs in the victory.
Darlington also enters the Division 6 state final on an 11-game winning streak, having lost 21-19 in Week 2 to Prairie du Chien. The Redbirds slipped past Kewaunee 34-28 in a Level 4 game last Friday at DeForest, scoring two third-quarter touchdowns after trailing 28-20 at halftime.
Darlington quarterback Breylin Goebel threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns, Maddox Goebel (83 yards rushing) and Tye Crist had rushing touchdowns, and Brady Long returned an interception 29 yards for a score for what proved to be the game-winner in the third quarter of the win over previously undefeated Kewaunee.
Here are notes on the other six state title games, courtesy of the WIAA:
DIVISION 1 NOTES: Milwaukee Marquette advances to the state championship game for the second time. The only other experience in the final resulted in a state title in 2009. Prior to joining the WIAA, the Hilltoppers won eight WISAA titles (1975, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1997 and 1999). They finished runner-up to Hamilton in the Greater Metro Conference standings this season. They defeated perennial power and defending champion Kimberly 14-7 at Level 4 to earn the opportunity to return to the final. In eight of their 11 wins this year, the Hilltoppers have shut out their opponent. They have outscored the opposition 490-93 through 13 games. Franklin will appear in its fifth championship final, seeking its second title in three seasons. The Sabers won the Division 1 crown in 2021 and won the Division 2 championship in 2006. Their other two experiences resulted in runner-up finishes in Division 1 in 2013 and 2016. They are the champions in the Southeast Conference this season, and they rolled past Hamilton 35-0 in the state semifinal to gain their berth in the championship game. The Sabers have outscored their four playoff opponents by a combined score of 160-20, and their average scores per game advantage this season is 39.9-8.0.
DIVISION 2 NOTES: Waunakee advances to the title game for the 12th time and for the fourth time in the past six seasons, excluding 2020. The Warriors have captured the State championship seven times, including three consecutive Division 2 championships from 2009-11 and two more titles in 2017 and 2021. They also won Division 3 crowns in 1999 and 2002. Three of their four runner-up finishes came in Division 2 in 2005, 2012 and 2019, and one came in Division 3 in 2001. The Warriors finished first in the Large Division of the Badger Conference this fall. Their return to the title game comes by virtue of a 24-14 victory over Kaukauna at Level 4. The 14 points surrendered by the Warriors in the semifinal game ties for the most points yielded in a game all season, outscoring opponents by a staggering total of 621-67, an average of 47.8-5.1. It is the first time Lake Geneva Badger has advanced to the championship game in program history. Their furthest advance in the playoffs prior to this season was to Level 4 in Division 1 in 2012 and 2016, and in Division 2 in 2015. The Badgers earned their first trip to Camp Randall with a 28-6 victory over Sun Prairie East at Level 4. They were the champions in the Southern Lakes Conference this year. Badger has outscored their opponents by a cumulative total of 476-129 for an average margin of victory of 26.7 points per game in 2023.
DIVISION 3 NOTES: Rice Lake is making its eighth trip to the state final and its second in the past three seasons. The Warriors have won two state titles – Division 3 championships in 1979 and 2017. Their five runner-up finishes occurred in 1980, 1982, 2004, 2014 and 2021. They were the champions in the Middle Border Conference this season. They advance to the title game by ousting Green Bay Notre Dame in their Level 4 game, 30-15. The Warriors are averaging 41.2 points per game this season and have scored 50 or more points in five of their last seven games, including all four playoff wins. Grafton embarks on its fifth experience in the state finals and its first since 1984. The Black Hawks’ previous four appearances came during an eight-year span from 1977-84. They won back-to-back Division 2 championships in 1981 and 1982, and finished runner-up in Division 2 in 1977 and 1984. This season, the Black Hawks were co-champions with Wisconsin Lutheran in the East Division of the Woodland Conference. They downed Stoughton 17-6 in their Level 4 match-up to earn a berth in the title game. The Black Hawks averaged 40 points a game during the regular season. They have had competitive games in the last three levels of the playoffs with the average winning margin of 4.6 points over that span.
DIVISION 4 NOTES: Luxemburg-Casco will make its first appearance in the football championships. The Spartans advance to the title game after a 23-21 victory over Catholic Memorial at Level 4. The game was decided by a field goal in the final moments of the contest. They were the champions in the North Eastern Conference during the regular season. The Spartans’ margins of victory in their Level 3 and Level 4 wins were three and two points, respectively. They have outscored their opponents by a total of 436-148 this year. Lodi is making its third appearance in the title game and its first since winning the championship game in 2017. The Blue Devils’ first title game experience came in 2015 when they finished runner-up. Their return to the championship game comes by virtue of their 49-29 shootout win over Baldwin-Woodville at Level 4. The Blue Devils were the champions of the Capitol Conference this season. They have outscored their opponents by an average of 39-9 per game this year. Their narrowest margin of victory has been 13 points. The Blue Devils’ advantage in scoring per game through 13 games this season is 40.5-6.5.
DIVISION 5 NOTES: Two-time defending champion La Crosse Aquinas will be making its fourth state championship game appearance in pursuit of its fourth title. In addition to the last two years, the Blugolds won the Division 5 championship in 2007. As a former member of WISAA, the Blugolds won Division 2 titles in 1993 and 1995. This year, they were the champions in the Coulee Conference. They continue their quest for a third-straight championship following their 58-14 victory over Horicon/Hustisford at Level 4. Aquinas has scored more than 40 points in a game in eight of their 12 wins this season, including three of their four playoffs. Wrightstown, like their opponent, is pursuing its fourth championship in the Tigers’ fourth state championship game appearance. They won titles in each of its two Division 4 experiences in 2006 and 2011. The Tigers also captured the Division 5 championship in 1998. They defeated St. Croix Falls 33-12 in the semifinals to advance to the title tilt. They finished runner-up in the North Eastern Conference this year behind Luxemburg-Casco, which is playing for the Division 4 championship this week.
DIVISION 7 NOTES: The two qualifying programs have a history of facing off in the championship game. The title game features a rematch of the 2019 title game and also the 2018 championship game prior to Black Hawk forming a co-op program. It will be the second state finals appearance for the Black Hawk/Warren (Ill.) co-op. The Warriors defeated the Wildcats in their first appearance as a co-op in the 2019 championship game. As a stand-alone program, Black Hawk played in the championship game four times. They won the title against Edgar in 2018, and won their first championship in 2013. The Warriors finished runners-up in 2017 and also in Division 6 in 1998. They are the co-champions of the Six Rivers Conference this season with Potosi/Cassville. The Warriors return to Camp Randall following a 36-7 win over Reedsville at Level 4. Other than their only loss of the season, the Warriors average margin of victory this season is 28.5 points, outscoring the opposition 496-118. Edgar will play in the state title game for the 14th time, the most in state history. The Wildcats have won seven championships. They won the Division 7 crown in 2016; Division 6 championships in 2009 and 2010; Division 5 titles in 1992, 1999 and 2001; and a Division 4 gold trophy in 1979. In addition, the Wildcats have runner-up finishes in 1991, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2018 and 2019. They were the champions in the Marawood Conference this fall. The Wildcats defeated Bangor 21-3 at Level 4 for the chance to earn their eighth title. After falling in the first game of the year, the Wildcats defeated Stratford, which is playing for the Division 6 title this week, 40-6, and recorded shutouts in nine straight games. They have outscored opponents 464-47 this season.
2023 WIAA State Football Championships
Nov. 16-17, at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison
Thursday, Nov. 16
Division 7: Edgar (12-1) vs. Black Hawk/Warren (Ill.) (12-1), 10 a.m.
Division 6: Stratford (12-1) vs. Darlington (12-1), 1 p.m.
Division 5: La Crosse Aquinas (12-1) vs. Wrightstown (11-2), 4 p.m.
Division 4: Lodi (13-0) vs. Luxemburg-Casco (12-1), 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17
Division 3: Rice Lake (12-1) vs. Grafton (11-2), 10 a.m.
Division 2: Waunakee (13-0) vs. Lake Geneva Badger (13-0), 1 p.m.
Division 1: Franklin (13-0) vs. Milwaukee Marquette (11-2), 4 p.m.