Sports

2026 New Lisbon Rockets   

2025 Record: 1-8 (1-6 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Jarod Ulrich  

 Mike’s 2026 Projected Record 0-9 (0-7 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: QB Grady Barfknecht RB Jude Keltner RB/DB Clayton Jensen WR/DB Colby Pfaff WR/DB Cash Plueger WR/LB Gavin Gesler

Team Preview: The New Lisbon Rockets have struggled in recent years largely due to low numbers and a lack of size and that seems to be the same theme going into this season for the Rockets.  New Lisbon returns a lot of talent at the skill positions including Quarterback Grady Barfknecht (62-149-10-721 5tds) and Wide Receiver Colby Pfaff (15-214 0tds).  New Lisbon has some solid running backs as well in Jude Keltner (79touches 488yards 3tds) and Clayton Jensen (9touches 91yards 1td).  New Lisbons struggles will come on the interior where they do not have a lot of bodies and the bodies they do have are not very big.  New Lisbon will likely try to use a quick passing scheme and try to keep teams off balance the best they can this season. Gavin Gesler and Jude Keltner were the top tacklers last year for the Rockets and are back to lead the defense.  I think the lack of size will really hurt new Lisbon this year.         

Key to Success: Staying healthy.  New Lisbon’s low numbers put them in quite a predicament New Lisbon will have to stay healthy just to field a team for 9weeks this year.    

Game to watch:  Week 4 Friday September 11^th at Necedah 7pm     

It was a great game last year and might be the only winnable game on the schedule for both New Lisbon and Necedah. 

New Lisbon Rocket games on WRJC Radio: Week 4 September 11^th at Necedah Week 5 September 18^th at Royall Week 7 October 2^nd at Brookwood

Next Preview:  Necedah Cardinals

Thanks to Gobound.com for statistics & Player information

2026 Hillsboro Tigers   

2025 Record: 4-5 (2-5 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Jay Larsen (1^st Year)

 Mike’s 2026 Projected Record 3-6 (2-5 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: RB/LB Matthew Huffman RB/LB Michael Downing RB/LB Caden Clark RB/LB Will Schulze RB/DB Melakai Simpson WR/DB Braun Jirschele   

Team Preview: Perhaps the team I am sleeping on the most is the Hillsboro Tigers.  I have them struggling this season but they have a decent depth of running backs to make them dangerous. Caden Clark (39-302 2tds) is back after tearing his ACL early last season. It will be interesting to see if Clark is the same player as he was pre injury.  Matthew Huffman (86-484 6tds) is back after leading the team in rushing last season as is Michael Downing (35-314 2tds).  The biggest questions for first year head coach Jay Larsen is who will be handing the ball off and blocking for his deep stable of running backs?  Braun Jirschele and Melakai Simpson are also talented athletes who should help Hillsboro out. . Defense might have to lead Hillsboro early in its season this year with a strong host of linebackers returning. It’s been about a quarter century since someone other than Eric Auel has led the Tigers on the sideline. Jay Larsen has some pieces to start his coaching career off in the right way.       

Key to Success: Finding the big play ability.  Hillsboro likes to ground in pound in a slowdown game but can they find those explosive plays after the graduation loss of Miles Ravenscroft?  Look for Melakai Simpson or Braun Jirschele to potentially be that big play player.     

Game to watch:  Week 4 Friday September 11^th at Brookwood 7pm    

Week 4 presents a matchup of evenly matched teams in Brookwood and Hillsboro.  It should be a fun game under the Friday night lights.

Hillsboro Tiger games on WRJC Radio: Week 2 Friday August 28^th Riverdale 7pm                     Week 6 Friday September 25^th Royall 7pm

Next Preview:  New Lisbon Rockets     

Thanks to Gobound.com for statistics & Player information

2026 Royall Panthers

2025 Record: 4-6 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Roland Lehman (1^st Year with Royall)

 Mike’s 2026 Projected Record 5-4 (5-2 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: QB/DB Braxton Board RB/LB Jett Bender RB/DB Travis Hafemeister RB/LB Caden Lange WR/LB Bentley Rozek TE/LB Easton Wopat                                      OL/DL Emerson Murray OL/DL Kolten Morrisette  

Team Preview: Royall welcomes in first year head coach Roland Lehman who had good success at Mauston before coming over to the Royall School District.  Lehman will bring a new offensive and defensive scheme for the Panthers to adjust to.  Royall returns a lot of skill position players from last season including running back Jett Bender (110-554 7tds).  Braxton Board (24-63-7-396 6tds) is back at quarterback as well as Royall’s top two receivers (Bentley Rozek 8-185 3tds) & Easton Wopat (4-92 2tds). Travis Hafemeister and Caden Lange are also back adding some depth to the Panthers running back stable. Kolten Morrisette and Emerson Murray are back to lead the interiors but will need some help from younger players to stabilize those spots. If Royall can player bigger than their size on the lines I think Royall has a chance to compete for an upper spot in the Scenic Bluffs Conference.            

Key to Success: Stabilizing the interior.  Royall lacks some size up front.  Size doesn’t always determine success it’s about mindset and toughness.  If Royall can play tough and smart size doesn’t matter as much.      

Game to watch:  Week 8 Friday October 9^th Ithaca/Weston (Home) 7pm   

Royall and Ithaca/Weston will likely be playing for a playoff spot in week 8.  This might be a play-in to the playoffs game.

Royall Panther games on WRJC Radio: Week 3 September 4^th at Necedah, Week 5 September 18^th New Lisbon Week 6 September 25^th  at Hillsboro Week 8 October 9^th  Ithaca/Weston Week 9 October 16^th Brookwood (NOW92oneFM WRJC.com)

Next Preview:  Cashton Eagles   

Thanks to Gobound.com for statistics & Player information

2026 Ithaca/Weston Bulldogs     

2025 Record: 5-5 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Kyle Kelley (1^st Year)

 Mike’s 2026 Projected Record 5-4 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: WR/DB Caden Keller RB/LB Liam Rowin TE/DL Spencer Nelson WR/DB Quintis Banker TE/DL Makai Tauaalo OL/DL Ben Otto  

Team Preview: Ithaca begins its first season Co-oping with Weston which should help with numbers to the program. They also welcome in new head coach Kyle Kelley.  Ithaca has been a dominant team in the Scenic Bluffs since joining the conference 2 years ago. Ithaca should be poised to be a solid team once again this year.  It welcomes back RB Liam Rowin (150-804 4tds) to lead the offense.  WR Caden Keller (32-418 3tds) is also back but may move from WR to QB.  TE’s Makai Tauaalo (2-25) and Spencer Nelson (8-175 4tds) should help on the line and in the passing game.  Ben Otto is a big linemen who should anchor the interior for Ithaca.  Otto, Rowin, Nelson, and Quintis Banker should be playmakers on the defensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs.  Nelson had 4sacks in his freshmen season last year.  Ithaca/Weston once again will compete for the upper spot in the Bluffs.      

Key to Success: Melding the Schools with a new coach.  Perhaps Coach Kelleys biggest challenge in his first year is to mesh the communities of Ithaca & Weston.  Weston won’t bring over a ton of players but the extra bodies will definetly help the Football team.    

Game to watch:  Week 5 Saturday September 19^th Brookwood (Home) 1pm

Brookwood pulled off a shocker over Ithaca last year and Ithaca/Weston will look to get them back on their Saturday Homecoming game. 

Ithaca/Weston Bulldog games on WRJC Radio: Week 8 Friday October 9^th at Royall 7pm (NOW92oneFM WRJC.com)

Next Preview:  Bangor Cardinals

Thanks to Gobound.com for statistics & Player information