The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s 8‑player football format was created to give smaller high schools with limited enrollment a chance to compete in a structured league that includes an eight‑game regular season, a 32‑team playoff bracket, and a state championship game held in Wisconsin Rapids. This season six area schools — Menominee Nation, Bowler/Gresham, Marion/Tigerton, Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas, Gillett, and Suring — are taking part, each hoping to leverage the postseason opportunity that the format provides.
Undefeated Titans and Playoff Heartbreak
The Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Titans captured the Across the Bay Conference championship in 2025, finishing the regular season without a loss and posting five shutouts. The team earned the No. 1 seed for the playoffs but saw its run end in the state semifinals, falling 64‑29 to McDonell Catholic. Leading the offense, Max Peterson amassed 1,538 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, underscoring the Titans’ dominance.
Rebuilding Programs Face New Coaches
Gillett Tigers endured a winless regular season, finishing 0‑8 and now must replace four departing seniors, among them Trevor Schaal and Gabe Soriano. Across the field, Suring Eagles started strong at 4‑1 before a 40‑14 playoff loss to Sevastopol; Coach Mitch Taylor will lose three senior players, including Garret Peters, as the program looks to rebuild. Marion/Tigerton Thundercatz secured a Central Wisconsin Conference title but were eliminated in the second playoff round, 50‑16, by Sevastopol. New head coach Mark Fredy has taken over from Micah Schwantes, and junior running back Braylon Mielke contributed 2,068 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.
Playoff Path and State Championship
The league’s playoff structure culminates in a 32‑team tournament that ends with a championship game in Wisconsin Rapids, giving each of the six participating schools a chance at a state title. While Bowler/Gresham Panthers canceled their 2025 season after forfeiting games to Menominee Nation, Marion/Tigerton, and Newman Catholic, the remaining programs continue to battle for playoff spots. The format not only provides smaller schools with competitive postseason play but also highlights the resilience of teams like Menominee Nation, which had its 2024 season canceled after crushing defeats, and the emerging talents who are shaping the next generation of Wisconsin football.