By RICK SOLEM
With two games left in the regular season, the playoff picture is nearly complete for high school football teams in Wisconsin.
Unlike Minnesota, where everyone makes the playoffs and goes for ice cream after the games, win or lose, Wisconsin makes you earn a playoff berth.
Right now, some teams are locks for the postseason, some teams are out and some need to take care of business these last couple games to qualify. And, to qualify, teams must be above .500 or better in conference. If a team ends tied in conference, they still could get voted in, but there is no guarantee.
In the Mississippi Valley (are standings below), 13th-ranked Logan (rankings here), 12th-ranked Holmen and Onalaska are in, no matter what. Central needs to win out, including upsetting Logan in the battle for the ark, which we will broadcast live on air and online here. West Salem needs to win one of its last two to qualify.
In the Coulee, despite a 6-1 overall record, Black River Falls needs to go 1-1 these last two games to qualify. Fifth-ranked Arcadia and Westby – which play each other Friday in Arcadia – are both undefeated and in, while Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau needs to win out to qualify.
In the Dairyland, Independence/Gilmanton and Eleva-Strum are locks. Lincoln, Melrose-Mindoro and Whiltehall all just need one win to get in.
And, in the Scenic Bluffs, unbeaten and eighth-ranked Bangor along with Necedah and Cashton are in. Hillsboro and New Lisbon need to win out to qualify.
For a quick look at Friday’s games and scoring updates, check out the homepage or the live ticker with highlights shown on our livestream broadcast.
| MISSISSIPPI VALLEY | ||
| Team | Overall | Conf. |
| Logan | 7-0 | 5-0 |
| Holmen | 6-1 | 4-1 |
| Onalaska | 4-3 | 4-1 |
| West Salem | 4-2 | 3-2 |
| Central | 2-5 | 2-3 |
| Aquinas | 2-5 | 1-4 |
| Sparta | 1-6 | 1-4 |
| Tomah | 1-6 | 0-5 |
| COULEE | ||
| Team | Overall | Conf. |
| Arcadia | 7-0 | 3-0 |
| Westby | 7-0 | 3-0 |
| Black River | 6-1 | 2-1 |
| G-E-T | 2-5 | 1-2 |
| Ona. Luther | 2-5 | 0-3 |
| Viroqua | 0-7 | 0-3 |
| DAIRYLAND | ||
| Team | Overall | Conf. |
| Indee/Gilmanton | 5-2 | 5-0 |
| Eleva-Strum | 5-2 | 4-1 |
| Lincoln | 4-2 | 3-2 |
| Mel.-Min. | 4-3 | 3-2 |
| Whitehall | 3-4 | 3-2 |
| C-FC | 2-5 | 2-3 |
| Augusta | 1-6 | 0-5 |
| B-T | 0-7 | 0-5 |
| SCENIC BLUFFS | ||
| Team | Overall | Conf. |
| Bangor | 7-0 | 5-0 |
| Necedah | 5-2 | 4-1 |
| Cashton | 4-3 | 4-1 |
| Hillsboro | 3-3 | 2-3 |
| New Lisbon | 4-3 | 2-3 |
| Brookwood | 1-6 | 1-4 |
| Won.-Center | 1-6 | 1-4 |
| Royall | 1-6 | 1-4 |