The Six Rivers Conference, a staple of Wisconsin high school football, returns for another year of rivalry and growth, featuring eight programs vying for supremacy in Division 6.
Title contenders emerge
Black Hawk/Warren and Potosi/Cassville are projected to trade the top spot, each riding the momentum of a 2025 campaign that ended in playoff heartbreak but left a strong foundation for 2026.
Potosi/Cassville, the 2025 runners‑up, are slated to finish first in the preseason poll after an undefeated run until a narrow loss to Black Hawk/Warren, bolstered by a returning ground attack anchored by Hunter White and River Sahr.
Black Hawk/Warren, champions in 2025, are expected to slip to second, driven by senior quarterback Beau Podnar, a Second Team All‑Conference selection who threw for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Key returning talent
Across the league, several programs will lean on proven playmakers. Iowa‑Grant brings back receiver Landon Friesen, a First Team All‑Conference pick who amassed 47 catches for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns, and quarterback Brock Hinderman, who led the conference with 2,129 passing yards and 26 scores.
Riverdale will count on Bevyn Dennis, a Second Team All‑Conference athlete who topped the team in both rushing and receiving, while Wauzeka‑Steuben/Seneca’s head coach Derrick Joy expresses optimism about a squad that finished 7‑2 a year ago.
Coaching perspectives
Mark Siegert of Potosi/Cassville celebrated his 200th career win in 2025 and expects his senior‑laden roster to contend, whereas River Ridge’s head coach Wade Winkers questions whether his team can avoid the single‑score defeats that plagued them last season.
Iowa‑Grant’s coaching staff remains confident that returning starters will push the team back into playoff contention, and Wauzeka‑Steuben/Seneca’s Derrick Joy highlights the program’s upward trajectory after a playoff win in 2025.
The conference’s blend of seasoned leaders and hungry newcomers sets the stage for a season where every game could reshape the rankings, making the 2026 Six Rivers race one of the most anticipated in recent memory.