Three ranked Coulee Region teams in final poll, as high school playoffs begin Friday
Heading into the WIAA football playoffs, the final AP poll of the season has one Coulee Region team ranked in each division.
Onalaska High School (9-0) remained in fourth place in the Large Division, as it heads into hosting a first-round matchup as the top seed against Ashland (3-6) at 7 p.m. Friday.
In the Medium Division, top-seeded West Salem (8-1) stayed in the No. 7 spot. The Panthers, whose only loss came 14-13 to Onalaska Week 1, will host Waupaca (3-6) in Round 1.
And, in the Small Division, Aquinas dropped a spot to No. 3, after a 28-14 loss to West Salem last week.
The third-seeded Blugolds (8-1) host sixth-seeded Durand-Arkansaw (5-4) in Division 5’s first round.
Meanwhile, WKTY’s livestream game of the week will be No. 8 Central (4-5) at top-seeded River Falls (8-1) in Division 2.
Coverage begins with pregame at 6:50 p.m. and can be watched online here, the WKTY App or the “Around River City” channel on Roku or Apple TV. The broadcast is brought to you by Firefighters Credit Union.
You can also, of course, listen on the radio at 96.7 FM / 580 AM.
In other playoff matchups, sixth-ranked Holmen opens the D2 playoffs at No. 3 West De Pere.
Here is The Associated Press high school football poll. The poll includes first-place votes in parentheses, season record, total points and last week’s ranking, as voted upon by a statewide panel of sports writers. Teams are arranged in three divisions of equal size based on current enrollments
Large Division
| School | FPV | Record | Points | Last | Week |
| 1. Waunakee | (8) | 9-0 | 98 | 1 | |
| 2. Bay Port | (2) | 9-0 | 92 | 2 | |
| 3. Kimberly | – | 8-1 | 75 | 3 | |
| 4. Onalaska | – | 9-0 | 70 | 4 | |
| 5. Mukwonago | – | 8-1 | 61 | 5 | |
| 6. Neenah | – | 8-1 | 50 | 6 | |
| 7. Muskego | – | 8-1 | 41 | 7 | |
| 8. Verona | – | 8-1 | 29 | 10 | |
| 9. West De Pere | – | 7-1 | 11 | 8 | |
| 10. Sun Prairie East | – | 7-2 | 9 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Menasha 7. Hartland Arrowhead 4. Appleton North 2. Brookfield Central 1.
Medium Division
| School | FPV | Record | Points | Last | Week |
| 1. Catholic Memorial | (10) | 9-0 | 100 | 1 | |
| 2. Mayville | – | 9-0 | 88 | 2 | |
| 3. Columbus | – | 9-0 | 74 | 3 | |
| 4. Monroe | – | 9-0 | 70 | 4 | |
| 5. Little Chute | – | 9-0 | 59 | 5 | |
| 6. Ellsworth | – | 8-1 | 47 | 6 | |
| 7. West Salem | – | 8-1 | 45 | 7 | |
| 8. Freedom | – | 8-1 | 27 | 8 | |
| 9. Racine St. Catherine’s | – | 8-1 | 21 | 9 | |
| 10. Northwestern | – | 9-0 | 10 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Milwaukee Lutheran 7. Two Rivers 1. Lodi 1.
Small Division
| School | FPV | Record | Points | Last | Week |
| 1. Regis | (8) | 9-0 | 97 | 3 | |
| 2. St. Mary’s Springs | (1) | 8-1 | 85 | 1 | |
| 3. Aquinas | (1) | 8-1 | 77 | 2 | |
| 4. Coleman | – | 9-0 | 72 | 5 | |
| 5. Darlington | – | 8-1 | 54 | 6 | |
| 6. Cashton | – | 9-0 | 48 | 7 | |
| 7. Edgar | – | 8-1 | 30 | 8 | |
| (tie) Colby | – | 8-1 | 30 | 4 | |
| 9. Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic | – | 9-0 | 18 | 9 | |
| 10. Mondovi | – | 8-1 | 12 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Bangor 7. Marshall 7. Pepin/Alma 5. Belleville 5. Markesan 2. Shiocton 1.