Scenic Bluffs Conference

The Royall Panther volleyball team got their conference season started off strong knocking off defending conference champions Hillsboro 3-1 Thursday evening.  Royall won a hard fought opening set 25-22.  The set was back in forth with numerous lead changes.  Royall was able to control set 2 winning 25-20.  Hillsboro tried to mount a comeback by easing by Royall in set 3 25-14, Hillsboro scored the first 10 points of the set to cruise to the set victory, Royall however bounced back easing past Hillsboro 25-11 in set 4 to claim the victory.  Bria Gruen had a big night with 19kills, while Laya Wainwright added 11kills. Liza Krueger added 3blocks and a handful of kills as well for the Panthers in the victory.  Alaina Clark had a strong game for the Tigers with numerous kills and a handful of blocks.  Royall improves to 3-4 on their season and 1-0 in conference play while the Tigers drop to 3-4 and 0-1 in the Scenic Bluffs Conference. 

Royall Panthers

2024 Record: 5-5 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Josh Board (2^nd Year 5-5 Record)

Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 5-4 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: RB/LB Jett Bender RB/LB Jason Johnson QB/DB Braxton Board OL/DL Kolten Morrisette OL/DE Lucas Peterson OL/DL Trenton Frye OL/LB Dylan Velazquez  

Team Preview: Jackson Bender will be tough to replace for the Royall Panthers but they return his younger brother Jett Bender (83-372 5tds) from last year and hope he can fill his brothers’ shoes. Jason Johnson (44-221 1td) is also back in the Royall backfield.  Braxton Board (1-1-0-3 0tds) will take over the reins at quarterback. Board is a strong athlete.  Royall has one of the strongest offensive lines they’ve had in a while although they need to replace offensive linemen of the year Karter Olson. Kolten Morrisette, Lucas Peterson, and Dylan Velazquez all return to the offensive line.  Defensively Jett Bender, and Lucas Peterson will attempt to lead the defense. Royall had an undefeated middle school team last year and the freshman class could make an instant impact including WR Bently Rozek who is about at 6-3 frosh.  Royall’s biggest strength might be its coaching.  Josh Board is the head coach but welcomes plenty of experience to his staff that boasts former football head coaches Kole Huth and Roland Lehman who comes over from Mauston.  Royall should be in the mix this year in the Scenic Bluffs Conference. It will depend on how they replace Jackson Bender, Carter Uppena, and Karter Olson.                   

 Key to Success: Being tough.  Royall has some ability and some big strong looking kids but they have to play tough to open up holes for the running game. Royall will also need some young kids to mature fast.             

  Game to watch:  Week 5 Friday September 19^th home vs Hillsboro

This game was a classic last year as Royall blew a late lead on Hillsboro’s homecoming night.  Royall might need to win this game to have a shot at the conference championship and to make a playoff spot.

Royall Panther games on WRJC Radio: Week 1 Friday August 22^nd vs Clear Lake at Durand Week 3 Friday September 5^th at New Lisbon Week 4 Friday September 12^th at Brookwood Week 5 Friday September 19^th home vs Hillsboro Week 7 Saturday October 4^th at Ithaca and Week 9 Friday October 17^th home vs Cashton    

Next Preview:  Let the games begin         

 Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.

Cashton Eagles

2024 Record: 5-5 (4-3 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Jered Hemmersbach

Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 7-2 (5-2 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: QB/LB Drew Butzler RB/LB Jack Christensen RB/LB Graham Hemmersbach RB/DB Landon Laufenberg RB/LB Owen Von Ruden K Connor Wilkinson OL/DL Mitchell Simonson TE Rory Mlsna

Team Preview: Cashton was a young team a season ago who had its ups and downs.  With a year of experience under their belts theyre expected to have higher expectations this season.  A big switch is last year’s QB Rory Mlsna switching from Quarterback to Tight End and Fullback Drew Butzler switching from FB to Quarterback.  Butzler (2-2-0-49yards 0tds, 45-284 3tds) has a strong arm and should be a mobile QB as well. Cashton has a plethora of running backs with a balance of power and speed. Jack Christensen (159-984 13tds) is back to lead the backfield.  Owen Von Ruden (26-111 0tds) is a solid fullback and Graham Hemmersbach (25-197 2tds) has a lot of speed at the wing back position.  Landon Laufenberg could also see time at the wingback spot he had just 2catches but for 111yards both going for touchdowns last year.  Mitchell Simonson and Kalen McCracken should anchor the O-line.  Expect Cashton to have a stingy defense with a lot of speed and a strong line backing core. We will see how much Cashton has grown since last season but expect them to do big things this year in the conference.      

 Key to Success: Developing The Tight End Spot.  Cashton returns a lot but lost both their tightends from last season.  Mlsna moving to tight end should give them a boost with his size and strength. Cashton likes to run to the edges making those tightends have to earn their keeps in the blocking game.        

 Game to watch:  Week 9 Friday October 17^th at Royall

Royall got a big victory over Cashton last year.  Cashton will look for revenge and could be playing for a conference championship in Week 9 of their season.

Cashton Eagles games on WRJC Radio: Week 8 Friday October 10^th Home vs Hillsboro Week 9 Friday October 17^th at Royall (NOW92.1FM & WRJC.com)

Next Preview:  Brookwood Falcons     

 Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.

2025 Bangor Cardinals  

2024 Record: 8-3 (6-1 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Head Coach: Todd Grant (5^th Season 38-10 Record)  

Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 8-1 (7-0 Scenic Bluffs Conference)

Players to Watch: QB/DB Hayden Massman RB/LB Dylan Mathison RB/LB Sawyer Jacobson RB/LB Gabriel Cropp OL/DL Ethin Jacobson RB/LB Brock Daines

Team Preview: Bangor certainly has holes to fill from last year’s 8-3 team but I believe they have the talent to re-claim the Scenic Bluffs Conference Championship for the first time in a few years. QB Hayden Massman (19-47-4-512yards 5tds) is back to lead the team. Massman is a good athlete capable of having a strong season behinds center.  He will need to find a new favorite target to pass to after losing Landon Phillips to graduation.  Thousand yard rusher Eli Tucker is gone but Bangor welcomes back Dylan Mathison (97-615 8tds) and Sawyer Jacobson (7-186 2tds) to its backfield.  Gabriel Cropp and Ethin Jacobson give them some strength on the offensive line.  Cropp led the team in tackles and TFL’s for a loss with 92 and 9 last season and Mathison was the 2^nd leading tackler with 89.  Hayden Massman led the team in interceptions with 3 last year giving Bangor plenty of experience on the defensive side as well. This isn’t your older brother Bangor Cardinal Football team but they should have enough talent to contend for another Conference Championship.         

 Key to Success: Mixing things up! Bangor is known for their hard nose rushing attack and that is expected to continue but if Massman can find a target to throw to and keep teams off balance the Cardinals become all the more formidable.

 Game to watch:  Week 7 Friday October 3^rd home vs Cashton   

It’s a great rivalry game and the two teams I have as my top 2 contenders in the conference. This should be a great game as always potentially with a lot on the line.

Bangor Cardinal games on WRJC Radio: none at this time

Next Preview:  Hillsboro Tigers      

 Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.